Patriots' Drake Maye Reacts to Will Campbell Draft Quote, 'Gets The Juices Going'
Andrew Peters
May 1, 2025
Drake Maye loved the energy from the New England Patriots' newest addition on draft night.
After the Patriots selected Will Campbell with the No. 4 overall pick, the offensive tackle said he's ready to "fight and die to protect [Maye] with everything I've got." Hearing that quote from the rookie had Maye ready for the season to start.
“That gets the juices going,” Maye told reporters Thursday, per The Athletic's Chad Graff. “It makes you want to go out there and play football now. (I’m) pumped that we picked Will.”
The Patriots addressed a major need in the draft by taking Campbell, who was the No. 7 overall player on the final big board from Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department.
Ad Placeholder
He'll join a new-look offensive line in New England that also features Garrett Bradbury at center and Morgan Moses at right tackle.
Along with getting Maye some protection, they got him some offensive weapons this offseason. They landed Ohio State star running back TreVeyon Henderson in the second round after signing free agent wide receiver Sefon Diggs earlier this offseason.
It's hard to say if the offseason pickups will be enough for the Patriots to make a playoff push, but Maye is more than excited for all the new faces.
NFL Exec Says Some Coaches Ranked Patriots' TreVeyon Henderson over Ashton Jeanty
Scott Polacek
May 1, 2025
Ashton Jeanty was the headline running back for the 2025 NFL draft and ended up going No. 6 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, but some in the NFL apparently believe the New England Patriots may have landed the best player at the position in the second round with the 38th overall pick.
"Have you seen clips of that back pass-blocking?" an NFL executive said of TreVeyon Henderson, per Mike Sando of The Athletic. "He stones them! There are coaches who liked him better than the Boise State guy (Jeanty) for his pass blocking and pass receiving ability."
Henderson is, without question, a dominant pass-blocker for the running back position.
Ad Placeholder
B/R's NFL Scouting Department called him an "absolute stud in pass protection" who blocks "with pride and aggression" in its predraft scouting report, and that helped keep the pocket clean for Ohio State's Will Howard as the Buckeyes went on to win the College Football Playoff national championship.
Henderson did far more than just block, though, and ran for 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns to go with 284 receiving yards despite sharing the backfield with fellow second-round pick Quinshon Judkins.
Ad Placeholder
New England landed someone who can transform its running back room right away and help young quarterback Drake Maye take strides in the coming seasons because of the pass protection and overall skill set he brings to the table.
Still, Jeanty turned in one of the best college football seasons of all-time for the running back position and fell just short of Barry Sanders' NCAA single-season record of 2,628 rushing yards from 1988.
Ad Placeholder
The Boise State product led his team to the CFP behind 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting. He likely would have won the award in plenty of other years, but Colorado's Travis Hunter thrived on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver and cornerback.
Jeanty figures to be a focal point of the Raiders' offense and could challenge for Rookie of the Year.
Perhaps he will be battling with Henderson if they both live up to their potential.
Patriots Fans Excited By TreVeyon Henderson Pick in Round 2 of 2025 NFL Draft
Paul Kasabian
Apr 25, 2025
The New England Patriots selected Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson with the No. 38 overall pick in the NFL draft on Friday.
Henderson starred for Ohio State over four years, amassing 4,614 total yards and 48 touchdowns. This year, Henderson rushed for 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns (7.1 yards per carry) to go along with 27 receptions for 284 yards and another score for the national champions.
He remained efficient throughout his entire collegiate career, rushing for an impressive 6.4 yards per carry.
Now he's a Patriot after New England used the No. 6 pick in the second round to take him. Of note, Henderson's Ohio State teammate and backfield mate, running back Quinshon Judkins, went two spots earlier to the Cleveland Browns.
Ad Placeholder
Fans and analysts reacted to the move.
With pick 38, the Patriots draft Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson.
Really good running back. Henderson ran for 1,016 yards with 10 touchdowns last season. He also caught 27 passes for 284 yards.
