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Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patriots 2025 NFL Draft Guide: Edge Rushers
EDITOR'S NOTE: MassLive's Mark Daniels released his Ultimate Patriots Draft Guide for 2025 on Thursday, April 17. This story is an excerpt focused on the Edge Rushers in this year's class. When it comes to a pass rusher, Mike Vrabel had an anchor in his Titans' defensive line with Jeffrey Simmons. He also had multiple different outside linebackers and prototypical defensive ends. Advertisement At defensive end, the Titans played Denico Autry (2021-2023), Mario Edwards (2022), and Jack Crawford (2020) in that span. They didn't draft any prototypical defensive ends under Vrabel. Here are their Combine averages (note only one player did the bench press, so the number is skewed): HT WT 40 Vert BP Broad 3Cone Shttle 6′4 275 4.96 32 32 8′9 7.32 4.42 At outside linebacker, Harold Landry was one of Vrabel's top draft picks and performers. Landry was one of three outside linebackers drafted between 2018-2023 in Tennessee. Also drafted were Rashad Weaver and D'Andre Walker. Here are the averages for those Titans outside linebackers: HT WT 40 Vert BP Broad 3Cone Shttle 6′3 254 4.76 34 22 8′8.5 6.93 4.23 As you can see, there's a stark difference between a Vrabel defensive end and an outside linebacker. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Patriots add one of each in this draft. Advertisement Keeping those numbers in mind, here are the best Patriots fits: First-round option: Abdul Carter, Penn State HT WT 40 Vert BP Broad 3Cone Shttle 6′3 250 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Arguably the best player in this draft, Carter is an elite pass rusher. He played off-ball linebacker and defensive end at Penn State. Last year, he led the FBS with 23.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. Carter was dominant, earning First-team All-American, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and Defensive Lineman of the Year. He's ultra-athletic, agile, aggressive, and plays with high intensity. He's a projected Pro Bowl talent who could go in the top 3. The Patriots met with him at the Combine and he had a pre-draft visit in New England. Keep an eye on: Mykel Williams, Georgia HT WT 40 Vert BP Broad 3Cone Shttle 6′5 260 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Williams is an ultra-athletic pass rusher with a high upside. He earned Second-team All-SEC honors the last two seasons. Williams finished with five sacks and two forced fumbles last year. At 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, he has the size and athletic traits that suggest he could develop into an explosive NFL pass rusher. That's more of a projection as Williams will have to reach his high ceiling. He'll be a first-round draft pick. Williams had a pre-draft visit with the Patriots. Advertisement Best athletic fit: Tyler Batty, BYU HT WT 40 Vert BP Broad 3Cone Shttle 6′5 271 4.78 34 27 10′0 7.21 4.54 Batty is built like a prototypical defensive end (6-foot-6, 271 pounds) and hits on five Titans marks. He also hits on five traits as an outside linebacker. A team captain, he earned First-team All-Big 12 honors after making 59 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions. Service a 2-year LDS mission in Malaga and Spain and will be 25 as a rookie. Batty started a horse therapy non-profit and earned an award for community service in 2023. He's a projected Day 3 pick. Later-round option: Ethan Downs, Oklahoma HT WT 40 Vert BP Broad 3Cone Shttle 6′3 269 4.69 34 32 9′11 7.58 4.59 Downs is a 6-foot-4, 269-pound edge rusher who hits on six prototypical Titans traits as an outside linebacker. He finished with three sacks with 29 tackles, nine for loss. He's a two-time second-team All-Big 12 pick. He won OU's Bob Kalsu Award for leadership and serving as a role model last season. In 2023, he was honored for his exemplary community impact. He's a projected Day 3 pick. Advertisement Patriots connection: Oluwafemi Oladego, UCLA HT WT 40 Vert BP Broad 3Cone Shttle 6′3 259 N/A 36.5 20 10′0 N/A N/A Oladego is one of the most well-connected prospects to the Patriots. Eliot Wolf was on hand for his UCLA Pro Day. The Patriots then brought Oladego in for a pre-draft visit. He is the prototypical size for a Vrabel outside linebacker (6-foot-3, 259 pounds). Oladego is a high-character prospect who finished with 57 tackles, 13.5 for loss, and 4.5 sacks last season. He started his career as a middle linebacker before transitioning to an edge rusher. He's a projected third or fourth-round pick. More Patriots Content
