Eight Patriots Targets To Watch In First-Round CFP Games

The Patriots have a matchup with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but the most important games relating to their future will actually take place earlier in the weekend.

New England’s focus should be on the 2025 NFL Draft, and four upcoming matchups will feature a litany of prospects worth keeping an eye on.

Notre Dame, Indiana, Ohio State, Tennessee, Texas, Clemson, SMU and Penn State all have studs up and down the roster, though some of those clubs are doing heavier lifting than others. We’ve made it a goal to familiarize you with those players, and we’ll continue to do that ahead of an extremely exciting weekend in college football.

If you want a bigger list, check this monster out, but this time we’re talking about the big boys:

DT Rylie Mills (#99), Notre Dame

College Football Playoff: vs. Indiana
TV: ABC
(Dec. 20, 8 p.m. ET)

The Patriots typically don’t employ gap-shooting, athletic, disruptive interior defensive players, but they should probably start.

New England has always been system over talent but with a lack of both currently in place, it might be helpful to add a disruptive player along the interior. Mills is extremely athletic for his size, and can hold up as a two-gap player should he need to when playing between a guard and tackle. I’m a fan, and you should be, too.

LB Jack Kiser (#24), Notre Dame

College Football Playoff: vs. Indiana
TV: ABC
(Dec. 20, 8 p.m. ET)

Kiser is the emotional heartbeat of an extremely stout defense, and projects to be a really solid off-ball linebacker at the next level. The Patriots have struggled with communication at that level without Ja’Whaun Bentley and would do themselves a favor by adding a potential upgrade athletically while also bringing in a guy known for his leadership.

EDGE Dani Dennis -Sutton (#33), Penn State

College Football Playoff: vs. SMU
TV: TNT
(Dec. 21, 12 p.m. ET)

Penn State’s defense is as good as it is because of Abdul Carter, but Dennis-Sutton is no slouch.

The Nittany Lions cause chaos from both ends of the offensive line, with the latter being the club’s leader in quarterback hits (13) despite being far behind his counterpart in sacks (four) and tackles for loss (seven). Dennis-Sutton also won’t cost you a top-three pick, so he might be the pass-rusher to keep an eye on Saturday.

TE Tyler Warren (#44), Penn State

College Football Playoff: vs. SMU
TV: TNT
(Dec. 21, 12 p.m. ET)

Warren is among the best tight ends in this class, which doesn’t exactly take him out of the conversation from New England.

The Patriots could benefit from an extremely deep class at the position, as anyone they take will likely come on Day 2 or Day 3. Warren won’t fall that far, but if some teams prefer Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr. or Michigan’s Colston Loveland, falling to the second round might make him too valuable to pass up.

Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper won’t be around forever, and keeping that position a strength should be a conversation this offseason. Warren would do that all on his own.

TE Gunnar Helm (#85), Texas

College Football Playoff: vs. Clemson
TV: TNT
(Dec. 21, 4 p.m. ET)

Helm is on the other end of the spectrum, as he’s among the many tight ends who will fall due to the class’ depth. The Patriots should be fishing around in that fourth-round area and could add an immediate contributor if Helm falls into their lap.

OT Kelvin Banks Jr. (#78), Texas

College Football Playoff: vs. Clemson
TV: TNT
(Dec. 21, 4 p.m. ET)

Banks is someone who already has been (and will continue to be) discussed at length as it pertains to New England’s draft plans.

The Patriots need to replace three of their five offensive linemen, but Banks and LSU’s Will Campbell aren’t exactly to the level of recent first-round prospects at their position. I’ve been a proponent of taking advantage of the large middle class in this year’s class, which would entail looking past the popular options in the first round and targeting the likes of Ohio State’s Josh Simmons, West Virginia’s Wyatt Milum or Oregon’s Josh Conerly Jr.

Banks has an opportunity to continue pushing himself into the conversation for that first-round pick, however — especially if he helps lead Texas past Clemson and Arizona State on a bum wheel.

EDGE James Pearce Jr. (#27), Tennessee

College Football Playoff: @ Ohio State
TV: ABC
(Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ET)

Tennessee’s status as one of the most stifling defenses in the entire country is rather surprising, not just because they came out of nowhere but because the unit is so young. Pearce is one of few draft-eligible defenders on the roster, though it helps that he’s among the best pass-rushers in the entire nation.

The Patriots probably won’t be picking in his range, but he’s worth keeping an eye on if someone offers a godfather package for them to move back while obtaining capital for future years.

EDGE Jack Sawyer (#33), Ohio State

College Football Playoff: vs. Tennessee
TV: ABC
(Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ET)

Sawyer, much like his run-stuffing teammate J.T. Tuimoloau, has showcased the ability to be a gamewrecker, but just can’t find consistency.

The Patriots need consistency on the edge, but while that might be the case, there’s just too much talent in Sawyer for him to continuously get passed over. I’d imagine he ends up going in the middle of the second round, which might be a great place for New England should it trade back.

Sawyer could either flame out or be an immediate impact player. Would you be willing to roll those dice?