NFL Draft 2025: Rounds 2 and 3 recap

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By Christopher Price

FOXBOROUGH — From the continued tumble of Shedeur Sanders possibly opening the door for Aaron Rodgers to Houston’s impressive haul, Seth Rollins’s troll job, and the quick thinking of Quinshon Judkins’s mother, there were plenty of winners and losers from Day Two of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Houston: On Friday, the Texans landed two impressive Iowa State pass catchers in Jaylin Noel (No. 79) and Jayden Higgins (No. 34 overall), and added left tackle Aireontae Ersery (No. 48). Three quality players who will have a chance to step in immediately and contribute to a playoff team. A good night for old friend Nick Caserio.

Aaron Rodgers: The fact that the Steelers are continuing to pass on Shedeur Sanders (over and over again) certainly suggests that Pittsburgh could continue a courtship with the veteran quarterback.

Boston College: We’ll go for the local angle here. The Cowboys went for pass rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku at No. 44, and the Bears claimed offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo at No. 56. Ezeiruaku had 16.5 sacks last season with the Eagles, and should team up well with Micah Parsons for a terrifying pass rush combo. Trapilo, a Norwell native, was an All-ACC first-teamer in 2024, making all 12 regular-season starts at right tackle. Good spots for both players.

Arizona: The Cardinals have quietly put together a pretty good offseason, one that might be capped by the second-round selection of cornerback Will Johnson out of Michigan. Johnson, considered one of the best defensive backs in college football for much of last year, slid out of the first round all the way to No. 47, probably because of health concerns. But if he’s good to go, he’s the latest impressive addition to a group that includes defensive tackle Walter Nolen, as well as linebacker Josh Sweat, and defensive linemen Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell.

Quinshon Judkins’s mom: The Browns made Judkins the pick at No. 36, but the running back wasn’t in the room when Cleveland came calling. His mother ended up picking up the phone, answering the call before Judkins came back into the picture.

Seth Freakin’ Rollins: The WWE star delivered the Drew Pearson-style heel turn for the Green Bay crowd, hyping his Bears in the face of the Packers’ faithful as he announced Trapilo to the Bears. (Montee Ball finished a close second by bringing up Super Bowl XXXII.)

Shedeur Sanders: Honestly, it feels like we’re just beating up on the poor guy at this point. But we’ve reached the stage of the process where teams are looking at backup quarterbacks, which could mean they don’t feel like Sanders — and the sideshow that will almost certainly accompany him — would be worth it. Still, he remains the most compelling storyline of the draft heading into Saturday.

Pittsburgh: It’s one thing to make headlines by passing on Sanders. But the Steelers seem to be actively ignoring their quarterback problem by not adding anyone else through the first three rounds. Right now, their best possible option seems to be Rodgers, a guy the Jets paid to go away. Unless the Steelers either have something cooking with Kirk Cousins, or have a remarkable amount of faith in Mason Rudolph as a long-term starter, Rodgers appears to be the best path forward. Unless they can convince Mark Malone to return.

New Orleans: The Saints needed a quarterback, someone for the long haul who could (theoretically) help lead them through what will almost certainly be a multi-year rebuild. Louisville’s Tyler Shough, who they took Friday in the second round, isn’t that guy. He’s turning 26 in September, and is a middle-of-the-road prospect at best. If they wanted a quarterback, they should have used the ninth overall pick on a signal-caller, or chased another option in free agency. The truth of the matter is that they would have been better off using the pick on another area of need, fundamentally punting on the year (even with Shough, a .500 season is likely a pipe dream at best), and waiting until the 2026 draft, which should offer even better options at the quarterback position. (We’ll gladly put Shough’s exuberant dog in the winners’ column, though.)

Baltimore: The Ravens got safety Malaki Starks in the first round, and pass rusher Mike Green in the second round, two players who are considered elite defenders. But they opened themselves up to all sorts of criticism with the selection of Green, who is carrying his share of baggage into the NFL. The Marshall product is facing two sexual assault charges, both of which he’s denied. Green was never charged. For a franchise that’s already dealing with the fallout from some concerning assault charges against kicker Justin Tucker, the choice of Green raised some eyebrows across the league, regardless of his skill set.

By Christopher Price

After spending the first two days of the 2025 NFL Draft getting some support for quarterback Drake Maye, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf sounds like he’s going to be a man in search of defensive help on the third.

The Patriots landed four offensive players in the first three rounds — offensive tackle Will Campbell, running back TreVeon Henderson, wide receiver Kyle Williams, and center Jared Wilson. On Friday, Wolf figures to use multiple picks on the other side of the ball.

