Patriots Draft Recap: Biggest Winners, Losers With 11 Draftees Entering Mix

There will be a heightened sense of competition at One Patriot Place.

The New England Patriots drafted 11 players throughout the 2025 NFL Draft. They added an on-field combination of explosiveness, athleticism and talent. And they did so all while drafting players who will serve as culture-fits and character guys in the locker room.

The Patriots organization won the three-day event, it seems. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t some losers to come out of it.

We highlighted a few of the biggest winners and losers after the Patriots concluded their NFL draft:

Winners
Drake Maye
The Patriots gave Maye protection and weapons with their premier picks, spending each of their first four selections on offense. Will Campbell (No. 4) immediately improves the situation at left tackle, even if he doesn’t stay there long term. Jared Wilson (No. 95) could legitimately be his starting center for the next decade. All while pass-catching running back TreVeyon Henderson (No. 38) and wide receiver Kyle Williams (No. 69) provide a shot in the arm when it comes to explosiveness and playmaking. After the Patriots allowed Maye to take a beating during his rookie year, it’s well-deserved.

Josh McDaniels
The Patriots offensive coordinator will benefit from the same influx of talent, but specifically when it comes to Henderson. McDaniels is famous for his work with pass-catching backs — Kevin Faulk, Shane Vereen, James White, etc. — and Henderson very well could be the next in line. Henderson (4.43 40-yard dash) is as explosive as any of those former Patriots and his pass protection was arguably the best in the class. McDaniels is going to love Henderson.

Tight ends
Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper give the Patriots a strong complement at tight end. So strong, in fact, the Patriots didn’t feel they needed to address the position with one of their premier picks. New England went four rounds without drafting a tight end, eight prospects coming off the board in that time in the first 163 picks. That’s good news for Henry and Hooper, as a selection of Tyler Warren, Mason Taylor or someone else could have put their job in jeopardy.

Decision-makers Mike Vrabel, Eliot Wolf
It’s impossible to know exactly how the class will look four or five years down the line. But with that said, it certainly feels like the Patriots did a good job mixing offensive talent with defensive potential. That’s a credit to those inside the war room at One Patriot Place, who worked through a second-round disagreement en route to a strong seven rounds.

Losers
Kayshon Boutte
Reports surfaced before the draft that the Patriots were listening to trade offers on Boutte. While those didn’t come to fruition before the draft, it’s fair to think the third-year wideout won’t be on Vrabel’s roster in 2024. The selection of Williams, an explosive wideout who has inside-outside versatility, all but takes the spot of Boutte. However, it’s a very crowded receiver room — Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Williams, Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker, Boutte — so Boutte likely won’t be the only one out the door.

Antonio Gibson
Gibson’s stock took a hit with the selection of Henderson, who excels as a pass-catcher but has three-down versatility. Rhamondre Stevenson’s touches might take a hit, as well, but he figures to have a better chance of maintaining his role on early downs. It’s worth wondering whether Gibson will stick in New England, despite a committee approach being the best thing for Stevenson and Henderson.

Safeties
The safety room is just as crowded as the wide receiver room, as the Patriots added another body in fourth-rounder Craig Woodson (No. 106). The Cal product is the newest addition to the room, which already features Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Jaylinn Hawks, Marcus Epps, Marte Mapu, Dell Pettus, Brenden School, and Mark Perry. Woodson brings a little more versatility after playing free safety, strong safety and in the slot. But there’s no chance New England keeps that group whole entering 2025.

Parker Romo
There will be a kicker competition in Foxboro, Mass., this summer. New England selected Andres Borrengales in the sixth round (No. 182), making the Miami product the first kicker off the board this year. Borrengales had connections inside the Patriots organization and met with special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer during the pre-draft process. Chances are, Romo will be out of a job in late August — teams don’t typically draft kickers just to cut them loose after four months.