With new reports and rumors speculating on potential draft pick trades at the top of the NFL Draft, it’s only a matter of time before the phone starts ringing in Foxborough about their No. 4 pick.
The Patriots enter the 2025 NFL Draft with nine total sections, four of which are within the Top 100 picks in the first three rounds: No. 4, No. 38, No. 69, and No. 77.
It doesn’t necessarily make sense for them to trade down to acquire additional picks when they already have four in the Top 100. I expect New England to address immediate offensive needs with these picks, starting with tackle and wide receiver.
If anything, the Patriots should be looking for a path to trade back up into the first or second rounds, obtaining additional picks in the early part of the draft, not the other way around.
That being said, here are a few teams that could possibly call the Patriots to inquire about the No. 4 pick for a potential trade.
Chicago Bears
The Bears currently have four picks within the first two rounds at No. 10, No. 39, No. 41, and No. 72. With new head coach Ben Johnson as the showrunner, he might be interested in recreating some of the magic he had in Detroit with Jahmyr Gibbs.
Chicago will do this if they’re determined to add running back Ashton Jeanty, who’s set to be an absolute hit in this draft.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints only have two draft picks in the first three rounds, the first being No. 9 and the next one isn’t until the third round at No. 71. They’re in desperate need of a quarterback and are a team to keep an eye on looking to trade up in the Draft.
New Orleans has been connected to Colorado quarterback Shedur Sanders. It's very much a possibility that they’ll be looking to jump up in order to draft him.
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have four picks in the first three rounds with No. 11, No. 43, No. 75, and No. 100. They’ll be looking to add another wide receiver after parting ways with Deebo Samuel, but they also need help along both the offensive and defensive lines.
The 49ers are being projected to draft defense first for an edge rusher or defensive back after some offseason departures.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers only have two picks in the first three rounds at No. 21 and No. 83 after they traded for wide receiver DK Metcalf, using their second round pick (No. 52) as compensation.
The Steelers don’t have a legitimate starting quarterback for 2025 and should likely look to draft one in the first round. They’ll be plenty of options to choose from, and at this point, they should take any one of them.
Another position of need is defensive tackle and running back. But the quarterback position should be what they target in the first round by trading up.
The “hot ticket” players in this year’s NFL Draft are Colorado’s two-way star Travis Hunter, Penn State’s linebacker Abdul Carter, and Boise State’s running back Ashton Jeanty.