After a disappointing season, the New England Patriots quickly turned the page heading into 2025. They have a new head coach in place – Mike Vrabel replaced the fired Jerod Mayo – and will also have enough capital to turn things around after the return . 4 to 13 consecutive campaigns.
The project will play a central role in this process. The Patriots own the fourth overall selection in April and are expected to pick inside the top six in each subsequent round. They will have plenty of opportunities to add young talent to a roster that desperately needs it.
No one knows how they’ll get there, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see at least one of the selections invest in a player taking the field Monday night: Ohio State will face Notre Dame with the national championship on the line, which means some of the College football’s most intriguing talents will face off.
Here are some players on both sides Patriots fans should keep an eye on.
Ohio State Buckeyes
WR Emeka Egbuka (2): Although sometimes overshadowed by teammate, freshman Jeremiah Smith, Egbuka has also produced at a high level this year. Leading the Buckeyes with 75 catches, he entered the final game with 947 yards and 10 touchdowns on his season tally. A potential day one pick, he offers good size and versatility on the inside.
RB TreVeyon Henderson (32) and RB Quinshon Judkins (1): Ohio State’s star backs, Henderson and Judkins, have gained 961 and 960 rushing yards, respectively, so far this season. Henderson is the more dynamic of the two and more productive as a receiver, while Judkins is more of a power runner. Both would look great as rotation pieces in New England’s backfield.
Lieutenant Donovan Jackson (74): After starting his career at left guard, Jackson was moved to left tackle midway through the season and still managed to hold his own. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound tackle has significantly improved his draft stock this year; his combination of positional flexibility and quality performance at both spots is the main catalyst for this.
DT Tyleik Williams (91): At 6-foot-3, 327 pounds, Williams is a strong-bodied interior lineman who has proven capable of stopping the run and getting downfield as a passer. Given that New England has struggled in both areas with Christian Barmore unavailable for much of the season, strengthening the group in the second round would make sense.
General Manager Jack Sawyer (33): Leading the Buckeyes with 60 quarterback pressures this year, Sawyer is the ensemble at the edge. Combining size, passing moves and running game instincts, he would be a great fit for the Mike Vrabel-led Patriots defense. New England needs to improve its outside linebacker group, and the Buckeyes’ defensive co-captain would be just that on Day 2.
ED JT Tuimoloau (44): The Robin to Jack Sawyer’s Batman, Tuimoloau leads Ohio State with 14 sacks and has also shown he can bring down runners or help funnel them to the interior of the defense. Abdul Carter should be New England’s priority, but Sawyer and Tuimoloau would be solid additions in their own right in the later rounds.
CB Denzel Burke (10): Christian Gonzalez is already one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, but the depth around him is a question mark due to his age (Jonathan Jones), injury history (Marcus Jones), or general inexperience (everyone). Burke won’t address the latter issue, but he offers starter potential on the perimeter.
Notre Dame fighting the Irish
TE Mitchell Evans (88): Even if the Patriots re-sign Austin Hooper in free agency, he and Hunter Henry are both getting older. An infusion of young blood into the tight end room would make sense, and Evans will be the best option on the field in that regard on Monday. An experienced run blocker, he leads the Fighting Irish with 39 catches and 3 touchdowns this season.
DT Howard Cross III (56): With starter Rylie Mills missing the last two games due to injury, Cross has seen his workload increase. He didn’t flinch. Although undersized by traditional defensive tackle standards of good looks, he is a disruptive player against the pass and run and capable of playing multiple techniques up front.
LB Jack Kiser (24): The last time the Patriots drafted a player from Notre Dame or Ohio State, he became one of the best special teams players in the NFL. Time will tell whether or not Jack Kiser becomes the next Nate Ebner, but he has all the makings of a multi-unit artist at the next level. As for Monday, he will be a starting linebacker who constantly swirls around the ball.
S Xavier Watts (0): One of the best guards in college football and a leader in Notre Dame’s secondary, Watts has caught more interceptions (6) than any of his teammates this season. Lining up all over the field, he’s an exciting player to watch and someone who could be of interest to New England scouts.
The national championship between Ohio State and Notre Dame will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on ESPN live from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Please head to the comments section to discuss the game.