“We were able to add a couple of picks,” said Wolf, who added a fifth-round choice in a deal with the Chiefs on Friday night. “That’s just kind of the way the board was dictated to us. The way it was stacked. We feel fortunate about that. And then, the way the board is holding up right now, there’s still some players that we feel can help us moving forward.”

Wolf and the Patriots have six picks on the final day of the draft, including three fifth-round choices. He anticipates the possibility of being able to trade up and go after some players.

“Yes, certainly we have that option,” he said. “I mean, I think we’re up fourth [Saturday], so we’ll go from there. But with having three [fifth-round choices], we have some flexibility to maybe go up the board if there’s someone that we can’t live without.”

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By Amin Touri

Georgia center Jared Wilson was the Patriots’ last pick of Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, bringing some more depth to the interior of New England’s offensive line.

Wilson didn’t start for the Bulldogs until he was a senior, but he impressed enough in his final season to earn a call from the Patriots on Friday.

“Oh man, it was surreal,” Wilson said of being drafted. “I’m still trying to process it all. It was a long night waiting, but God put me in the right spot to be a New England Patriot, and I’m just excited for the opportunity ahead.”

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Jared Wilson was the final player chosen by the Patriots during Night 2 of the NFL Draft.

Here’s his scouting report, courtesy of Field Level Media.

Position: Offensive lineman | College: Georgia | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 310 lbs.

Get to know Wilson: A four-star center recruit and one of the top-level prospects at his position coming out of high school, Wilson landed on one of the strongest squads in the SEC when he committed to Georgia. He wasn’t a full-time starter until his junior season in 2024 but became an All-SEC talent who declared after only one year with the starting five. He played in 13 of 14 games in 2023 but missed the Orange Bowl win over Florida State.

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The Patriots took Washington State wide receiver Kyle Williams with the No. 69 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

He was New England’s second selection of Night 2 after Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf chose running back TreVeyon Henderson out of Ohio State with the No. 38 pick in the second round.

Here’s the scouting report on Williams, courtesy of Field Level Media.

Position: Wide receiver | College: Washington State | Height: 5-11 | Weight: 190 lbs.

Get to know Williams: Despite being one of the most productive receivers in the NCAA, Williams (248 career catches at UNLV and Washington State) has been one of college football’s best-kept secrets. With good athletic tools, route running and ball skills, Williams brings the skill set teams desire in a starting slot/boundary wide receiver. Though his age and lack of size likely prevents him from developing into a true WR1, Williams can be a starting WR2 as a rookie and likely is a top-50 player.

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New England went for Georgia center Jared Wilson with the 95th pick.

The Patriots have done well with lightly regarded interior offensive linemen out of Georgia in the past, and Wilson is a 6-foot-3-inch, 310-pounder who started 12 games at center last season for the Bulldogs. He finished the year as a second-team All-SEC honoree. — Christopher Price

The quarterbacks keep coming off the board, and they’re not coming from Colorado. Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel is headed to Cleveland at No. 94, and Shedeur Sanders just keeps waiting.

Another local hears his name called at the NFL Draft, with Everett’s Josaiah Stewart taken by the Rams at No. 90. A teammate of other current NFL players in Mike Sainristil, Isaiah Likely, and Lewis Cine at Everett, Stewart played two years at Coastal Carolina before transferring to Michigan, where he registered eight sacks for the Wolverines in 2024.

Another QB is off the board, and it’s still not Shedeur Sanders. The Seahawks are taking Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, extending another long night for the Colorado quarterback late in the third round. — Amin Touri

By Amin Touri

The Patriots went for a receiver in the third round of the NFL Draft on Friday, taking Washington State wideout Kyle Williams with the 69th pick.

Williams had a breakout senior season for the Cougars, racking up 1,198 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Unlike New England’s other Day 2 pick running back TreVeyon Henderson, Williams had plenty of contact with the Patriots ahead of the draft.

“It was great,” Williams said. “I came on a top-30 visit, everything just played out smooth, I enjoyed the environment, I enjoyed the coaches, I loved everything they had.

“I loved [coach Mike Vrabel]. Big dude, I [had] mistaken him for an O-lineman, but he’s a linebacker. He loves the game, you can hear it in his voice, he’s a man of standards, he’s here to work, and that’s what I’m coming to uphold in that organization.”

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New England is trading back again, sending its No. 85 pick to the Chiefs in exchange for a 2025 third rounder (No. 95) and a 2026 fourth rounder. If they make no further moves, the Patriots will still make one more selection tonight.

