FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The 2025 NFL draft was held Thursday-Saturday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The New England Patriots selected Will Campbell from LSU with their first-round pick. Here's a look at all of New England's selections.
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 4: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
My take: Left tackle was the Patriots' biggest need. Campbell fits on the field with a nasty playing style and a team-first attitude. As one offensive line coach told ESPN leading up to the draft: "He's a football player. You want him on your team." The Patriots entered this draft with conviction to come away with more support for QB Drake Maye, and this is a decisive first step in doing so. The Patriots ranked last in run block win rate (67%) and ahead of only the Bengals in pass block win rate last season (51%), according to ESPN Research.
Will he start as a rookie? Campbell started at left tackle at LSU as a freshman, and it wouldn't be surprising if he follows a similar path in New England. Returning starter Vederian Lowe is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and 2024 third-round pick Caedan Wallace likely fits better on the right side or as a swing option.
What we're hearing about Campbell: Some teams viewed him more as a guard because his arm length (32⅝ inches at the combine and 33 inches at LSU's pro day) and wingspan (77⅜ inches) are below average at the position. But other teams with a hole at tackle viewed him as capable at that spot. Over the past two seasons, Campbell was awarded the No. 7 jersey at LSU, an honor given to a playmaker who also elevates others around them.
Check out some of the top highlights from Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson.
Round 2, No. 38: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
My take: The 5-foot-10, 202-pound Henderson adds a speedier dynamic to the running back position, as he is a home run threat who proved to scouts that he is capable in pass protection. He joins Rhamondre Stevenson (6-0, 227 pounds) and Antonio Gibson (6-0, 228 pounds) to form a potentially potent three-headed attack, with a playing style that is notably different from that of the bigger and more rugged Stevenson and Gibson. One NFL coach told ESPN that his team rated Henderson as the best sub back in the draft, with pass-catching ability, and he also projects as a top option as a kickoff returner. The draft is deep at running back, so one question is whether the Patriots could have waited and addressed the position later to target other areas such as receiver, tight end, outside linebacker or defensive tackle.
Key stat: Henderson had just one fumble in more than 650 career touches in college.
Check out some of the top highlights from Washington State's Kyle Williams.
Round 3, No. 69: Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State
My take: The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Williams is a big-play threat down the field, averaging 17.1 yards per reception last season. So between speedy RB Henderson and Williams, the Patriots have added some significant juice to their offense at all levels of the field with their initial Day 2 selections. Williams has aligned both outside and in the slot, which is the type of flexibility that returning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels values.
The Patriots invested significant draft picks at receiver last year in Ja'Lynn Polk (second round, No. 37) and Javon Baker (fourth round, No. 110), and Polk is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. The pick of Williams puts them on early notice, especially with free agent signings Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins among those brought in atop the depth chart.
Key stat: Williams had 14 catches on passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield in 2024, which tied for fourth in the FBS. Williams, whose hand size was measured at 8¾ inches, totaled eight drops last season -- 15th most in the FBS (7.6% drop rate).
Round 3: No. 95: Jared Wilson, C, Georgia
My take: The Patriots made two trades from the No. 77 pick -- first with Carolina (sliding to 85 and adding a 2025 fifth-round pick), then with Kansas City (sliding from 85 to 95 and adding a 2026 fourth-round pick). They ultimately landed on the 6-foot-3, 310-pound Wilson, who is a one-year starter at the position in college. They are projecting that Wilson can develop into a future starting option behind veteran Garrett Bradbury. Wilson's athleticism was reflected in his 4.84 time in the 40-yard dash at the combine, which was the fastest time of any center. In early March, the Patriots released longtime center David Andrews -- also a Georgia alum -- and the selection of Wilson gives them another player to potentially pair with Maye in the future.
What we're hearing about Wilson: Having moved to center after the 2022 season, he is still raw at the position. He has limited experience at guard, and with the Patriots usually preferring their game-day interior backups to have flexibility to play center and guard, how that manifests itself bears watching.
