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EDITOR’S NOTE: MassLive’s Mark Daniels released his Ultimate Patriots Draft Guide for 2025 on Thursday, April 17. This story is an excerpt focused on the Wide Receiver class.
When it comes to receiver, the biggest question is whether or not the Patriots can get it right.
Fans still have PTSD over the team drafting N’Keal Harry over A.J. Brown, Deebo Samuel, D.K. Metcalf, and Terry McLaurin. In 2022, it was Tyquan Thornton over George Pickens. Last year, the Patriots selected Ja’Lynn Polk when they could’ve had Ladd McConkey.
Over the last 24 years, the Patriots have a prototype when it comes to receiver. Here’s a look at their drafted player averages:
The Titans, under Mike Vrabel, however, were a little different. Their average drafted receiver stood 6-foot-1, weighed 214 pounds, and had 9.4-inch hands. Here’s a look:
This offseason, the team was unable to land their top free-agent target, Chris Godwin. They were also outbid for Cooper Kupp. However, the team signed Stefon Diggs to fill the void.
In this year’s class, the top athletic fit at receiver is the same for the Patriots and Titans.
First-round option:Travis Hunter, Colorado
Hunter is one of the most fascinating draft prospects in quite some time. He profiles as a starting cornerback and receiver. He has a slender frame at 6-foot, 188 pounds. Hunter has drawn comparisons to DeVonta Smith as a receiver. The reigning Heishman Trophy winner, he caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards with 15 touchdowns. Hunter has elite ball skills and the special kind of athleticism to take a top off the defense. He had four drops in his college career (205 targets). He’s a projected top-3 pick.
Keep an eye on:Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
McMillan is one of the best receivers in this draft class. At 6-foot-4, 219 pounds, he’s not your prototypical outside receiver. He has elite ball skills and projects as a Z-receiver with the ability to play in the slot. He caught 84 passes for 1,319 yards with eight touchdowns enroute to First-team All-American honors. He uses his size to his advantage and has a petulance for highlight-reel catches. McMillan had seven drops in 130 targets last year. He’s a projected top-10 pick.
Best athletic fit: Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas
TeSlaa is the best athletic fit for prototypical Patriots and Titans marks. He hits on every trait other than bench press. At 6-foot-3, 214 pounds, he profiles as a bigger slot receiver. TeSlaa has reliable hands and is a willing run blocker. A Division II transfer, he caught 28 passes for 545 yards and three touchdowns last season. TeSlaa was a Senior Bowl standout. He’s a projected Day 3 pick.
Later-round option: Xavier Restrepo, Miami
An undersized slot receiver, Restrepo plays like a prototypical Patriots fit. He’s a great route runner and excels with contested catches. Restrepo caught 69 passes for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He had two drops on 95 targets. An All-American, he also has experience as a returner. Restrepo met with the Patriots at the Combine. He’s a projected Day 3 pick.
Patriots connection: Jalen Royals, Utah State
Patriots offensive assistant Chuckie Keaton was Utah State’s running backs coach in 2022. That marked Royals first season with the Aggies. A 6-foot, 205-pound receiver, Royals caught 55 passes for 834 yards with six touchdowns last season. He missed part of the season due to a foot injury. Royals is a solid route runner with good hands. He has the ability to play inside and out. He’s a projected third rounder.
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When it comes to receiver, the biggest question is whether or not the Patriots can get it right.
Fans still have PTSD over the team drafting N’Keal Harry over A.J. Brown, Deebo Samuel, D.K. Metcalf, and Terry McLaurin. In 2022, it was Tyquan Thornton over George Pickens. Last year, the Patriots selected Ja’Lynn Polk when they could’ve had Ladd McConkey.
Over the last 24 years, the Patriots have a prototype when it comes to receiver. Here’s a look at their drafted player averages:
| HT | WT | Hand | 40 | Vert | BP | Broad | 3Cone | Shttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5′11.5 | 199 | 9.15 | 4.45 | 36.5 | 17 | 10′3 | 6.91 | 4.20 |
The Titans, under Mike Vrabel, however, were a little different. Their average drafted receiver stood 6-foot-1, weighed 214 pounds, and had 9.4-inch hands. Here’s a look:
| HT | WT | Hand | 40 | Vert | BP | Broad | 3Cone | Shttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6′1 | 214 | 9.4 | 4.48 | 36 | 21 | 10′0 | 7.19 | 4.31 |
This offseason, the team was unable to land their top free-agent target, Chris Godwin. They were also outbid for Cooper Kupp. However, the team signed Stefon Diggs to fill the void.
In this year’s class, the top athletic fit at receiver is the same for the Patriots and Titans.
First-round option:Travis Hunter, Colorado
| HT | WT | Hand | 40 | Vert | BP | Broad | 3Cone | Shttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6′0 | 188 | 9.13 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Hunter is one of the most fascinating draft prospects in quite some time. He profiles as a starting cornerback and receiver. He has a slender frame at 6-foot, 188 pounds. Hunter has drawn comparisons to DeVonta Smith as a receiver. The reigning Heishman Trophy winner, he caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards with 15 touchdowns. Hunter has elite ball skills and the special kind of athleticism to take a top off the defense. He had four drops in his college career (205 targets). He’s a projected top-3 pick.
Keep an eye on:Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
| HT | WT | Hand | 40 | Vert | BP | Broad | 3Cone | Shttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6′4 | 219 | 10 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
McMillan is one of the best receivers in this draft class. At 6-foot-4, 219 pounds, he’s not your prototypical outside receiver. He has elite ball skills and projects as a Z-receiver with the ability to play in the slot. He caught 84 passes for 1,319 yards with eight touchdowns enroute to First-team All-American honors. He uses his size to his advantage and has a petulance for highlight-reel catches. McMillan had seven drops in 130 targets last year. He’s a projected top-10 pick.
Best athletic fit: Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas
| HT | WT | Hand | 40 | Vert | BP | Broad | 3Cone | Shttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6′3 | 214 | 10 | 4.43 | 39.5 | 17 | 10′9 | 6.85 | 4.05 |
TeSlaa is the best athletic fit for prototypical Patriots and Titans marks. He hits on every trait other than bench press. At 6-foot-3, 214 pounds, he profiles as a bigger slot receiver. TeSlaa has reliable hands and is a willing run blocker. A Division II transfer, he caught 28 passes for 545 yards and three touchdowns last season. TeSlaa was a Senior Bowl standout. He’s a projected Day 3 pick.
Later-round option: Xavier Restrepo, Miami
| HT | WT | Hand | 40 | Vert | BP | Broad | 3Cone | Shttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5′9 | 209 | 9.13 | 4.83 | N/A | 17 | N/A | N/A | 4.21 |
An undersized slot receiver, Restrepo plays like a prototypical Patriots fit. He’s a great route runner and excels with contested catches. Restrepo caught 69 passes for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He had two drops on 95 targets. An All-American, he also has experience as a returner. Restrepo met with the Patriots at the Combine. He’s a projected Day 3 pick.
Patriots connection: Jalen Royals, Utah State
| HT | WT | Hand | 40 | Vert | BP | Broad | 3Cone | Shttle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6′0 | 205 | 9.5 | 4.42 | N/A | 13 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Patriots offensive assistant Chuckie Keaton was Utah State’s running backs coach in 2022. That marked Royals first season with the Aggies. A 6-foot, 205-pound receiver, Royals caught 55 passes for 834 yards with six touchdowns last season. He missed part of the season due to a foot injury. Royals is a solid route runner with good hands. He has the ability to play inside and out. He’s a projected third rounder.
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