The 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, and it ended with the New England Patriots adding 11 total players to their roster. The most notable among them, of course, if fourth overall pick Will Campbell. However, the rest of their haul also includes some intriguing talent and players who very well could develop into valuable contributors this year and beyond.
As a consequence, the Patriots received fairly high grades from the experts. Let’s take a look at those, both from Pats Pulpit and the rest of the country.
Pats Pulpit
Pat Lane: B+
The Patriots added some quality players at positions of need, and a lot of them will have a chance to be contributors on Day 1. There are nitpicks with every pick, and the range goes from steals to head-scratchers, but overall the haul is nothing but solid.
For a team that was in desperate need of impact players, the Patriots seem to have gotten more than a few, and that should bode well for them moving forward. Getting players that are going to fit what they want to do from a cultural perspective should also help them follow the vision that Mike Vrabel has in mind for the franchise — a vision that became increasingly unclear during the disappointing 2024 season.
This is a step in the right direction, and a much-needed one.
For a more detailed breakdown of Pat’s grades please take a look at this story. This is also where you will find the following grades handed out by some members of the community:
National media
The Patriots put together one of my favorite draft classes, nabbing six of my top-100 ranked players. They kicked things off with LSU tackle Will Campbell, an easy-moving and savvy lineman with the upside to start for years. They added Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson in the second round, giving the team an explosive playmaker who excels in pass protection (which I’m sure Drake Maye will appreciate). Washington State receiver Kyle Williams is a nifty route runner who gets open early in his route, makes hay after the catch, and can stack defenders and get deep for the big play. He could be a starter early on in New England’s wide receiver group. Georgia center Jared Wilson could develop into a long-term starter for the team, boasting elite athleticism and a solid frame. Florida State defensive linemen Joshua Farmer (who is a stout, powerful interior defender) and LSU edge Bradyn Swinson (who brings intriguing developmental traits as a pass rusher) could both end up as starters. All in all, a super solid haul that could help Mike Vrabel right the ship in New England.
A team that had to get a transfusion of offensive talent – regardless of circumstances, but especially to give QB Drake Maye a fighting chance in his second NFL season — wisely spent its first four picks on that side of the ball. First-round OT Will Campbell, second-round RB TreVeyon Henderson, third-round WR Kyle Williams and third-round C Jared Wilson will likely not only play significant snaps as rookies — even if they’re not all necessarily starters – but could all have exceptional impacts. Henderson’s could be the most noticeable given his ability to thrive on every down — though the large chunks he rips off as a runner and the protection he provides on passing downs should most benefit Maye.
Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel, take a bow. The Patriots put together one of the strongest, most complete classes in the entire 2025 NFL Draft, and they did it with almost unmatched consistency across the three-day event. It started with Will Campbell: A no-brainer pick at No. 4 overall as a near blue-chip tackle. It continued with TreVeyon Henderson — not an immediate need, but an incredibly good and versatile football player.
Then, later on Day 2, the Patriots added a high-level separator, RAC, and vertical threat for Drake Maye in Kyle Williams, and they also brought in a potential long-term starter at center in Jared Wilson.
On Day 3, the value continued to roll in. Craig Woodson has well-rounded two-phase ability and starter traits. Joshua Farmer is an astronomical talent on the interior. Bradyn Swinson was a top-50 talent at EDGE off film alone, and the Patriots got him in Round 5. Later, they added another versatile weapon in Brashard Smith.
The only potential knock you could ascribe to the Patriots’ class is that they spent two picks on special teams players: A kicker in Round 6, and a long snapper in Round 7. But the opportunity cost is minimal in the later rounds, and the Patriots did so much great work with their early and middle-round picks that it didn’t matter all too much in the end.
Matt Verderame (Sports Illustrated): A-
The Patriots needed to find a plethora of starters with upside, and they did just that. Incoming coach Mike Vrabel got help on the offensive side with Campbell becoming quarterback Drake Maye’s blindside protector, while Henderson will pair with Rhamondre Stevenson to form a physical, explosive backfield tandem. Maye also got more help on Day 2, with Williams likely getting significant snaps opposite Stefon Diggs, and Wilson fighting for a starting job as a rookie on the interior.
The Patriots were in a good spot at No. 4. If either Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter fell to them, great. If not, they would have their pick of the offensive linemen in this class. That matters because quarterback Drake Maye was pressured on 37.3% of his dropbacks — not ideal for a young passer. Amid personnel changes, the offensive line was 31st in pass block win rate at 50.9%. But Will Campbell instantly improves things here.
Everyone made a big deal about his 32⅝-inch arm length after the combine, and it’s not ideal. But I still see the footwork, technique and pure power of an NFL left tackle. Campbell will immediately replace Vederian Lowe there. The Pats had selected just one offensive lineman in the top 10 in the common draft era (since 1967) before the Campbell pick; John Hannah also went fourth in 1973.
