The Patriots need a No. 1 wide receiver and could look to the 2025 NFL Draft to find one.
Travis Hunter certainly would be a dream target for New England. There’s nothing wrong with drafting a two-way star, but the Patriots need a legit wide receiver.
One player who’s been projected to New England at No. 4 is Tetairoa McMillan. The Arizona product is the consensus No. 1 wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft class. However, a former All-Pro receiver explained why he believes the Arizona product is good but not great.
“He’s a No. 1 ranked wide receiver, but he’s not a No. 1 wide receiver,” Steve Smith told James Palmer on their Underdog Fantasy show. “I think he leaves a lot of plays on the field. I don’t think he has the ability to dominate like his size his. I think he’s a jump-ball guy, but I don’t see his route tree being very elaborate.”
Smith acknowledged that McMillan has the capacity to get better and no one’s career is set in stone. However, his evaluation should give the Patriots pause. Unfortunately, New England has a long history of first-round busts at the wide receiver position.
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The Patriots can’t afford to get the No. 4 pick wrong and fail to provide help for Drake Maye. If they do decide to draft a wide receiver, they might have to look outside of the fourth overall pick or the first round.