Ruins of Pompeii.

[Soapy]

Plenty of options for Patriots as several projected first round picks slip into the second round
The draft starts now for New England as the selection of Will Campbell was a no brainer in the first round. New England will have plenty to choose from when they select early in the second round with a few names that were expected to be called in the first round weren't and are still on the board.

Some names to watch at pick 36:

WR Evan Stewart
Stewart wasn't expected to fall out of the first round so if he's there when the Patriots are selecting, Elliott Wolf and Co. should highly consider taking a potential top receiver in the second round with plenty of upside.

He struggled at the Combine and at his pro day with some drops, which also showed up on his tape with concentration drops on simple, routine catches. He does lack the size and leaping ability you would want from a true outside receiver, which might limit him in the slot but he's still a big time playmaker that has the ability to play on the outside if he's able to improve on certain aspects of his game.

TE Mason Taylor
Why not stay in the Bayou and get another Tiger to be Hunter Henry's eventual replacement?

A natural hands catcher with high football IQ, Taylor has a lot of similarities to Henry who was Maye's favorite target once he took over as a starter. He works well in crowded areas, whether up the seam or in the middle of the field and is able to make tough, contested catches with is a quarterback's best friend.

He doesn't have elite vertical speed, which neither does Henry, and his run blocking is nothing to write home about. Those concerns likely kept him out of being a first round pick but it wouldn't be that surprising if in a few years, he's on a Mark Andrews type trajectory.

OLB Patrick Payton
You can never have enough pass rushers and even after extending Josh Uche and signing Chase Young to a mega extension, New England could decide to spend one of their second round picks on an edge rusher that they believe has potential to be special.

That's what Payton represents with his size and length and ability to get after the quarterback. He's not a well rounded player which is what makes his selection iffy at this point but if the Patriots want to be able to rotate three high-end, high energy pass rushers to help cover up a secondary that is losing a starter in Jonathan Jones, Payton would allow them to do that.

CB Denzel Burke
The top of the line corners are gone but some had a borderline first round grade on Burke before a poor showing at the Combine.

He ran 4.51 before improving it to 4.44 at the combine. He's a solid corner that isn't of the Christian Gonzalez ilk but could end up being a decent starter in the NFL and for it being a premium position, it might be worth spending a second round pick to help stabilize the position with the loss of Jonathan Jones as Benjamin St-Juste is far from a guaranteed starter.

[Soapy]

New England surprises many with the selection of Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette
It wouldn't be a draft without a surprise pick from the New England Patriots who passed on several top receivers to draft Georgia cornerback Daylen Everett with the 36th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They would draft a receiver later in the second round with the selection of Kentucky's Barion Brown.

A savvy defender with the ball in the air, Everette uses his length in press coverage to be disruptive at the line of scrimmage, throwing timely punches and disrupting the receiver in their releases. He perfectly fits the Patriots aggressive man coverage scheme and is at his best when he can get in the face of receivers and disrupt them using his length at the line of scrimmage.

The concerns about Everette as a cornerback are multifaceted and have to deal with his overall athletic ability. First, it appears that Everette has some hip tightness which leads to him struggling to transition with receivers in and out of breaks and staying in phase with them. This shows up in man-to-man coverage, where receivers can create separation and distance, catch the ball, and continue to create separation and distance from Everett. Also, it appears that Everette lacks explosive ability. His ability to carry receivers vertically up the field after the 30-yard mark appears to be susceptible.

He put some of those doubts to rest with impressive showings at the Combine and at his pro day where he ran a 4.37 in the forty and was top six in the forty, vertical jump and 20-yard shuttle among cornerbacks. The question is did Everett just test well or was his athleticism underrated this entire time?

There are no questions about Brown's speed as he's one of the fastest players in the draft. Brown is a versatile movement piece that does everything from stretching the field vertically 50 yards to receiving hand-offs behind the line of scrimmage on end-arounds. Brown's athletic profile is a receiver who has effortless speed and can also accelerate and decelerate quickly to be utilized in the short passing game. This makes him a dangerous threat when he is on the field for the offense.

He'll need to become a more well rounded receiver with the ability to be more nuanced and detailed with this route running. Brown often rounds the top of his routes off instead of making precise cuts. This becomes an issue because it gives the defensive back enough time to get back in phase and a high-level athletic corner will have an opportunity to make a play on the football.

