New Report Makes Patriots Trade Look Like Even Bigger Win

The Patriots’ Matthew Judon trade last summer proved to be a massive victory for the franchise.

New England last August traded Judon to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick. Mike Vrabel and company finally were able to utilize the asset Friday, but they chose not to pick at No. 77 overall. The Patriots traded back twice — first from No. 77 to 85, then from No. 85 to No. 95 — before drafting Jared Wilson. So, with one chip, New England yielded a talented center, a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder.

That’s a pretty nice haul regardless of circumstance. But it looks even better when you consider the rebuilding Patriots’ need for a center of the future as well as their reported view of Wilson.

“According to a team source, Wilson would have been a top consideration to pick at 77, but they still landed him 18 spots later and picked up a 2025 fifth-rounder (from Carolina) and 2026 fourth-rounder (from Kansas City) in some solid maneuvering considering Wilson was rated 45th on ESPN senior draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s big board,” ESPN’s Mike Reiss wrote.

“The Patriots, coming off a larger draft class this year, are also stocked with 10 picks in next year’s draft, with multiple selections in the fourth, sixth and seventh rounds.”

By several notable accounts, New England put together one of the best draft classes this year. And after what figures to be an encouraging first season under Vrabel, the Patriots are poised to do the same in the 2026 draft.