Patriots select WR/CB Travis Hunter in ESPN’s latest 2025 mock NFL Draft

"The Patriots lack true top-tier stars, and Hunter is the No. 1 overall player on my board."

A rebuilding Patriots roster has several areas on the depth chart to shore up if New England wants to reassert itself as a contender in 2025 and beyond.

For most of the 2024 season, the conduit of Patriots fans’ consternation has been a porous offensive line. Through six games, New England has relinquished 23 sacks — limiting how much time Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett have had to scan the field and operate in the pocket.

As unflashy as it might be, a franchise left tackle might sit atop Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo’s wish list when it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft.

But given the current state of this draft class’ tackle group — coupled with the dearth of playmakers currently on New England’s roster — ESPN’s Jordan Reid has the Patriots taking arguably the most talented player in college football in his latest 2025 mock draft.

Reid has New England picking second overall in the upcoming draft, with the Patriots opting to select Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.

“Offensive line is certainly the biggest need for the Patriots’ roster, but there isn’t an offensive tackle or interior lineman in this class who is worthy of the No. 2 pick,” Reid wrote of New England’s approach during the draft. “Trading back with a QB-needy team should be an option for New England, which would allow it to build at multiple spots around Drake Maye.

“But the Patriots lack true top-tier stars, and Hunter is the No. 1 overall player on my board. He has the ability to play either receiver or cornerback at the next level, and I keep going back and forth on which makes the most sense. (I’m leaning cornerback.) He has great length, speed and hands — traits that show up on both sides of the ball.”

Hunter has been a force this season on both sides of the ball for Colorado. He has reeled in 49 catches for 587 yards and six touchdowns — averaging 12 yards per reception. But he’s also been a ball hawk in the Buffaloes’ secondary, recording 16 total tackles, defending three passes and recording two interceptions.

It remains to be seen how a player skilled on both sides of the ball will carry that unique skillset over at the NFL level. If Hunter focuses on being a cornerback, his value to a team like New England might wane, especially with the Patriots already boasting a proven, No. 1 corner in Christian Gonzalez.

The appeal would be there for the Patriots if Hunter hones in on being a No. 1 wideout at the next level — giving Maye a top receiving option capable of burning defenses down the field.

But as Reid noted, another viable option for New England would be to trade down in the first round for additional draft capital — especially if allows them to still take a promising tackle in the first round.

According to Reid’s mock draft, LSU’s Will Campbell is the first tackle off the board (No. 7 overall to Jacksonville), with Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. following suit at No. 11 overall to the Dolphins.

As for the first overall pick? Reid has the Cleveland Browns taking Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders.

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.