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patriots 2025 NFL Draft Guide: Quarterbacks
EDITOR'S NOTE: MassLive's Mark Daniels released his Ultimate Patriots Draft Guide for 2025 on Thursday, April 17. This story is an excerpt focused on the Quarterback class. On a scale from 1-to-10, the Patriots need for a quarterback in this draft falls at a 1. That's a good thing for a rebuilding franchise. After drafting two quarterbacks last year and having Drake Maye for the foreseeable future, the team also signed veteran Josh Dobbs in free agency. Advertisement Why would they draft a quarterback in 2025? It's easy. After trading Joe Milton III to Dallas this month, the Patriots only have two quarterbacks on the roster. That leaves the door open for the team to add a developmental backup quarterback behind Maye and Dobbs. Here are the Patriots drafted quarterback averages: HT WT Hand 40 Vert Broad 3Cone Shttle 6′2.5 225 9.41 4.87 30.3 9′2 7.22 4.40 Considering this is the most important position in football, it never hurts to take multiple shots in the draft. As we all know, back in 2000, with three veteran quarterbacks on the roster, the Patriots drafted Tom Brady in the sixth round. Here's a look at some backup options: Best athletic fit: Tyler Shough, Louisville HT WT Hand 40 Vert Broad 3Cone Shttle 6′4 219 9.75 4.63 32 9′9 N/A N/A Out of the quarterbacks who tested, Shough hit on five traits – height, hand size, 40 time, vertical and broad jump. He played at Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville in college. Shough suffered a broken leg in 2023. He was one of three winners of the Comeback Player of the Year. Shough threw for 3,195 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. He's a projected second-round pick. Advertisement Later-round option: Seth Henigan, Memphis HT WT Hand 40 Vert Broad 3Cone Shttle 6′3 215 9 4.76 31.5 9′6 7.34 4.44 Henigan also has prototypical athletic traits that the Patriots look for in a quarterback. He hits marks with height, 40 time, vertical, and broad jump. He threw 3,502 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions last season. He set a Memphis school record with 104 career passing touchdowns. He's a projected seventh-round pick and profiles as a backup. Patriots connection: Will Howard, Ohio State HT WT Hand 40 Vert Broad 3Cone Shttle 6′4 236 9 N/A 31.5 9′4 7.13 4.33 The Patriots hired Riley Larkin to be an offensive assistant. Last season, he was an offensive assistant at Ohio State where he worked with quarterbacks. Howard transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State. He threw for 4,010 yards with 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was second in the FBS with a 73.0 completion percentage. He's a projected fourth-round pick. Howard profiles as an above-average backup. Advertisement Patriots connection, part 2: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon HT WT Hand 40 Vert Broad 3Cone Shttle 5′11 205 9.25 4.79 N/A N/A N/A N/A Gabriel was named after former Patriots running back Corey Dillon. From Hawaii, he played at UCF, Oklahoma, and Oregon. He was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 as well as a Heisman Trophy finalist. He finished with 3,857 yards with 30 touchdowns and six interceptions. He's a projected fourth-round pick. Local connection: Max Brosmer, Minnesota HT WT Hand 40 Vert Broad 3Cone Shttle 6′1 217 9.25 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Brosmer played in New England at the University of New Hampshire from 2019-2023. He was one of the best FCS quarterbacks for multiple seasons. Last year, he transferred to Minnesota where he set a school record for completions (268). Brosmer threw for 2,828 yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. He's a projected Day 3 pick. More Patriots Content