2025 NFL Draft Second Round Selections
1. CHI ‣ C Jonah Monheim, USC
2. ARI ‣ QB Carson Beck, Georgia
3. TEN ‣ S Malachi Moore, Alabama
4. NE ‣ CB Daylen Everett, Georgia
5. LV ‣ WR Evan Stewart, Oregon
6. CAR ‣ TE Mason Taylor, LSU
7. CLE ‣ OLB Abdul Carter, Penn State
8. CHI ‣ DE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
9. JAX ‣ CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
10. NYG ‣ HB Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
11. MIA ‣ DT Bear Alexander, Georgia
12. DEN ‣ DE Patrick Payton, Florida State
13. CIN ‣ DE Landon Jackson, Arkansas
14. WAS ‣ OLB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
15. SF ‣ DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
16. PIT ‣ HB TreVeyon Henderson, Pittsburgh
17. GB ‣ T Anthony Belton, NC State
18. NO ‣ WR Tez Johnson, Oregon
19. IND ‣ HB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
20. NE ‣ WR Barion Brown, Kentucky
21. PHI ‣ G Luke Kandra, Cincinnati
22. TB ‣ CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
23. ATL ‣ LB Barrett Carter, Ohio State
24. BUF ‣ CB Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon
25. SEA ‣ DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
26. DET ‣ G Jaeden Roberts, Alabama
27. KC ‣ G Clay Webb, Jacksonville State
28. LV ‣ S Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State
29. HOU ‣ DE Jordan Burch, Oregon
30. MIN ‣ HB Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
31. BAL ‣ DE Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss
32. DAL ‣ WR Isaiah Bond, Texas

[Soapy]

New England is pitching a perfect game when it comes to setting up your young quarterback for success
The games still need to be played and the players acquired will need to play up to their potential but so far this offseason, the New England Patriots are putting on a clinic on how to surround a young quarterback with the tools needed to be successful.

In free agency, they upgraded the offensive line with a new center and guard, landing the best available at both positions. They got him a veteran backup quarterback in Marcus Mariota who knows what being a franchise quarterback looks and feels like and also what not to do and the mistakes to avoid. New England then avoided the temptation of a Travis Hunter with the fourth overall pick and instead got a franchise left tackle, improved the defense to take some stress from the offense and then got him an explosive playmaker that can turn a screen pass into a touchdown.

Job well done, Elliott Wolf.

The Patriots aren't done, however, with two picks in the third round at 68 and 73 and a chance to continue to improve their offense. There's some notable names still on the board:

TE Tyler Warren
They passed on Mason Taylor and get another chance at a young tight end to learn under Hunter Henry and pair with Drake Maye.

Warren had a really good final year at Penn State but the testing numbers and athletic profile is a bit concerning. While Henry isn't a freak of an athlete, he's athletic enough to create separation and be effective with the ball in his hands. But the production is there with Warren who might just be a football player who knows how to get it done against better suited athletes.

T Trey Zuhn III
Is Mike Onwenu a right tackle or a guard?

He played at right tackle with varying success last year and certainly got paid like a tackle but he might be better suited to play guard, which has been the longtime debate since cracking the starting lineup as a rookie.

If New England can get another 'true' tackle in this year's draft, they'll have bookend rookie tackles -- which is a bit concerning -- but would allow them to slid Onwenu inside at guard. Zuhn is a player that had some first round buzz on him at one point and with his length and size, even has the potential to develop into a left tackle down the line.

OLB Jalen Walker
A versatile defender that can fit any scheme, New England adds to their chest of pass rushers while avoiding some duplication as Walker is a different type of outside linebacker than Josh Uche with some Jamie Collins in his game perhaps?

[Soapy]

New England's offensive makeover continues with drafting of two pass catchers in the third round
With their two third round picks, the New England Patriots select tight end Oscar Delp out of Georgia and Miami receiver Xavier Restrepo

Delp skyrocketed up draft boards following the Combine where he finished first among tight ends in the forty (4.57 sec), vertical jump (34.6") and top two in the broad jump, 3-cone and 20-yard shuttle.

The first identifiable asset Delp offers is his versatility by his alignment. On any given play, Delp can align anywhere from an outside receiver, to the slot, to the H-back position, to being an in-line tight end, creating mismatch issues and making it difficult for defenses to key in on him. From all of these alignments, Delp can effectively fill his role at a high level, whether that's running vertical routes in the slot or on the outside, or being the flat option on a QB bootleg where he can catch the ball and turn upfield.

A smooth, fluid runner who has loose hips and the acceleration to push vertically up the field, Delp should add some more juice to the Patriots tight end room to help balance the reliability of Hunter Henry and the blocking of Patrick Ricard.

Following the selection of Delp, New England traded out of the 73rd overall pick and acquired Seattle's 89th overall pick in addition to a fourth round pick in next year's draft to draft Restrepo. A sudden mover with excellent hands and creativity after the catch, Restrepo's production at the college level is just too much to ignore despite the limited physical traits.

Restrepo measured in taller than many expected at five-foot-eleven and 198 pounds and he plays bigger than that with his ability to play strong at the point of contact, both as a runner and a receiver. He can run through arm tackles and shows good ability in open field to make defenders miss which is why some scouts projected him more at running back earlier in his development.

