The New England Patriots have hinted at selecting the best available player with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft. That's easier said than done if it's a favorable scenario for the Patriots on draft night.
But what if it isn't?
What if both Colorado's Travis Hunter and Penn State's Abdul Carter are gone when the Patriots come up at No. 4 on the draft board? What if other teams aren't interested in trading up? What if the Patriots are locked into choosing between need and the best available player?
People automatically assume the best-case scenario for the Patriots in the draft. We're going to explore the worst-case scenario with this mock draft.
Here's how the board fell with no dream picks and no way to trade down:
Round 1, No. 4: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Anyone still doubting the impact a running back can have on a football team must not have been paying attention to what Saquon Barkley did for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles last season.
I'm not saying Boise State's Ashton Jeanty is Barkley, but he's certainly trending in that direction of being a special NFL talent. He's an explosive playmaker with the ball in his hands who has the ability to impact the game as both a runner and a receiver.
The Patriots might need an offensive tackle, like LSU's Will Campbell or Missouri's Armand Membou, but Jeanty would be the best available prospect on the board. There would lie the conundrum for New England.
Round 2, No. 38: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
The Patriots are fortunate to have Oregon's Josh Conerly Jr. slide to them at No. 38 in the second round. This is good news because they avoid having to trade up to address the weakest position on their roster.
Conerly has the desired size, strength and upside to have a long and successful career playing left tackle in the NFL. Fans will like him because there aren't physical questions that come with the former Oregon standout. There are multiple talented tackles in this draft, but some of the top-tier options look like they might be better fits at guard.
Conerly is a plug-and-forget-it prospect at left tackle.
Round 3, No. 69: Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia
Georgia's Tate Ratledge is a bruiser in the trenches—big, powerful and relentless.
His addition to the offensive line would bolster the guard position in New England and help fortify the rushing attack with Jeanty joining the backfield. The Patriots could set the offense up to succeed by drastically improving the offensive line and developing a dominant run game.
Round 3, No. 77: Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
Iowa State's Jaylin Noel could be looked back on as one of the steals of the draft. He's a projected third-round selection with true game-breaker potential. He's a dynamic playmaker who can downright fly in and out of his routes.
Pairing an elite separator of that caliber with veteran ...
