NFL Analyst Proposes Major Draft Day Trade For Patriots

The Patriots were very bold in NFL free agency, so why not take the same approach to the 2025 draft?

That was the logic ESPN’s Field Yates employed when he was tasked to propose a late-round trade for either Day 1 or Day 2 of next week’s draft. Yates focused on two teams on the rise and suggested New England trade its No. 38 and No. 77 overall picks to the Washington Commanders in exchange for Nos. 29 and 128.

“A theme of this Patriots offseason has been aggressiveness, as they spent huge in free agency to address several needs,” Yates wrote. “That could continue into the draft, especially if they can fill a critical need with a player late in Round 1. I’d be watching the wide receiver or offensive tackle groups. Washington, meanwhile, has only five picks and would get an earlier opportunity at No. 77 to tap into the depth of this year’s class.”

New England’s unique spot in the draft might make it more motivated to trade back into Round 1. There are a number of top-tier prospects at premium positions who could help the Patriots, but they might not be worth the fourth overall pick. So, Mike Vrabel and company theoretically could take the best player available at No. 4 and then draft more for need if they traded back into the first round.

We’ll soon find out if such a move interests the Patriots, as the 2025 draft kicks off next Thursday.