Patriots Mock Draft: New England Trades Back With Blue-Chippers Off Board

With Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter off the board, the Patriots traded back but still addressed two of their biggest needs with their first-round capital.

Not bad, right?

That was how the latest mock draft played out during NESN’s “Foxboro Rush” podcast released Monday. NESN’s George Balekji and Athan Hristodulu received multiple trade offers for the fourth overall selection after Hunter, Shedeur Sanders and Carter were selected with the first three picks.

(Disclaimer: Quarterback Cam Ward being available at No. 4 is unrealistic given the latest reports and rumors).

Nevertheless, teams outside the quarterback hunt called the Patriots with some enticing offers, which included:

Bengals: OT Orlando Brown Jr., 2025 first-round pick (No. 17), second-round pick (No. 49), third-round pick (No. 81) and 2026 first-rounder

Colts: WR Josh Downs, 2025 first-round pick (No. 14), second-round pick (No. 45), seventh-round pick (No. 23) and 2026 first- and seventh-round picks

Vikings: 2025 first-round pick (No. 24), third-round pick (No. 97) as well as 2026 first-, second- and third-round picks

In this “Foxboro Rush” mock, New England accepted Cincinnati’s offer and added a four-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle. And when the Patriots went on the clock at No. 17, they had their choice of wide receivers Tetairoa McMillan and Matthew Golden as well as tight end Tyler Warren, among others. Warren ultimately was selected, meaning New England turned the fourth overall pick into Brown and Warren.

The Patriots made 11 picks in the mock draft, and you can check out the full list below:

Round 1, No. 17: TE Tyler Warren
Round 2, No. 38: OT Aireontae Ersery
Round 2, No. 49: WR Tre Harris
Round 3, No. 69: EDGE Ashton Gillotte
Round 3, No. 77: S Andrew Mukuba
Round 3, No. 81: DT Darius Alexander
Round 4, No. 106: WR Xavier Restrepo
Round 5, No. 144: RB Bhayshul Tuten
Round 7, No. 217: OG Hayden Connor
Round 7, 220: DT Cam Horsley
Round 7, No. 238: C Drew Kendall

You can watch NESN’s “Foxboro Rush” on YouTube and Spotify.