New England continued its revamp on Day 2, sticking with the offense. (It used seven of eight picks on offense last year, and the first four went that way this year.) Running back TreVeyon Henderson and receiver Kyle Williams will improve Maye’s supporting cast. Henderson is in a perfect spot to maximize his skill set. He’s a big-play artist because of his explosion and vision, but he won’t be a 30-carry back every Sunday. Henderson is at his best when he’s sharing the work, and the Pats will do that with Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson still in the fold.
Williams, meanwhile, will be a good deep threat for Maye with his speed. The WR room is definitely better, between Williams and free agent signing Stefon Diggs. The Day 2 capper was Jared Wilson, my top-ranked center. He’s behind Garrett Bradbury on the depth chart, but his quickness and even a little bit of interior versatility mean he should see the field. There are some good Day 3 picks in New England, too. Defensive tackle Joshua Farmer has dealt with some injuries, but he can push the pocket. Bradyn Swinson had 8.5 sacks last season off the edge. And Andres Borregales is the No. 2 kicker in the class.
It has been a good offseason for New England. This draft class is solid. But the Pats also spent in free agency, signing Diggs, Milton Williams, Harold Landry III, Robert Spillane, Carlton Davis III and Morgan Moses. They could take a big step forward in 2025.
Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports): A-
This draft was bound to be flashy, because the Patriots desperately needed to get more offensive talent on the roster, and the club was stockpiled with picks. Campbell is exceptionally high floor in Round 1, and Henderson, while picked slightly early, is a dynamic dual-threat runner.
Williams is a sharp route runner with some YAC juice, and Wilson, in time, can be this team’s starting pivot, snapping the football to Drake Maye. Woodson is a crafty playmaker in the secondary, and Farmer has plus size and immense length at defensive tackle. Look out for Swinson to make a name for himself around the corner too. General manager Eliot Wolf had himself a weekend.
The Patriots took care of their key offensive needs early with Elliot Wolf catering to second-year QB Drake Maye most. Campbell is a rock of a left tackle, and Henderson has a shot to displace Rhamondre Stevenson as a more efficient lead back. Williams’ size is a concern, but he does fit their classic offense slot mentality. New defensive-minded coach Mike Vrabel also got some rangy thumpers after the team was strong on that side in free agency.
The Patriots lean into their offseason roster restructuring after a very active free agency period. OT/G Campbell is widely considered to be the most bankable OL in the class. The avalanche of offensive linemen who went off the board in the first round made this pick look better in hindsight. TreVeyon gives the Pats a home threat they desperately needed, while Kyle Williams was one of the true risers of the post-season evaluation process. Wilson is a freak athlete and the best C in the 2025 class who should step in and contribute immediately. Both Farmer and Swinson were fringe top-100 players on many big boards who went far later than anticipated. Hard to argue with what the Patriots did in their first draft under the guidance of HC Mike Vrabel.
Eliot Wolf and head coach Mike Vrabel focused on offense in their first two days together in a draft room. Campbell should be a solid starter, but his value might not have been as strong as top-five talents Ashton Jeanty (picked sixth overall) or Mason Graham (fifth). Henderson, Williams and Wilson instantly improved second-year quarterback Drake Maye’s supporting cast.
Wolf and Vrabel aided the defense with excellent picks, adding an athletic, instinctive safety (Woodson), a powerful, quick-footed interior lineman (Farmer) and a lean edge rusher (Swinson). It felt like a Bill Belichick Day 3, with the Patriots picking a pair of special teamers: kicker Borregales and long-snapper Ashby.
Thor Nystrom (Fantasy Life): C+
Will Campbell is a superb athlete who plays with a revved-up motor. He has very strong hands, throwing with bad intentions but refined technique. Plays with good core strength and knee bend.
People-moving power in the run game, but can come into the point of attack too hot and slip off blocks. Shortest arms (32 5/8 inches) of my top-20 ranked OTs—there is zero precedent for standout NFL offensive tackles with shorter than 33-inch arms.
The past two seasons, at left tackle for LSU, Campbell was 56th percentile in PFF pass-block grade. I believe he’s a guard or a center in the NFL. For those reasons, this pick felt like a reach.
Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson, taken in the 2.38 slot, is a perfect complement to Rhamondre Stevenson – Henderson can continue to be deployed the way he was last year at Ohio State, while Stevenson will be used for the between-the-tackles dirty work that Quinshon Judkins handled for the Buckeyes.
Henderson runs with his torso upright and his knees bent like coiled springs. He can accelerate from 0-60 in a blink, and is bursty through holes. A track star in high school, Henderson ran a 4.43 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Henderson doesn’t have juke-machine agility—he has a little hip stiffness—but he’s extremely sudden laterally when he needs to be. That springy lower half of his has teleportation qualities east/west—Henderson can pull out the reverse Uno card with a hard foot in the dirt when confronted by immediate penetration and hit the gas down the line the other direction.
