What we’re hearing about Patriots in 2025 Draft: Rumors, national reaction to picks

Draft day is finally here. Now it’s time to figure out what the New England Patriots will do with the No. 4 overall pick.

After months and speculation, rumors and mock drafts, Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night in Green Bay.

Heading into draft night, we have a pretty good idea of what’s going to happen with the first four picks. But there’s always room for some Day 1 chaos.

Here’s the latest on what we’re hearing about Round 1 of the NFL Draft, including rumors, updates and reactions to the Patriots’ first-round pick:

What we’re hearing about the Patriots at the NFL Draft

Trade rumor: The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reports that the Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to move up — as high as No. 2.

Trade rumor: The Athletic’s Diana Russini reports that the Chicago Bears are looking to trade up from No. 10 in hopes of taking Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

QB rumor: The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reports that Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart could be the second quarterback taken Thursday night — ahead of Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.

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Heading into draft day, signs are pointing to the Patriots selecting LSU tackle Will Campbell with the No. 4 overall pick. It’s the consensus pick for mock drafts in recent weeks.

MassLive’s Mark Daniels has been predicting Campbell to be the pick for a while now. This week, he made the case for the LSU tackle to be the pick.

On the other hand, MassLive’s Karen Guregian said the Patriots must go for the best player available.

As things stand, Miami quarterback Cam Ward is expected to go No. 1 overall. Will Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Penn State’s Abdul Carter go No. 2 and No. 3, respectively? We’ll find out soon.

What time does the draft start? How to watch

Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft is set to start at 8 p.m. EDT from Green Bay, Wisconsin. There are two TV channels that will carry draft coverage, ESPN and NFL Network.