After selecting left tackle Will Campbell with the No. 4 pick, the Patriots are expected to be done for the night. They are not on the clock again until pick No. 38 in Round 2 starting on Friday evening, but Mike Vrabel hinted at trading back into the first for the right player.
Because many of the teams in the second half of the first round are looking to trade down, there’s a good chance the Patriots can get back in. What player they would want to trade up for is unclear, but there are a few versatile weapons that remain available as the round nears the end, including several wide receivers.
There was a chance they could reunite Drake Maye with a solid weapon from his days at the University of North Carolina by trading up for running back Omarion Hampton, but that dream is DOA after the Chargers selected him with the No. 22 pick.
Although there wasn’t many reports connecting New England to Hampton, their desire to build a more formidible roster around Maye for the 2025 season would lead you to believe that the running back would be up for consideration given his history working with the quarterback.
Instead, they’ll have to evaluate other options that remain available, including potential trade-up candidates, such as wide receiver Luther Burden, especially after the Packers selected the leading favorite of Matthew Golden at No. 23.
There’s also a chance that a pass rusher could be the move for Mike Vrabel and Co. since they were reportedly interested in Abdul Carter in the first round. Although the pass-rushing class is reportedly deep, if they want to ensure they get the player they like, then trading up might need to be what comes next.