Christopher Price: B+

As opposed to the TreVeyon Henderson pick in the second round, this is a pure draft-for-need situation for the Patriots. Williams isn’t the oversized pass-catcher that some might have craved, but the Washington State product is the sort of home-run hitter of a receiver who will make things tough for Javon Baker (and Ja’Lynn Polk, to a lesser extent) and others this spring and summer. He was fourth in the FBS with 14 receiving touchdowns, and was eighth with 1,198 receiving yards, to go along with 70 catches.

Nicole Yang: B

Williams had a productive season last year, but it’s hard to have confidence in wide receivers drafted by the Patriots given the organization’s history with the position (see: Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker, N’Keal Harry). If Williams pans out, he’ll be an explosive playmaker hauling in contested catches. If he doesn’t, add him to the list.

Ben Volin: B

Don’t love drafting another receiver from the state of Washington — call it Ja’Lynn Polk PTSD. But Williams can fly, and the Patriots need speed.

The Patriots added a dynamic running back to their offensive personnel on Friday, selecting Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson in the second round (No. 38) of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Henderson — who won a national championship with the Buckeyes in 2024 — will join a Patriots running back group led by Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson.

Here are five things to know about New England’s newest rushing threat.

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The Patriots are making their first trade of the draft, swapping the 77th pick for the 85th and 146th selections from the Panthers. New England now owns three picks in the fifth round on Saturday.

An Arkansas product who progressed tremendously over the course of his college career (he started at Hillsdale College in Michigan before ending up in the SEC), he’s a big slot receiver who had a great Senior Bowl. He had 62 catches for 896 yards and five touchdowns in two seasons with the Razorbacks. This 6-foot-4-inch, 214-pounder would also project as an oversized special teamer who could grow into a larger role down the road.

I love that pick. Yeah. Total under the radar dude. One of my draft favorites. — Christopher Price

Kyle Williams is a 5-foot-11-inch, 190-pound wide receiver who had great numbers last season at Washington State. He was fourth in the FBS with 14 receiving touchdowns, and was eighth with 1,198 receiving yards, to go along with 70 catches. Great home-run power who can stretch a defense. — Christopher Price

More defense to open up the third round, with the Giants taking Toledo DT Darius Alexander and the Chiefs opting for Louisville edge rusher Ashton Gillotte. The Browns go for a tight end in Bowling Green’s Harold Fannin Jr. before the Raiders take Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter.

By Amin Touri

The second round of the NFL Draft finishes up with a few defensive picks, including the Ravens taking Marshall edge rusher Mike Green at No. 59. Green was considered by most to be a first-round talent, but dropped down the board because of concerns stemming from multiple sexual assault allegations and his suspension (and later transfer) from Virginia in 2022.

After the Broncos took Central Florida safety RJ Harvey, the rest of the round went all defense. The Commanders took Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos, the Bears added Texas A&M DT Shemar Turner, the Chiefs snagged Tennessee DT Omarr Norman-Lott, and the Eagles closed out the second round with Texas safety Andrew Mukuba.

The Giants will be on the clock to open the third round. The Patriots have the fifth pick of the third round (69th overall).

By Trevor Hass

Following in his late father’s footsteps, Ozzy Trapilo has made his way from BC High to Boston College to, now, the National Football League.

Trapilo, selected in the second round (56th overall) by the Bears on Friday, can check off one more major box of his own. Steve Trapilo, drafted by the Saints in the fourth round in 1987, died of a heart attack at age 39 in 2004, when Ozzy was 2 years old.

“He set the bar pretty high, but for all the better,” Trapilo said. “I’m working as hard as I can to make him proud.”

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Donovan Ezeiruaku grew up a Philadelphia Eagles fan in Williamstown, N.J., roughly a half hour from Lincoln Financial Field.

Now, he’s heading to his former favorite team’s arch rival, the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys selected Ezeiruaku in the second round, with the 44th overall pick, on Day 2 of the NFL Draft on Friday.

Here are five things to know about the former Boston College defensive end.

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By Amin Touri

The Patriots made a bit of a surprise pick early in the second round of the NFL Draft, taking Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson with the 38th pick.

It was a surprise to Henderson, too, who had very little contact with New England before Friday.

“I think I only did one Zoom meeting with the running backs coach, so other than that, honestly, I had no clue that New England was going to be the spot,” Henderson said. “It was definitely a surprise for me. ... I don’t recall having a meeting [with coach Mike Vrabel]. It was a surprise for sure.”

Henderson said he spoke with New England running backs coach Tony Dews sometime after the Combine.

“It was more so just getting to know your background, seeing how well do you know ball, how good you can pick up the system,” Henderson explained. “I believe that I did a pretty good job — if I did a bad job, I don’t think they would’ve picked me."

