The New England Patriots might have received a clearer picture of the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday.

Multiple draft analysts started to change their tune about the top three picks this month. Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter, the consensus top two players in the class, were projected to either go to the Cleveland Browns or New York Giants. That was a change from Shedeur Sanders in the top three, which would have been great for the Patriots since that scenario would have allowed them to draft either Carter or Hunter.

The Browns seemed to confirm where they are leaning in the draft when they agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal with Joe Flacco, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Flacco joined Kenny Pickett and Deshaun Watson, who likely will miss the 2025 season, in the quarterback room.

The reported Flacco agreement doesn’t completely rule out Cleveland drafting Sanders. However, it makes the idea much slimmer than it was before Friday. It’s more likely that the Browns will draft their favorite of the projected Day 2 quarterbacks to allow them to sit behind Flacco and Pickett.

Cleveland followed a similar QB plan the Giants went through in free agency when they signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. Like the Browns, New York’s signal-caller signings don’t preclude it from drafting Sanders. But it makes it less likely since it makes more sense for those teams to have a veteran to keep the team afloat and have either Carter carry the defense or a competent arm to throw the ball to Hunter.

Story continues below advertisement

That would leave the Patriots with multiple options with the No. 4 pick. Will Campbell seems to be the “heavy favorite” to go to New England, but trading back also would be a viable option. But Friday was another nail in the coffin on the idea of New England drafting either Carter or Hunter.

Featured image via Marc Lebryk/Imagn Images