Many backs with Henderson’s athletic profile are finesse air/space archetypes who dance/evade and toggle speeds. Not Henderson. Henderson’s north/south explosion juices him with legitimate speed-to-power electricity, and he’s fearless running downhill, accelerating into contact.
Henderson’s appetite for contact can also be seen on his blocking tape. There are flashes of beautiful violence, where Henderson immediately spots the free rusher, steps up, squares, and flattens the guy. A gifted receiver, Henderson has good hands—he had 45 catches with only two drops the past two seasons. More impressively, on the topic of hands, Henderson had zero career fumbles on 667 touches.
The Patriots got the class’ best pure center in Round 3 with Georgia’s Jared Wilson. He’s a ridiculous athlete—98th-percentile RAS while completing every test of importance except the 3-cone—in a prototypical frame. Wilson boasts an 80” wingspan, the longest of my top-8 ranked centers.
A Duke Manyweather pupil with a polished game, Wilson’s hand use is extremely advanced for his experience level. Last season, Wilson finished No. 1 among centers in this class with a minuscule 1.4% pressure rate allowed (five pressures over 511 pass-pro snaps). He allowed zero sacks and finished 98th percentile in pass block grade on true pass sets. Wilson needs to keep improving his play strength for additional gains in the run game. He declared after his third year and is on the younger side—there is plenty of potential to be untapped here.
I believe that Round 3 WR Kyle Williams will start immediately. Williams had the best release package of any receiver at the Senior Bowl. He is extremely sudden off the line, with blur-fast feet working towards a purpose.
Williams has mediocre measurables. But he manages to create opportunities for his quarterback thanks to the reliability with which he gets off the line and into his route, and the separation he tends to gain through the route-break phase. Williams’ sublime 4.39 YPRR against man-coverage and 88th-percentile PFF separation percentile against single-coverage tell the tale of his down-in, down-out reliability.
New England did slick work on Day 3. I couldn’t believe the back-to-back values that the Pats got on DT Joshua Farmer and Bradyn Swinson. Both have the tools to develop into NFL starters.
Local media
Sophie Weller (A to Z Sports): A
This is appears to be a very successful draft for the New England Patriots. They not only took the best players available when they were on the clock, but they also addressed numerous needs. Plus, they traded when necessary, gaining additional draft capital this year and even one pick for next year.
For some of the players they did acquire, they were expected to go higher, so they got steals in that case. It was a very well thought out and executed draft by Mike Vrabel, Eliot Wolf, and the rest of the Patriots.
Evan Lazar (patriots.com): N/A
Before any rookies step on an NFL field, we can only assess the Patriots draft process. From that standpoint, this is among the best drafts the Patriots have had in recent memory. Selecting Will Campbell as their first-round pick freed up head coach Mike Vrabel and EVP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf to let the board come to them rather than chasing their tail at left tackle, a need they absolutely had to fill, leading to a strong draft class.
After selecting Campbell on Thursday night, the Patriots added explosive playmakers in RB TreVeyon Henderson and WR Kyle Williams, who were ranked in the high second and third rounds respectively on consensus boards. Then, C/G Jared Wilson was graded as highly as the second round by some experts, and the Patriots drafted the Georgia center 95th overall to potentially start down the road at the pivot.
After selecting four offensive players in the first two days following an initial free agency wave focused on defense, New England bolstered its depth on defense by selecting S Craig Woodson (No. 106), DL Joshua Farmer (No. 137), and EDGE Bradyn Swinson (No. 146). My feeling going into the draft is that the Pats would benefit from adding developmental players along the defensive front in a deep class, and they patiently checked that box by taking Farmer and Swinson on day three.
Earlier this offseason, Wolf admitted that the Patriots “went for need a little too much last year.” It’s not that they didn’t address their needs in this draft because they certainly did, but the Pats allowed the board to dictate when they pulled the trigger. For example, wide receiver was a bigger need than running back, but Henderson (32nd in my top 100) was arguably the best player on the board, so the Patriots went running back first before receiver on day two. As mentioned, they also added pass-rushers to the developmental pipeline on day three by counting on the fact that worthy flyers would be available due to the depth of the class.
Only time will tell if the Patriots picked wisely in the 2025 NFL Draft. We can like the picks in the moment but there’s no guarantee they’ll pan out — that’s the draft for you. All we can do is assess how the decision-makers went about their business on draft weekend. New England had a solid feel for the board and tapped positions of strength in the draft along the defensive line and at running back, while still addressing needs. As a result, they got a nice haul.
Since the final pick of the draft, the Patriots’ own Kobee Minor, the team has added to its rookie pool and signed several free agents. Please check out our Patriots UDFA Tracker to stay up to date.