The Iowa State's products' ceiling will be determined by how much his timed speed (4.47s 40-yard dash) translates to vertical wins at the next level. Higgins doesn't consistently run by defenders on the outside. Although he tested like an elite athlete (9.92 RAS), his play speed is more crafty than it is dynamic. My pro comparison for Higgins is Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr., but if he plays to his testing numbers in the pros, then he could hit a ceiling closer to Tee Higgins or Drake London.
**Third Round, No. 69 Overall: G/C Wyatt Milum, West Virginia**
The Patriots biggest need along the O-Line is left tackle. Still, they also have to solidify the interior, with center now being a need after longtime captain David Andrews was released. My gut says the Pats will bank on Ben Brown, Layden Robinson, Cole Strange or Sidy Sow to fill one spot, leaving an open interior spot to a rookie. The vision here is to pair Campbell (LT) and Milum (LG) to remake the left side, with Brown and Strange competing at center.
The West Virginia blindside protector projects to move his power-oriented game to guard or even center in the NFL. Milum doesn't have the length (32 ⅛") or athleticism to pass protect as an offensive tackle in the pros. But he plays well in a phone booth with heavy hands and body control to stay centered on blocks. Milum also has active eyes to sniff out post-snap line movement and adjust to targets on the fly in the run game, giving him the skillset to be a starting-caliber interior lineman.
Milum worked at all three interior spots at the Senior Bowl, and based on the tape, there might be a learning curve. Still, you feel good about projecting him as a future starter on the interior. The following line combination is a decent starting point for the Patriots: LT Campbell, LG Milum, C Brown/Strange, RG Onwenu, and RT Moses.
**Third Round, No. 77 Overall: EDGE Kyle Kennard, South Carolina**
The Patriots targeted free agents to upgrade the front seven, with Milton Williams, Harold Landry, Robert Spillane, K'Lavon Chaisson, and Khyiris Tonga added to the mix. However, it's hard to envision Vrabel passing up on the talent along the D-Line in a stacked class.
Kennard is in a similar mold to Chaisson and Landry as a long-striding speed rusher who uses good arm length (34" arms) to separate from blocks to corner the edge. He'll complement his speed rushes with quick-twitch inside counters to slip inside. Kennard needs to add mass to be more sturdy on his rush tracks, but he seems like a Vrabel fit who is cut from the same cloth as the EDGEs the Patriots just added in free agency.
**Fourth Round, No. 106 Overall: RB Devin Neal, Kansas**
The next combination of talent in the draft class and sneaky need for the Patriots? Running back. There are 30-plus RBs with draftable grades in this class. With lead-back Rhamondre Stevenson's ball security issues last season, it makes sense for New England to target a mid-round running back who can serve as a safety net in case Stevenson's fumbling woes continue. With that in mind, my feeling is it'll be an early-down back.
Neal is one of my favorite mid-rounders in this class due to his size (5-11. 213 lbs.), vision, elusiveness in tight quarters, and low center of gravity to run through tackles. Neal is more slasher than a home-run hitter, but he has enough burst to turn the corner and get past the first level of the defense. He'll also be an asset in short-yardage situations with a knack for churning out tough yards. As a receiver, Neal is a reliable check-down option. He fits the downhill style that McDaniels and Vrabel will likely play.
**Fifth Round, No. 144 Overall: TE Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame**
The last combination of a stacked draft class and sneaky need is at tight end. The Pats re-signed veteran Austin Hooper to keep Maye's productive tight end duo of Hooper and Hunter Henry together. However, it doesn't feel right to pass on this loaded tight end class, and with Henry and Hooper's age, adding a prospect into the developmental pipeline is intriguing.
After tearing his ACL in 2023, Evans took some time to get his burst back in 2024. But he'll now be two years removed from the injury and has the size (6-5, 258 lbs), above-average speed (4.74s 40-yard dash), and ball skills to be a well-rounded tight end. Evans is at his best boxing out with his large frame on seam runs and in-breakers, while he has the chops to be a useful run blocker. This is a flier on a player who could've gone higher without a severe knee injury in college.
**Trade: Patriots trade 7.217 and 7.220 to Cleveland for 6.192**
The Patriots consolidate late-day three picks to get back into the sixth round. It makes some sense to bridge a 73-pick gap at a point in the draft where teams are unlikely to have many draftable grades left on their boards. Vrabel calls up pals Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry to make it happen.
**Sixth Round, No. 192 Overall (via Browns): DL Zeek Biggers, Georgia Tech**
The Patriots have projected starters on the interior defensive line in Milton Williams, Keion White, and hopefully Christian Barmore. However, Tonga is the one space-eater that naturally slides into a role as a nose tackle at the zero or one technique. Biggers is a nice project for Vrabel and DC Terrell Williams. He is oozing with physical traits (6-5, 321 lbs., 9.80 RAS), but needs significant technique work. If the Pats coaches can get Biggers to play with better pad level, he could play on the nose in a 4-3 front.
**Seventh Round, No. 238 Overall: K Ben Sauls, Pittsburgh**
New England's only kicker under contract is Parker Romo. They'll likely add another kicker at some point, and Catch-22 co-host Alex Barth, our resident specialist guru, says you better call Sauls.