The Patriots RB is stacked with Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson and Henderson.
Henderson isn't a bellcow by any means, but he's a really good complement for Rhamondre Stevenson. I love the player, but question the value a little bit.
#Patriots select Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson at No. 38 overall.
- 5-10, 202 - Great athlete (8.87 RAS, 4.43 in the 40), home-run threat - Hardly fumbles and soft hands (27 catches, 284 yards, TD) - Potential 3-down back in NFL and 4-year starter at OSU pic.twitter.com/2PCsz9zr40
TreVeyon Henderson scares defenses time he touches the ball. This is something the New England Patriots desperately needed in their offensive attack. He is a physical pass protector as well. A++ pick for Drake Maye’s development and his offense scoring points.#NFLDraft
The #Patriots have selected Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson with the 38th overall pick. Henderson is an explosive weapon in the run and pass game. No. 18 on my big board.
The Patriots haven't drafted a running back this high since taking Georgia's Sony Michel with the No. 31 overall pick in 2018. They also haven't taken a running back at all since 2022, when the Pats selected South Dakota State's Pierre Strong and South Carolina's Kevin Harris in Rounds 4 and 6, respectively.
Now he'll share the backfield with Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson as the Patriot look for a great start to the Mike Vrabel era.
Patriots Reportedly Not Showing Interest in Trading Up from No. 4 in 2025 NFL Draft
Doric Sam
Apr 24, 2025
The New England Patriots have the No. 4 pick in Thursday night's NFL draft, and it sounds like they're content to stay put.
The Athletic's Jeff Howe reported that the Patriots "have not shown much, if any, interest" in trading up from the No. 4 pick and appear to be "willing to stick to their board."
In the final mock draft by B/R's NFL Scouting Department, the Patriots are projected to use the No. 4 pick to select LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell. New England likely won't have the chance to select Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter or Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter without trading up, but Campbell is an impressive prospect who will help protect second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
Ad Placeholder
"The Patriots have been tied to Campbell for weeks leading up to draft night and for good reason: They are in desperate need of a functional left tackle and building block for the offensive line," B/R NFL scout Brandon Thorn stated.
While the No. 4 pick won't be used in a trade, it sounds like New England is still open for business. Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reported that the team is "open to trading players from the previous coaching staff" and named wide receiver Kayshon Boutte as a potential trade candidate.
Ad Placeholder
The Patriots have nine picks in this year's draft, and it appears that they're hoping to add more. New England has multiple holes to fill up and down the roster, so first-year head coach Mike Vrabel and company will surely be hoping to make the right picks as the franchise enters a new era.
Patriots Reportedly Expected to Target OL in NFL Draft Amid Hunter, Carter Rumors
Joseph Zucker
Apr 23, 2025
The New England Patriots may not earn a lot of style points with how they utilize the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported Wednesday that head coach Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf, their executive vice president of player personnel, are expected to look at the offensive line on Day 1.
She wrote the idea of moving up a spot or two in order to land Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter or Penn State edge-rusher Abdul Carter is "appealing." Sacrificing draft capital to that end isn't the best approach, though, when the Pats have a variety of needs to address.
Ad Placeholder
LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell was the pick in Bleacher Report's most recent mock draft, and that's also where The Ringer's Todd McShay had the Patriots going in his newest mock.
"New head coach Mike Vrabel fell in love with Campbell after meeting him multiple times during the draft process," McShay reported. "Campbell’s recall and football intelligence sold Vrabel on making him the leader of the Patriots' OL room. There's even a report that Drake Maye knows Campbell is the pick."
Campbell is the No. 7 overall player on B/R's big board. While he's listed as an interior lineman, he could play inside or outside at the next level.
The early returns from Maye were encouraging. He threw for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 13 appearances, and he finished 17th in QBR (58.6) at ESPN.com.
The Patriots did the hard part by finding a good long-term solution at quarterback. Now, the challenge is putting Maye in a position to thrive.
Bolstering his O-line would do just that after he was sacked 34 times as a rookie.
