New England Lands Mykel Williams in Early 2025 Mock Draft

Is it far too early to make predictions for the 2025 NFL Draft? Absolutely. Does it stop people from doing so anyway? Absolutely not. Draft predictions before the 2024 seasons are played, college and NFL, are silly, but still fun. In one such mock from The 33rd Team, the Patriots selected second overall. And with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots draft…Mykel Williams, edge defender from Georgia.

The draft order was based on 2024 Super Bowl odds for the NFL teams (reverse order). New England ranks as the second-biggest longshot to win Super Bowl 59, thus they picked second overall. Several problems exist for such an exercise, obviously. Even Ian Valentino, who wrote the piece, confessed, “Some of these picks will look foolish in a year since we’re projecting how these collegiate stars will pan out and how the incumbents they’re replacing will perform.”

One other drawback to such an exercise is that quarterback prospects go high in the NFL Draft. That was evident in 2024 when QBs were taken with the first three picks, including Drake Maye to the Patriots at No. 3. NFL teams took six quarterbacks in the first 12 selections. While there might not be as many going so early in 2025, a few quarterbacks likely find their way to the top of the draft order.

Also Read – Meet the New England Patriots 2024 NFL Draft Class

The problem is that most of the teams currently projected to select at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft have young quarterbacks. Nobody is going to project teams like the Panthers, Patriots, Broncos, or Commanders using a first-round pick in 2025 with a young first-round quarterback already on their rosters. That said, the exercise does give a glimpse of who New England could target. A look at some of the top prospects:

Mykel Williams, ED (Georgia)

Starting with the man projected to wind up in Foxboro next year, Mykel Williams is a beast on the football field. Williams stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 265 pounds. He moves fluidly. There is talk of the Bulldogs moving him to outside linebacker for the upcoming season. Williams showed he can play with a hand in the turf as well.

The 33rd Team wrote of Williams, “His numbers are relatively mundane compared to his peers because he plays in Georgia’s deep rotation, but Mykel Williams is the freakiest pound-for-pound athlete in the class.”

Happy birthday Mykel Williams‼️ 🎂🎉 pic.twitter.com/T81ATCx8ME

— Thumser (@JeffreyThumser) June 29, 2024

Will Campbell, OT (LSU)

Will Campbell went first overall to the Carolina Panthers in this exercise. Had he been on the board there is a good chance he’d be a tempting selection for New England. The Patriots roll into the 2024 season with some combination of Caedan Wallace, Chukwuma Okorafor, and Calvin Anderson likely starting at offensive tackle. Even if it works out well, only Wallace is currently signed beyond this season (though Mike Onwenu could kick back out to tackle).

Campbell is a legit elite tackle prospect. Had he been available in 2024 he’d have competed with Joe Alt to be the first tackle taken. At 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, with solid strength and. mobility, Campbell has everything a team covets in a cornerstone tackle.

James Pearce Jr. ED (Tennessee)

Pearce going before Williams in the draft is a distinct possibility. He does not possess the same strength as his Georgia counterpart. At 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, he looks more likely to stand upright in the NFL unless he puts on additional size with added strength.

His athleticism allows him to line up all over the field and be a difference-maker wherever he is. His speed rush is impressive, reminiscent of Cowboys star Micah Parsons. Nobody watching the Volunteers play has to long hard to find No. 27. Pearce is always near the action.

Home from Big Ten Media Days and watching next year's EDGE class – James Pearce Jr. creates so much chaos

Explodes off the snap, difficult movements to match, plays fast

Also not just a pass rusher, can do a lot of different things off the ball with his awareness and… pic.twitter.com/SYx3HBRIgY

— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) July 26, 2024

Will Johnson, CB (Michigan)

The top cornerback in the Class of 2025 would make a formidable pairing in the New England Patriots secondary with Christian Gonzalez. Johnson stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 202 pounds, giving him excellent size to play at the next level. He reportedly ran a 4.44 40-yard dash, which is excellent speed for a corner his size.

In addition to his measurables, Johnson has excellent football sense. He comes from a Michigan program that has gotten accustomed to winning and producing NFL prospects. Johnson might be the best to play for former head coach Jim Harbaugh in Ann Arbor.

Kelvin Banks Jr., OT (Texas)

Banks joins Campbell as the two premier tackles in next year’s draft. At 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds he doesn’t have the same height as Campbell, but has long arms and excellent strength. He excels in the run game. Banks Jr. has a larger range of where he could get selected than the four players mentioned above. However, he shouldn’t wait long to hear his name called on draft day.

The new breed of offensive lineman impressed at this past NFL Scouting Combine. Banks fits right in. He carries himself like an elite athlete who could add significant weight to his large frame. If Campbell remains the top tackle by April’s draft, Banks will make a nice consolation prize for somebody looking to shore up their offensive line.

Luther Burden III, WR (Missouri)

The New England Patriots (and their fans) covet an elite wide receiver. Burden appears to be the cream of the 2025 crop. He stands 5-foot-11, not small but not the size of a Marvin Harrison Jr. However, Burden is built solidly, weighing 207 pounds.

Luther Burden caught 87 passes for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. He has already clocked a 40-yard time of 4.38 seconds. Burden is the type of playmaker NFL teams are searching for. If he can put together another productive season he should be a top 10 pick in 2025.

Other Options

A few non-quarterbacks capable of climbing up draft boards between now and next April include WR Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), DT Mason Graham (Michigan), DT Deone Walker (Kentucky), ED Abdul Carter (Penn State), CB Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame), and CB Travis Hunter (Colorado).

Quarterback Class of 2025

New England fans should be rooting for the quarterback class of 2025 to excel. The Patriots have Drake Maye for the foreseeable future, with no plans to move on from him a year after taking him No. 3 overall. Quarterbacks enticing teams to move up in the draft could land New England an attractive package. QBs going early helps non-quarterbacks move down in the draft. This helps the Patriots if they don’t select as high as many currently project.

The 33rd Team projected four quarterbacks to go early in Round 1. This group consists of Carson Beck (No. 5, Georgia), Shedeur Sanders (No. 8, Colorado), Garrett Nussmeier (No. 10, LSU), and Jalen Milroe (No. 11, Alabama). As Jaden Daniels proved a year ago, however, a lot can change in the course of one college football season.

Grading the Selection

Without knowing where New England selects in the 2025 NFL Draft, if they wind up with Mykel Williams the pick would garner an A+ from this perspective. He fills a need for the Patriots in terms of being a strong, athletic playmaker on the edge. Williams teaming with Keion White gives New England a formidable duo on the edges. Williams playing standing up enables New England to have him join or replace Matthew Judon and Joshua Uche.

But whether the New England Patriots end up with Mykel Williams, Will Campbell, James Pearce Jr., Will Johnson, or another top prospect, there will be a lot of excitment in Foxboro. And if they don’t, it likely means the team has surpassed preseason expectations, which isn’t too shabby either.