Patriots Rookie Forecast 2025
Previous Years of Patriots Rookie Forecasts:
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020
Eventual Super Bowl Winners’ Rookie Forecasts: Eagles 2024 | Chiefs 2023 | Chiefs 2022 | Rams 2021 | Bucs 2020
Walt’s Offseason Reports: Patriots 2025 Offseason Report | Patriots 2024 Offseason Report
Solid Starter
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State – Round 2 
The Patriots made it a priority this offseason to improve their offense around second-year quarterback Drake Maye. In free agency, they added receiving weapons like Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins while also bringing in a solid veteran right tackle in Morgan Moses. While New England already had a quality starting running back in Rhamondre Stevenson and a solid backup in Antonio Gibson, Henderson was too good to pass up, and the Patriots snatched him up in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The 5-foot-10, 214-pound Henderson is a fast back who has serious speed with a second gear to run away from defenses. With his jets, Henderson is a potential home run hitter who is a threat to rip off long runs on any carry. Henderson is a strong runner with a burst to get upfield. With natural feel and patience, Henderson lets holes develop, and he has quickness to dart upfield when he decides to go North-South. With his strong build, Henderson can power through tacklers and finishes runs well. He has lower body strength and contact balance to maintain his feet while pushing through defenders. The compact build lends itself to Henderson running behind his pads with good knee bend, and he opens it up in the open field to break off long runs. Henderson is not a super elusive runner and is more of a North-South style, but he shows some moves to change direction with cuts around defenders.In the passing game, Henderson is a capable outlet receiver who can run the basic running back routes. He has good hands and is natural in the open field. In pass protection, Henderson was outstanding for the Buckeyes in 2024. He was phenomenal in identifying rushers, picking up blitzers, executing the block, and helping his quarterback. Henderson’s pass-blocking skills are very advanced. Once Henderson learns NFL defenses and their blitz schemes, he should be a real asset as a pass-protecting back.
Stevenson can serve as the starter for the next year, and maybe heading into the 2026 season, but it would not surprise me if Henderson becomes the featured back by his third season in the NFL. Henderson offers more in the passing game and is more of a threat to rip off long runs. By the end of his rookie contract, I think Henderson will be a solid starter in New England.
2024: JaāLynn Polk, WR
2023: Keion White, DE
2022: Cole Strange, G
2021: Mac Jones, QB
2020: Anfernee Jennings, LB
2019: NāKeal Harry, WR
2018: Isaiah Wynn, OL
2017: Derek Rivers, DE
2016: Jon Thuney, G
2015: Tre Jackson, G
2014: Jon Halapio, G
2013: Logan Ryan, CB
Most Likely To Bust
Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State – Round 3 
The Patriots had a really good 2025 draft, and I donāt dislike Williams as a prospect, but of their early-round picks, I think Williams is the most likely to top out as a backup rather than develop into a starter. At 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, Williams is undersized but has some speed and explosiveness. However, NFL defenses will be ready for his speed, so I could see Williams having flashes of big plays and games, but not a consistent producer, as some defenses will be capable of defending him downfield. Thus, I think he could be more of a rotational backup as a pro.
2024: Caeden Wallace, OT
2023: Marte Mapu, LB
2022: Tyquan Thornton, WR
2021: Christian Barmore, DT
2020: Devin Asiasi, TE
2019: Yodney Cajuste, OT
2018: Ja’waun Bentley, LB
2017: Deatrich Wise, DE
2016: Cyrus Jones, CB
2015: Jordan Richards, S
2014: Bryan Stork, C
2013: Duron Harmon, S
Potential Boom Pick
Will Campbell, OT, LSU – Round 1 
The one critical position the Patriots needed and didnāt address in free agency was left tackle. New England had a huge hole for their blind side protector for Drake Maye and were in need of a long-term starter. With the fourth-overall pick, Campbell was a no-brainer after he was an excellent starter in the SEC over the past three seasons.
As a pass protector, Campbell is reliable to get the job done and give his quarterback the necessary time to get the ball out. He is quick out of his stance and stays light on his feet with the quickness to get depth in his drop to negate speed rushers running around him. Campbell plays with good leverage and is a natural knee bender with smooth feet to glide in the pocket. He shows impressive vision, instincts, and feel that allow him to react quickly to snuff out games and stunts by the defensive line. He has the size and bulk to stand up bull rushes, and it is not easy for defenders to drive him backward. In his final season, Campbell showed big improvement in his hand usage and enters the NFL with that as a strength. Campbell is a well-balanced pass protector with good technique who should be an asset in protecting his trigger man in the NFL.
In the ground game, Campbell can get after defenders and contribute at the point of attack. He has a large frame and will smash defenders off the snap. Some team sources felt Campbell needed to get stronger, and others thought he had adequate power. So, adding strength is a consideration, especially depending on the blocking scheme he is drafted into. Campbellās quickness and smooth feet make him a good blocker in space. He is quick to the second level and effective as a puller.
The Patriots had an excellent offseason with hiring Mike Vrabel, a strong run through free agency, and then an excellent draft. Campbell was the headliner, and I think he will be a rock-solid left tackle for a long time. I could see him being a pro bowler and a boom pick for New England.
2024: Drake Maye, WR
2023: Christian Gonzalez, CB
2022: None
2021: None
2020: Kyle Dugger, S
2019: Joejuan Williams, CB
2018: Sony Michel, RB
2017: Antonio Garcia, OT
2016: Malcolm Mitchell, WR
2015: Malcom Brown, DT
2014: Dominique Easley, DE
2013: Jamie Collins, LB
Future Depth Player
Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State – Round 4 
The Patriots have some capable interior defensive linemen with Christian Barmore and Milton Williams, but they added a nice rotational backup when they selected Farmer in the fourth round. Farmer has some limitations, but he brings quality value as a backup.
In the pass rush, Farmer has a strong bull rush with some serious power off the ball. He has a barrel chest with developed upper body strength. That allows Farmer to rock guards back and knock them off balance. He can rock and blast guards backwards with his sheer power. Farmer lacks some instincts and has issues finding the ball, and does not use his hands well to shed. When Farmer gets free on stunts or other games, he flashes some quickness to close, but he has some lower-body tightness that hurts his ability to redirect. Farmer will probably never produce big sack numbers in the NFL, but he can contribute to the rush by generating a push to help take away space for the quarterback to step up in the pocket, and he could have some five or six sacks during his career.
In the ground game, Farmer is generally stout enough to hold his gap at the point of attack. He has the power to hold his ground and defend downhill runs coming straight at him. Farmer does not use his hands well, and that limits his ability to shed blocks and make tackles. Farmer lacks some instincts to anticipate and struggles to find the ball. Those weaknesses keep him from making more tackles near the line of scrimmage.
Farmer may never develop into a three-down starter, but he could be a backup rotational nose tackle to keep Williams fresh. As a fourth-rounder, he could be a solid depth player for New England.
2024: Layden Robinson, G
2023: Kayshon Boutte, WR
2022: Marcus Jones, CB
2021: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB
2020: Dalton Keene, TE
2019: Damien Harris, RB
2018: Braxton Berrios, WR
2017: Conor McDermott, OT
2016: Jacoby Brissett, QB
2015: Trey Flowers, DE
2014: Cameron Fleming, OT
2013: Aaron Dobson, WR
