The Patriots' dismal 2024 season is over. The critical 2025 offseason has begun, and it began with a bang. Owner Robert Kraft acted decisively and fired first-year Head Coach Jerod Mayo. A new era will begin again. The only question is who will conduct the offseason when good teams are built.
Whoever it is, two components must be aced if this team, with arguably the worst roster in the NFL, is to claw its way back to prominence. It's not going to be an easy climb back. But as Lao Tzu said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Free agency will precede the draft. Whoever is in control of personnel has to add NFL-proven quality there. Wide receiver is a key position to target. The team has lots of cap space, and a good portion of that cash should go to one or two wide receivers, a WR1, and a solid second receiver. That position, among others, needs a massive clearout and reworking.
"Let's GO," as Tom Brady says, and conduct a draft assuming that the personnel director "gets it," and he and the new Head Coach will be able to deliver quality receivers for Drake Maye in free agency.
The Patriots trade down and select Texas LT Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 9
Having muffed their chance at the first overall pick and the riches in draft picks that would have brought, the Patriots are set with the fourth pick overall in the 2025 draft. That pick still has a lot of value, so the Patriots cash in and trade down from four to nine and garner two extra picks.
The Pats send pick No. four to New Orleans for picks nine, 40, and 250. The keys obviously are nine and 40. At nine the Pats go right after their weakest position and shore it up in style. They draft offensive left tackle, Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranks Banks, a 6'4", 320-pound left tackle as their second-best in the draft. In the same article, PFF lists the big Longhorn tackle's strengths,
"Strengths:
• Flexible hips and wide base for a powerful, wide stance
• Foot speed/explosiveness is top-tier
• Can move while in a squatted position (low pad level)
• Great second-level/space blocker
• Natural athleticism gives him high zone-blocking potential
• Really impressive balance for a player 320-plus pounds"
While he may not possess prototypical length for a left tackle, his talent will more than compensate for any deficiencies. With Banks, who many prefer over the top-rated tackle, Will Campbell of LSU, the Patriots add a top prospect to their weakest position.
Patriots select EDGE Princely Umanmielen from Florida with No. 37
The edge position is among the Patriots' worst. They traded their best, Matt Judon, and second-best, Joshua Uche, and were left with little talent there. The position needs a complete makeover and In the second round with their own pick, No. 37 they go right for a top pass-rushing edge in Princely Umanmielen from Mississippi.
Umanmielen has great size, at 6'4" and 260 pounds. In 2024, he racked up 37 total stops with an impressive 10.5 sacks. The Pats need a pass-rusher who can get sacks. Umanmielen is one of those. thedraftnetwork.com notes his pass-rushing skills,
"Known for his raw athleticism and bend around the corner at 255 pounds, Umanmielen has shown that he can capitalize with both speed and power to win isolated matchups. With ideal body mass for an NFL edge rusher, his range of movement and athletic profile, combined with a relentless motor, has been instrumental in his ascent as a premier sack artist."
Patriots double-dip at tackle and select Aireontae Ersery from Minnesota at No. 40
With New Orleans's second-round pick, No. 40, the Patriots go back to the offensive left tackle spot and take massive Minnesota tackle, Aireontae Ersery, a 6'6', 330-pound mauler. The tackle position was a disaster in 2024 having received little attention in the 2024 off-season. That all changes with a second top pick attributed to the left tackle position.
Here's some of what bleacherreport.com notes about the big, Golden Gopher's tackle,
"Ersery is a well-versed zone run blocker with good pace and feel on combo blocks to get into proper fits, overtake and release on time. He shows solid athletic ability to gain ground laterally to cut off the backside, line up backers on climbs and pulls around the edge. Ersery shows good competitive toughness and physicality as a finisher to strain and set the tone...He will get over-aggressive, two-hand strike and overextend on kick-out blocks that stutters and slants across his face can slip by with ease.
"In pass protection Ersery has good footwork in his sets to work at a 45-degree angle, get vertical and expand his set points against upfield, high-side rushes and power step with an effective 'catch' hand to close the door on inside counters. Ersery quickly sorts basic line games and stunts with proper spacing and timing. He also flashes the snatch-trap technique to defeat the long-arm and circle punch technique to work around swipes/chops to the outside. While Ersery can defeat outside swipes/cross-chops, he can be late with his strike and is susceptible to being set up and baited by tempo, stutters and hesitations that creates a short corner."
Patriots select EDGE Jack Sawyer from Ohio State at No. 68
Continuing to draft for need positions and to select consensus players, the Patriots with their own third-round pick, No. 68 select Ohio State edge, Jack Sawyer. The 6'4", 240-pound Buckeye had a productive season. He racked up 53 total stops, eight sacks, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles, and five pass breakups.
The Pats in the first three rounds have now bolstered two of their top three weakest positions, left tackle and edge with two quality draftees in each. nfldraftbuzz.com notes,
"Jack Sawyer is a high-motor defensive end with a solid blend of power and versatility, traits that NFL scouts value highly. His ability to set the edge and maintain gap discipline, combined with his explosive first step, makes him a disruptive force in the backfield. Sawyer's relentless pursuit and variety in pass-rush moves, including a potent bull rush, are assets that will translate well at the next level."
With the No. 77 pick, the Patriots select TE Mason Taylor from LSU
With Atlanta's third-round pick acquired in the Judon trade, the Patriots go offense and add a young tight end to the basically over-30 unit, featuring Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper. They select LSU tight end, Mason Taylor.
The Tiger's 6'5", 256-pound tight end had a great season with 55 catches for 546 yards and two TDs. the33rdteam.com talks about the big LSU tight end and his versatility,
"LSU Tigers tight end Mason Taylor projects as an impactful receiving threat at the NFL level. Taylor offers fluidity at plus size and sure hands, which should allow him to be an authentic matchup problem for the blend of linebackers and safeties he will catch in coverage while running routes.
"Taylor plays at nearly a 50/50 split of in-line and slot assignments — a testament to his versatility at one of the more challenging positions to be diverse. Taylor offers effective run-after-catch and contested-catch ability for receiving in space and traffic, respectively, and his growth as a downfield receiver this season bodes well for his impact potential as a long-term developmental starter. "
Patriots trade in the 4th round - select DT Shemar Turner from Texas A&M at No. 118
In the fourth round, the Patriots again trade down. This time they send their 106th and 240th picks to Cincinnati for the Bengals 118th and 153rd picks. With defensive tackle a need, the Patriots add one to the room using the 118th pick in the fourth round acquired from the Bengals. It's Shemar Turner from Texas A&M.