Patriots' Mike Vrabel Reportedly Open to Trades, Kayshon Boutte A 'Name to Watch'
Adam Wells
Apr 23, 2025
AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper
Looking to remake the New England Patriots' roster to fit his style, head coach Mike Vrabel is keeping an open mind when it comes to making trades.
Per Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz, the Patriots are open to deals involving players brought in by the previous coaching staff, with wide receiver Kayshon Boutte cited as a "name to watch" for.
It's not uncommon for a new coach to come in and clean house, at least to some extent, with the goal of adding players who fit their style and mentality.
This process rarely gets done in a single offseason, but the Patriots can afford to do anything because their overall roster talent is starting at a low point. There aren't a lot of obvious cornerstone players already in place, with the exception of quarterback Drake Maye and cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Ad Placeholder
Vrabel has already made several significant investments with the goal of improving the Patriots in 2025. They spent big money on defensive tackle Milton Williams (four years, $104 million) and cornerback Carlton Davis III (three years, $54 million), then brought in wide receiver Stefon Diggs (three years, $63.5 million) later in free agency
The Diggs addition did give the Patriots' pass-catching corps a much-needed boost. It could also explain why Boutte, who tied for the team lead with three touchdown catches last season, is available.
Ad Placeholder
New England isn't exactly overflowing with pass-catching talent right now. Even Diggs is a big question mark after tearing his ACL in Week 8 last season with the Houston Texans.
This is a deep draft for pass-catchers. B/R's NFL scouting department has a combined total of 17 wide receivers and tight ends ranked among its top 100 prospects.
Ad Placeholder
It's safe to assume the Patriots will make wide receiver a priority in the draft, though they're expected to use the No. 4 pick on an offensive lineman.
The Patriots have four picks in the top 100, including two in the third round, which they can use to boost their receiving talent around Maye. Vrabel could also be using some of the players currently on the roster as trade bait to add even more mid- and late-round selections to take more swings.
Joshua Farmer NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for New England Patriots DL
Matt Holder
Apr 22, 2025
The New England Patriots selected Florida State DL Joshua Farmer with the No. 137 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Joshua Farmer has many traits that NFL teams covet. He has good size with very long arms and impressive quickness and lateral movement skills. That gives him a high ceiling at the next level.
Farmer stands out the most as a run defender. When he shoots his hands straight from the ground, he's hard to move with one-on-one blocks and has plenty of upper-body strength to lock out offensive linemen and take advantage of those long arms. Also, he can get penetration when slanting with his quickness and agility.
Joshua Farmer Highlights
However, the Florida State product has a tough time staying in his gap against double teams and combo blocks. His pad level and hand placement are inconsistent which exposes his chest, and he takes on blocks with a narrow base. He also doesn't anticipate double-teams well.
Ad Placeholder
As a pass-rusher, Farmer wins in flashes rather than being a consistent producer. His sub-par pad level reduces the effectiveness and consistency of his bull rush and he's often late with his hands. Additionally, he could afford to mix up his pass-rush plan more often as he tries to bullrush too regularly. He's shown solid cross-chop and swim moves and has the athleticism to put together a few finesse moves but rarely uses them.
Overall, Farmer has the profile of someone who could be a good NFL interior defensive lineman but may need some time to develop. That could cause him to get drafted higher than expected if a team is willing to bet on his traits. Schematically, he has some position versatility after lining up everywhere from a nose tackle to a 3-technique in college.
MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
HEIGHT: 6'3"
WEIGHT: 314
HAND: 10½"
ARM: 35¼"
WINGSPAN: 83⅜”
40-YARD DASH: 5.11
VERTICAL: 29"
BROAD: 9'4"
POSITIVES
Ad Placeholder
— Good size with a thick build and great arm length. Impressive athleticism and quickness for his size, too.
— Decent at timing up the snap and has good acceleration off the ball to get penetration with his get-off.
— When he keeps his pads down and shoots his hands, he has plenty of upper body strength to stand up interior offensive linemen and lock them out to get great extension on blocks with his long arms.