He also adds some value on special teams and in the return game.

2025 NFL Draft Third Round Selections
1. CAR ‣ OLB Jalon Walker, Georgia
2. ARI ‣ S Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
3. KC ‣ LB David Bailey, Stanford
4. NE ‣ TE Oscar Delp, Georgia
5. LV ‣ QB Drew Allar, Penn State
6. LAR ‣ LB Deontae Lawson, Alabama
7. CLE ‣ TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
8. CHI ‣ TE Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame
9. SEA ‣ S Kevin Winston Jr, Penn State
10. NYG ‣ T Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M
11. PHI ‣ DE Derrick Moore, Michigan
12. DEN ‣ S Jonas Sanker, Virginia
13. CIN ‣ LB Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
14. WAS ‣ DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
15. SF ‣ G Logan Barr, SMU
16. PIT ‣ LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
17. GB ‣ G Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
18. LAC ‣ HB Donovan Edwards, Michigan
19. IND ‣ LB Smael Mondon Jr, Georgia
20. LAC ‣ C Eli Cox, Kentucky
21. PHI ‣ DT Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
22. TB ‣ OLB Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
23. ATL ‣ CB Richardo Hallman, Wisconsin
24. BUF ‣ S Billy Bowman Jr, Oklahoma
25. NE ‣ WR Xavier Restrepo, Miami
26. NYJ ‣ LB Karene Reid, Utah
27. KC ‣ DT Junior Tafuna, Utah
28. NYJ ‣ TE Luke Lachey, Iowa
29. HOU ‣ LB Jay Higgins, Iowa
30. JAX ‣ S Roc Moore, Michigan
31. BAL ‣ LB Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
32. DAL ‣ G Connor Colby, Iowa

[Caesar]

I was high on him coming out of the top draft, thought he was better than Burrow

The streets ain't forget y'all saying the Bengals should take Young despite Burrow being better and a hometown guy.

How much did you reach for Restrepo?

[Soapy]

Patriots wrap up 2025 NFL Draft with selection of Nazir Stackhouse, Marcus Tate and Andres Borregales
With their final three draft picks in the fifth and seventh round, the Patriots selected Georgia defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse, Clemson guard Marcus Tate and kicker Andres Borregales with the 132nd, 159th and 196th pick respectively.

A powerful run stopper, Stackhouse has the ideal frame you want in a NFL defensive tackle and should fit in nicely in New England's defense at nose tackle. He might never be a pass rushing threat but from an early downs perspective, Stackhouse could not only make the roster as a rookie but potentially play a role. He'll have to work on his motor which is always a concern with bigger defensive tackles but given his limited role, this shouldn't be an issue.

New England remained in the trenches with their second fifth round pick of Tate, who is a strong interior lineman with high football IQ. He's most effective in the running game and does good job of getting to the second level. He'll get a chance to learn behind an established veteran in Brandon Scherff as well as compete with some other young players such as Sidy Sow and Landen Robinson.

It wouldn't be an NFL draft without the Patriots drafting a special teamer and they do just that with Borregales, the consensus top available kicker who was surprisingly still on the board in the seventh round.

[Soapy]

I was high on him coming out of the top draft, thought he was better than Burrow

The streets ain't forget y'all saying the Bengals should take Young despite Burrow being better and a hometown guy.

How much did you reach for Restrepo?

Ja'Marr Chase saved that boy. Real hoopers know.

He was like low 100s in the rankings pre-draft so I couldn't justify taking him that early so dropped back and 'reached' for him at 89 although I got like a B+ on the draft grade IIRC, i wish i had saved them to help me write this article

[Soapy]

Patriots sign sixteen free agents to finalize roster ahead of training camp
The New England Patriots have finalized their training camp roster by signing sixteen free agents, including nineteen undrafted free agents as camp will begin next week.

The signings included quarterback Michael Pratt, UDFA running backs Kyle Monangai (Rutgers) and R.J. Harvey (UCF), UDFA wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith (Auburn) and Oronde Gadsden II (Syracuse), tight end Cameron Latu, offensive tackles Ryan Van Demark and John Ojukwu, interior offensive lineman Donovan Jennings, Dylan McMahon, and Alec Anderson, defensive ends Eric Watts and LaBryan Ray and outside linebackers Jamie Sheriff and Chazz Surratt.

It'll be an uphill battle for many of these young players to make a roster spot but a few of their undrafted rookies have a solid chance at making the roster, including Monangai, Harvey, Lambert-Smith and Gadsden who were all productive players at the college level.

Gadsden played tight end at Syracuse, making the switch from receiver during his sophomore year, but went through the draft process at receiver.

[djp73]

Ricard better get some run

i hope ya ain't talking about some carries lmao

but planning to use him as TE2 essentially since we don't have that many fullback formations

Give him the ball

[James]

I would have went with Mason Taylor.