Patriots Insider Identifies Name To ‘Keep Eye On’ In NFL Draft

The Patriots will have an opportunity to retool their roster in the 2025 NFL Draft, and they might not leave a stone unturned.

New England needs to upgrade the offense, and Mike Vrabel would like to mold his side’s defensive identity.

The Patriots also are looking to add a kicker to add competition with John Parker Romo, according to The Athletic’s Chad Graff on Thursday. The New England insider added that Arizona’s Tyler Loop was a name to keep an eye on due to his relationship with special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer.

Joey Slye seemed to be an upgrade over Chad Ryland last season. However, the veteran made 26 of his 33 field goals, and some of those misses were poorly timed. He did hit a career-long 63-yard field goal, but he wasn’t always reliable from long distances.

It might seem silly to talk about kickers in the NFL draft, but it’s a position that becomes noteworthy when it ends up costing your team games. It’s also worth noting that the Patriots could look to add a kicker after the draft, too. Vrabel likely doesn’t want to spend too much time worrying about the position, so finding someone reliable could go a long way.