— Can make tackles with offensive linemen hanging onto him.
— Has the strength and size to be an effective bull rusher when he keeps his pads down and shoots his hands.
— Flashed solid swim and cross-chop moves as a pass rusher.
— High motor effort player who will get coverage sacks and factor into gang tackles.
Ad Placeholder
NEGATIVES
— Often plays with high pad level/stands up out of his stance.
— Has wide hand placement as a run defender, exposing his chest to offensive linemen and making it difficult to consistently take advantage of his long arms. Also impacts his ability to disengage from blocks.
Ad Placeholder
— Struggles to stay in his gap against double teams due to the two factors mentioned above and playing with a narrow base.
— Lacks some rotational strength to keep his shoulders square and avoid getting reached or scooped.
— Sub-par pad level also hurts his ability to consistently be effective with a bull rush.
— Often late with his hands as a pass-rusher and struggles to work the offensive lineman's hands.
NOTES
— A 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports
— Injuries: 2023 (Thumb, offseason surgery, missed bowl game and 2024 spring practice), 2024 (Undisclosed, limited in 1 game)
— 2022: Honorable Mention Freshman All-American; All-ACC Academic Team
— 2023: Second-Team All-ACC; All-ACC Academic Team
Bradyn Swinson NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for New England Patriots Edge
Matt Holder
Apr 22, 2025
The New England Patriots selected LSU EDGE Bradyn Swinson with the No. 146 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
"Solid" is a word that kept coming up while watching Bradyn Swinson’s tape and writing his scouting report. He should enter the NFL as a decent pass-rusher and has a chance to develop into a complete player by growing as a run defender.
Swinson has a handful of ways he can win as a pass-rusher. He’s shown active hands with solid cross-chop and hand-swipe moves, the ability to occasionally turn speed to power and a good motor to make some coverage sacks. His bend is average to come flat down the line to the quarterback, but he does show some hip and ankle tightness when trying to make more than 90-degree turns when cornering.
Bradyn Swinson Highlights
Against the run, the LSU product uses his hands and longer arms well to help get extension and has no issues taking on and defeating blocks from tight ends. However, he could afford to add some size and strength to be more consistent against offensive tackles. Luckily, he has room for growth on his frame.
Additionally, Swinson plays very upright and might benefit from playing in a three-point stance more frequently in the NFL. That could make him a better fit as a hand-in-the-ground defensive end in even fronts as opposed to the standup linebacker position he played in college.
Overall, he can be a decent rusher who has the potential to develop into a solid starter in the NFL.
MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
HEIGHT: 6'4"
WEIGHT: 255
HAND: 9⅞”
ARM: 33⅜”
WINGSPAN: 81¼”
3-CONE: 7.13
SHUTTLE: 4.33
POSITIVES
— Solid size and frame with room for growth if needed; also has solid arm length.
— Has active hands as a pass-rusher and is decent at working the offensive lineman’s hands. Solid cross-chop and double-hand swipe moves that he can win with.
Ad Placeholder
— Solid at turning speed to power when rushing the passer.
— Has decent bend to make 90-degree turns at the top of rush and get pressure on the quarterback.
— Good pass-rush motor to get coverage sacks.
— Uses his hands and arms well to get extension as a run defender against offensive tackles. Has enough strength to consistently take on blocks from tight ends.
— Consistently recognizes and gets under pullers as the spill player in run fits.
NEGATIVES
Ad Placeholder
— Not explosive off the line to threaten offensive tackles with speed around the edge as a pass-rusher.
— Could afford to finish his pass-rush moves with a violent rip to get clean wins and keep tackles from hanging onto him.
— High cut and plays very upright, which can cause him issues against better competition against the run.
— Lean frame that will make it difficult to set the edge versus high competition and turns his shoulders when setting the edge.
— Isn’t strong and physical enough when taking on pullers to constrict rushing lanes as the force player in run fits.
— Isn’t a violent block shedder, leading to him getting stuck on blocks.