Round 4, No. 106: Craig Woodson, S, California
My take: The 6-foot, 200-pound Woodson spent the last six years at Cal, and was a starter for his final three seasons. He was also a team captain for two seasons and has extensive experience on special teams. A role in the kicking game could be his best chance to break through on the game-day roster initially, as the Patriots return starting safeties Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers, in addition to Dell Pettus, Jaylinn Hawkins, Marte Mapu and Marcus Epps. Patriots director of player personnel Ryan Cowden noted Woodson's versatility to play a variety of roles at safety within the team's scheme, and also that he has high-end communication skills and football intelligence. The Patriots hosted Woodson on a visit before the draft after spending time with him at the East-West game.
Round 4, No. 137 (via trade with Seattle): Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State
My take: The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Farmer was a pre-draft visitor to the Patriots, who traded up to select him --- giving up a fifth-rounder (144) and seventh-rounder (238). Farmer was projected to be drafted earlier and told reporters that he noted 16 defensive tackles were selected before him. "Everybody in the world knows that's not how it was supposed to go. I'm going to get there and prove everybody wrong," he said. So the Patriots are getting a player with added motivation who can develop behind projected starters Milton Williams and Christian Barmore (assuming Barmore's return from being diagnosed with blood clots last year continues to progress).
Round 5: No. 146 (from Carolina): Bradyn Swinson, Edge, LSU
My take: The 6-3, 255-pound Swinson was projected to be drafted earlier than the fifth round after totaling 58 tackles (13 for a loss) and 8.5 sacks in his one season as a full-time starter. He'll join an edge position headlined by free-agent signing Harold Landry III, and if things go as the Patriots project, he will play a role in helping disrupt opposing quarterbacks. In a conference call with reporters, Swinson described his style of play: "You're getting a dawg, for sure. ... I win my one-on-ones. I pass rush. I really know how to get to the ball."
Round 6, No. 182: Andres Borregales, K, Miami
My take: The Patriots became the first team to select a kicker in the draft, with Borregales coming off a season in which he was 18 of 19 on field-goal attempts (long of 56) and 62 of 62 on extra points. Borregales was Miami's kicker the last four seasons and he will compete with John Parker Romo for the top job in New England, with the 5-foot-10, 197-pound Borregales the favorite based on his draft status. Borregales is the third kicker drafted by the Patriots since they moved on from Stephen Gostkowski after the 2019 season (Chad Ryland in 2023, Justin Rohrwasser in 2020). The Rams (2) are the only other team to take multiple kickers since 2020.
Round 7, No. 220: Marcus Bryant, T, Missouri
My take: At this point of the draft, teams are often focusing on elite traits to develop, and Bryant has a unique combination of size (6-foot-7, 320 pounds) and movement skills (4.97 in the 40-yard dash). Bryant's arm length (34 5/8") and wingspan (83 1/8") are also above average. He will face longer odds to earn a roster spot with first-round pick Will Campbell (left) and veteran free-agent signing Morgan Moses (right) the projected starters, and others in the pipeline such as 2024 third-round pick Caedan Wallace. A spot on the practice squad could ultimately be his best chance to develop behind the scenes.
Round 7, No. 251: Julian Ashby, LS, Vanderbilt
My take: The 6-foot-1, 231-pound Ashby will compete with Joe Cardona, the team's longest tenured player, for the top job. Ashby was expected to have multiple suitors as an undrafted free agent, so the Patriots ensure they have a chance to work with him by using a late seventh-round pick acquired in a trade down with the Chiefs to select him. Ashby is the first snapper selected in the draft since 2021.
Round 7, No. 257: Kobee Minor, CB, Memphis
My take: The Patriots had the 5-foot-11, 188-pound Minor on their radar by hosting him on one of their allotted 30 visits leading into the draft, which Minor said was his only visit to a team. The Patriots view him as an option both outside and in the slot, with solid movement and ball skills. Executive VP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf said Minor might have flown under the radar as a double transfer -- starting at Texas Tech, then going to Indiana for a year before finishing up at Memphis -- and also playing through a hamstring injury at times last season.