By Adeniyi Precious 
For a while, it looked like the Patriots were in a great spot to land either Penn State’s pass-rushing beast Abdul Carter or Colorado’s two-way star Travis Hunter with the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. But now, things might not go their way.
If Tennessee grabs Miami QB Cam Ward first and Cleveland takes Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders next, New England would be in prime position to pick between Carter and Hunter. But according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Browns may have other plans—they’re reportedly eyeing Carter at No. 2 overall.
That means if the Giants take Hunter at No. 3, the Patriots could find themselves completely out of luck.
Patriots Might Have to Pivot If Carter Is Off the Board
Carter is the type of player who could step in and start right away, giving New England’s pass rush the boost it desperately needs. Even though they’ve spent big on Milton Williams and added Harold Landry, the defense is still missing that game-changing edge presence.
If Carter is gone, the Patriots might have to shift gears. They could look at Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, or they might go for offensive line help with LSU’s Will Campbell or Missouri’s Armand Membou.
At the end of the day, the Patriots’ best hope is that the Browns take Sanders instead, leaving Carter available at No. 4. But if the rumors are true, New England might have to scramble for a backup plan.