Kyle Williams NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for New England Patriots WR
Nicholas Nathanson
Apr 21, 2025
The New England Patriots selected Washington State WR Kyle Williams with the No. 69 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Kyle Williams adds alignment versatility along with route running and open-field speed.
Williams's short-area quickness is pivotal to his success against press-aligned defensive backs. He throws hard jabs, steps and speed-releases, quickly working past his defender. His approach to defeat press alignment is detailed by attacking the defenders’ base and leverage. Williams enters his routes with good urgency and sinks his hips at the top of routes to create separation.
Kyle Williams Highlights
He is a dangerous threat against zone defenses because of his feel for the game and open-field speed. He settles into the hole of Cover-2 shells between the corner and safety. Williams has home run speed to take plays the distance and outrun pursuing defenders.
Ad Placeholder
Due to his separation and grass-finding abilities, Williams creates positive throwing opportunities for his quarterback. He plays with good body control to adjust to scattered ball placement. Sideline grabs are not foreign to him. He tracks the football well with spatial awareness to get two feet inbounds.
Although he is a good route-runner, Williams drifts upfield after the break of his route. Against NFL defensive backs, that creates potential turnover opportunities. He needs to work on holding the line out of his breaks to maintain the space he created.
Ad Placeholder
Williams dropped some passes in college due to inconsistent catch mechanics. With the ball in flight, he lets it fall to him instead of meeting it at its highest point. He has mixed results making difficult physical grabs through contact.
Williams possesses the space-creation, yards-after-the-catch ability and top-end speed to be an impactful pass-catcher. Early in his NFL career, he projects as a rotational wideout with starter upside.
MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
HEIGHT: 5'11"
WEIGHT: 190
HAND: 8¾"
ARM: 30⅛"
WINGSPAN: 72¼"
40-YARD DASH: 4.4
VERTICAL: 36.5"
BROAD: 9'11"
POSITIVES
— Big-play generator after the catch with home run speed.
— Tracks the ball at all three levels of the field.
— Short-area quickness and releases to defeat press alignment.
— Relocating when his quarterback breaks contain, finds open space to settle into.
NEGATIVES
Ad Placeholder
— Dropped passes due to smaller hands and inconsistent catch mechanics.
— Drifting upfield after breaking at the top of routes.
Jared Wilson NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for New England Patriots IOL
Alex Kay
Apr 21, 2025
The New England Patriots selected Georgia IOL Jared Wilson with the No. 95 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Jared Wilson is a one-year starter at center inside Georgia's 54-46 pass-run split, downhill run scheme, predicated on inside zone and gap concepts.
Wilson wins as a run blocker using good initial quicks, tight hand placement, and strong hands to maintain his clench once latched, stay attached, and strain to widen out defenders on base and angle-drive blocks. He will overshoot his landmarks and drift past his target against slants and gap exchanges, creating a soft inside shoulder and leakage across his face.
Jared Wilson Highlights
In pass protection Wilson shows solid processing skills to key and sort pick attempts and twists with the ability to sit down, redirect and flatten out counter moves. His mediocre arm length provides easy access into his frame that can get him push-pulled and shed quickly when he doesn't win the initial leverage battle.
Overall, Wilson is still a green, inexperienced starter but shows starter-level athletic ability and play strength that signal an immediate role player on the interior with the traits to develop into a starter within his first contract.
MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
HEIGHT: 6'3"
WEIGHT: 310
HAND: 10¾"
ARM: 32⅜"
WINGSPAN: 80"
40-YARD DASH: 4.84
3-CONE: NA
SHUTTLE: 4.56
VERTICAL: 32"
BROAD: 9'4"
POSITIVES
— Stiff punch with tight, inside hand placement creates quick leverage and sustained control in the run game
— Above average body control and ability to recover out of compromising positions
— Does a solid job of working off of immediate threats to account for pick attempts
— Good initial quickness to reach his landmarks and aiming points on combination, overtake and angle-drive blocks
