The New England Patriots entered the second day of the NFL Draft with three selections in the second and third rounds. After drafting Will Campbell fourth overall, let’s take a look at how the Pats navigated in the next two rounds, still with many holes to fill in the draft.
Head coach Mike Vrabel has made it crystal clear that protecting quarterback Drake Maye is essential, and he addressed it in free agency and now in the draft. Sticking to his word, the first four picks of the draft have been focused on surrounding Maye with support and talent.
It’s been a great draft for New England. What I’ve noticed the most so far is that Vrabel is surprisingly patient in the War Room. He used all three of their four original picks they entered the draft with, and used their No. 77 pick to gamble with other teams.
Vrabel traded the No. 77 pick to Carolina for No. 85 and also added a fifth-round pick. Then he traded No. 85 to Kansas City for No. 95 and a 2026 fourth round pick. So Vrabel traded back twice, remaining in the top 100, and also added a draft pick for next year.
Here’s how Day 2 looked for the Patriots:
TreVeyon Henderson, Round 2 (No. 38)- Running Back
The Patriots didn’t budge from their second-round pick and drafted the third-best running back in the draft with TreVeyon Henderson, and he’s arguably the second-best, maybe even the best in the class, according to multiple analysts and reporters.
Henderson is the full package running back that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels needs in his offense. He’s 5-foot-10, 202 pounds and is an excellent pass protector, maybe the best in this running back class.
Henderson was a big-play machine at Ohio State, averaging 7.1 yards per carry to lead the Big Ten in 2024. It’s worth noting that he still rushed for 1,016 yards and scored 10 touchdowns while sharing a backfield with Qinshon Judkins.
In his career, Henderson accumulated 3,761 yards and scored 42 touchdowns in 47 games rushing for the Buckeyes. He also caught 77 passes for 853 yards (11.1 yards per reception) and scored six touchdowns.
My take: running back in the second round was a surprise. Henderson is top-three in this class, but a wide receiver is what I was expecting to see added in this spot. He’ll be a great addition to Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson, as he’s a much different player than them. Jayden Higgins is who I was targeting, true X wide receiver with versatility to lineup as a Z and can tinker with if needed. Higgins was drafted 34th to Houston.
After the draft, NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran compared Henderson to Kevin Faulk.
One last note: Vrabel said he wanted to add “good young runners” and he did that with Henderson.
Kyle Williams, Round 3 (No. 69)- Wide Receiver
Kyle Williams is 5-foot-11, 190 pounds and can really stretch the defense down the field and get over the top of them. He averaged 17.1 yards per reception last year.
In just two years at Washington State, Williams totaled 131 receptions for 2,041 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. Last year was his breakout season with 70 receptions, 1,198 yards and scored 14 touchdowns.
Williams ran the 40-Yard-Dash in 4.40 seconds, and NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry noted that Williams put on a “clinic” with separation yards at the Senior Bowl.
One last note: the Patriots brought Williams in for a Top-30 Visit. They like what he offers and they landed him in the draft. They got their guy and it’s great to see.
My take: Williams is an excellent addition, however, I don’t think he’s a true X receiver and that’s what the Patriots need right now and have needed for over a decade now. I hope this pick doesn’t impact DeMario Douglas, who’s poised for a breakout year working with McDaniels for the first time. But it inevitably will, right?
Jared Wilson, Round 3 (No. 95)- Center
This is where the fun happened for Vrabel, as I mentioned above with the trades he made to get to No. 95 and used it to draft Georgia center Jared Wilson.
Wilson is 6-foot-3, 310 pounds and a one-year starter at center while at Georgia. He played in 21 games as a backup before earning the starting role in 2024 for the first time. Wilson is athletic with impressive measurables at the NFL Combine, with the fastest 40-Yard-Dash for a center (4.84) and a broad jump of 9’4”.
This is now the second offensive lineman drafted in the first four picks. Vrabel is continuing to address the offensive line to protect Maye.
My Take: Wilson is a great depth piece, for now, but I don’t think it was needed in the third round after signing Garrett Bradbury, and Vrabel was impressed with how Cole Strange performed as a center in limited time last year. Wilson ranked as Pro Football Focus’ the third-best center in the draft. I’m not disappointed in the player, I just don’t think he’s able to help right now and that’s what the first four picks should’ve been used for. I would’ve thought tight end Gunnar Helm was the target.