"So instead of reaching, the Patriots could fill another need at corner with Johnson, my top-rated prospect in the class."
With the Patriots now 3-8 following the Week 11 loss to the Rams, speculation inevitably returns to the team's future. Specifically, the NFL Draft.
Currently, there are nine teams with fewer than four wins (including the Patriots). As a result, predicting the exact draft order -- and New England's chances of having the No. 1 overall pick -- remains impossible. Still, it's probable that Eliot Wolf and the Patriots' front office will hold a top-10 selection.
Looking at the best players at the college level, ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller took an early exploration of how the 2025 draft might play out.
His mock draft projects that the Patriots will get the sixth pick. And alongside some early drama (with the Giants trading up with the Jaguars to select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders first overall), Miller thinks New England will try to add another defensive playmaker to the team's secondary.
At the sixth pick, the projection has the Patriots taking Michigan cornerback Will Johnson. The 21-year-old Detroit native is physically imposing for his position at 6-foot-2, and was a five-star recruit coming out of high school.
He was named the Defensive MVP of the 2024 College Football National Championship after he intercepted Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on the first play of the second half, helping the Wolverines to a first title since 1997 when Tom Brady was among their ranks.
Miller noted that a clear Patriots priority remains offensive line, but that "the offensive tackle class isn't strong beyond Kelvin Banks Jr." (who he projects will get picked third overall by the Jaguars).
"So instead of reaching," he added, "the Patriots could fill another need at corner with Johnson, my top-rated prospect in the class."
In six games in the 2024 season, Johnson has two interceptions. In each case, he returned the pick for a touchdown.
"Pairing Johnson with 2023 first-rounder Christian Gonzalez would give the Patriots a legitimate spot of strength on defense," Miller concluded, "and having two top corners on rookie contracts would give New England flexibility to build around them."
Beyond offensive line possibilities, the Patriots could also entertain drafting some help for rookie quarterback Drake Maye at the wide receiver position. Miller has three receivers projected in the top-10 (including multitalented Colorado star Travis Hunter).