The Patriots got off to a great start in free agency. The defense has been rebuilt right down the middle, getting Milton Williams, Robert Spillane, and safety Marcus Epps, then adding off-the-ball linebackers Jack Gibbens and Christian Ellis. The linebacking group is going to look a lot different. Edge rushers Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson will bolster the pass rush next to Keion White.
The cornerback room now has Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis as the boundary corners. Khyiris Tonga will be a big run-stuffer on the defensive line.
The offense signed Morgan Moses as the right tackle, and judging his character on and off the field, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him as a captain. Center Garrett Bradbury comes with a lot of experience. Wes Schweitzer is another experienced interior offensive lineman. Joshua Dobbs will provide veteran QB depth.
Mack Hollins is an addition that will be larger than people give credit for. He’s a big red zone target who can beat press coverage and get open. And of course, the big signing last week was Stefon Diggs. He immediately upgrades the WR room and is a fantastic route runner.
Yes, left tackle is still a spot that needs serious upgrading, and they could use another wide receiver and depth elsewhere. They have nine draft picks to remedy those.
So, with this 7-Round Mock Draft 3.0, we filled those. Let’s check it out.
#4: Travis Hunter, WR, Colorado:
Hunter is a potential generational talent at WR or CB. That’s how talented he is. Left tackle will have to wait for a guy like this. This is a transformational type of pick for the Patriots offense. Diggs, Hunter, Hollins, Douglas, Bourne, Boutte, Polk, Baker. The cupboard is no longer bare.
Drake Maye working with these guys and Josh McDaniels drawing up plays will be fun and exciting to watch. When was the last time we said that about the Patriots offense?
#38: Josh Conerly Jr., LT, Oregon:
Here is your left tackle for 2025 and beyond.
Conerly played a bit as a reserve as a freshman, and then seized the LT position for the past two seasons. In his sophomore season, he allowed only one sack in 514 pass blocking snaps.
He blossomed in 2024, allowing just nine pressures in the season. He’s 6’5, 314 and really came on as the season progressed. He’s an elite pass protector and will be Drake Maye’s blindside protector.
#69: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green:
With all of the excellent tight end talent in this draft, while it may not be a position of need in 2025, you can’t pass up this kind of talent in the draft. First of all, Fannin is not an in-line tight end, he is not a great blocker. But when you watch this guy in the passing game, watch out.
Fannin, 6’3, 241, is ranked third among this year’s tight end prospects behind Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland. He’s coming off a breakout Senior season, totaling 117 catches, 1,555 yards, and 10 touchdowns.
With Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper entrenched, look for McDaniels to get this guy involved as a move-tight end, and he should become a fun guy to watch.
#77: T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina:
Gotta add a Gamecock to this group, and Sanders is an intriguing guy to provide even better depth at DT.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote,His rush features average first-step quickness, but sudden hand swipes and play-through power in his lower half open pathways to the pocket. Sanders’ blend of power and pressure should put him on the board for both odd- and even-front defenses as a potential three-down solution.
He’s got good speed and explosion for a big man at 6’4, 297, and is equally as good as a run stuffer and an interior pass rusher.
#106: Tyler Baron, EDGE, Miami:
Baron has excellent speed off the edge, running the 40 in 4.62, which is excellent for a 6’5, 258 edge rusher. He notched 4.5 sacks in Miami’s first three games, and then over a four-game period, he notched 23 pressures while playing more than 75 percent of the defensive snaps.
He’s an ascending hard worker, as the pieces are beginning to come together for him. He’s going to provide excellent depth for the pass rush.
#144: Malachi Moore, S, Alabama:
A true free safety, Moore played four years at Alabama and was a sure-tackling, ball hawk. From NFL Draft Buzz, Moore had these strengths:
Natural ball skills jump off the screen – tracks the ball like a receiver and shows aggressive hands at the catch point, routinely turning 50/50 balls into defensive wins.
Displays advanced football IQ in coverage splits, seamlessly transitioning between deep safety and slot responsibilities while maintaining proper leverage against both run and pass.
Clean footwork in transition, especially when breaking on underneath routes – shows some serious juice when driving downhill on crossing patterns.
Elite communication skills evident in pre-snap adjustments, consistently getting the secondary aligned correctly and showing real command of defensive checks.
Versatility is a major selling point – showed he can play single-high, two-deep, in the slot, dime linebacker, and special teams.
# 217: Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State:
He is one of the new breed of linebackers at 6’2 “, 229 lbs, but he played at Ohio State for five seasons and saved his best for last in 2024. Led team with 112 tackles (12.5 TFLs with seven sacks). Team captain. Rose Bowl Defensive MVP (team-high 11 tackles, 3 TFLs with 2 sacks) in the playoff win over Oregon. National Championship Game Defensive MVP (team-high eight tackles, TFL). Started 15 games for the national champions (7 PBUs, FF).
He’s got excellent speed and ran a 4.50 in the 40. He’s outstanding in run support and runs like a safety in a linebacker’s body. He plays downhill with violence against ball carriers. Excellent STs player, in kick coverage he’s a heat-seeking missile on a mission.
#220: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa:
How about another tight end ( I know Clare Cooper approves)? Lachey is a high-IQ football player who doesn’t possess breakaway speed but is a good blocker with the potential to be a solid player at the next level.
He has soft hands, and prototypical size (6’6, 251) makes him an attractive target. He’ll thrive in a scheme that utilizes tight ends in various alignments and values reliable chain-movers in the passing game. Teams running multiple tight end sets or those needing a dependable target over the middle (sound familiar?)
#238: Xavier Truss, OG, Georgia:
Truss is a big man at 6’7, 309, and played tackle for the Bulldogs. He has an excellent combination of size, strength, and experience in a top-tier program. Truss can play multiple positions along the line, increasing his value.
He’s a good but not a great pass blocker, as his lateral agility may suffer against speed rushers. That’s why he may slide to the inside where he would excel as a guard, but could slide out to tackle in an emergency.
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About Steve Balestrieri
A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)
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Tags: 53 Man Roster Projection Cody Simon Harold Fannin Jr. Josh Conerly Jr. Josh McDaniels Luke Lachey Malachi Moore Mike Vrabel New England Patriots Patriots Patriots edge rushers TJ Sanders Travis Hunter Tyler Baron Xavier Truss
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