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TCU wide receiver Jack Bech caught the winning touchdown pass at the Senior Bowl and was named the game’s MVP one month after his brother, Tiger, was one of 15 people killed in what authorities described as a terrorist attack in the form of a driver deliberately ramming his vehicle into a Bourbon Street crowd.

“My brother had some wings on me,” Jack told reporters. “He gave them to me.”

Tate Ratledge goes to Detroit. This Georgia product, who is distinguished by having one of the best mullets in all of college football last year, was a steady presence up front for the Bulldogs the last couple of seasons. He started 37 games in his collegiate career at George, and is coming off an impressive series of workouts at the combine.

The Bears selected BC’s Ozzy Trapilo at No. 56. The Norwell native was an All-ACC first-teamer in 2024, making all 12 regular-season starts at right tackle. The son of former All-American and NFL lineman Steve Trapilo, Ozzy was a three-year starter, seeing action at both tackle spots. At the combine in February, the 6-8, 316-pound Trapilo was cagey about whether he had met with the Patriots. — Christopher Price

The crowd in Green Bay — smaller than Thursday’s contingent but still strong in numbers — got loud with the selection of NC State tackle Anthony Belton at No. 54.

Belton is a physical marvel at 6-foot-6 and 336 pounds. He’s strong and physical at the line but struggles with his hand placement at times.

Then, with the 55th pick, the Chargers selected Mississippi WR Tre Harris.

The pace is picking up as the picks roll in. Here’s a look at who’s been taken off the board over the past five selections.

No. 49: Cincinnati selects South Carolina LB Demetrius Knight Jr.

No. 50: Seattle selects Miami TE Elijah Arroyo

No. 51: Carolina selects Texas A&M DE Nic Scourton

No. 52: Tennessee selects UCLA LB Femi Oladejo

No. 53: Tampa Bay selects Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison

The Texans continue to rebuild their offense around CJ Stroud, adding Minnesota offensive lineman Aireontae Ersery at No. 48. Houston’s offensive line struggled last season and the Texans shipped star tackle Laremy Tunsil to Washington in the offseason, so they’ll likely want Ersery to step in as a starter from day one.

Will Johnson’s unexpected draft slide finally ends at No. 47, where the Cardinals take Michigan’s star cornerback. Johnson, considered by some as a potential top-10 pick, dropped like a stone because of apparent injury concerns; if he’s healthy, he’s the second-best corner in the draft behind Travis Hunter, and could be a huge value pick for Arizona. — Amin Touri

The Rams trade up for a tight end, grabbing Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson at No. 46. Ferguson ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any tight end at the Combine and could bring an extra element of speed to Sean McVay’s offense in Los Angeles. — Amin Touri

Christopher Price: C+

I want to make this clear — I really like Henderson. He’s a good back who should have production in the NFL as a three-down option. I just think the Patriots could have waited and taken him a round later. With so many other areas of need, this feels like a reach.

Nicole Yang: B-

Henderson seems like a good fit for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. He’s fast and athletic. He’s been extremely productive when healthy and can also contribute in the passing game. But this year’s draft class was deep at running back, so it seems as though the Patriots could have  found value with a later pick and addressed a more pressing position of need (wide receiver, edge rusher).

Ben Volin: C+

Henderson does have some home-run speed, which the Patriots sorely need. And he can catch the ball — so long, Antonio Gibson? But I don’t love taking a running back here when they have bigger needs at receiver, pass rusher, and cornerback.

We’re still a ways away from No. 69, but there are still some interesting names for Patriots’ fans to consider:

Edge Mike Green (Marshall)

TE Elijah Arroyo (Miami)

WR Tre Harris (Ole Miss)

OT Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota)

WR Jaylin Noel (Iowa State)

WR Jack Bech (TCU)

— Christopher Price

Henderson was a champion at Ohio State, led the team in rushing during his junior season, and racked up 3,761 yards and 42 touchdowns over four years in Columbus, Ohio.

Can he challenge Rhamondre Stevenson for the RB1 spot? We’ll find out.

Get to know Henderson with a scouting report from Field Level Media.

Position: Running back | College: Ohio State | Height: 5-10 | Weight: 202 lbs.

Get to know Henderson: Henderson had an excellent freshman season that saw him rush for 1,248 yards on 183 carries, but he battled through injuries in 2022 and ultimately needed foot surgery after playing on a fracture and torn ligament. The former five-star recruit returned to form this year as one of the most explosive backs in the nation. He shared the Buckeyes backfield with fellow draft pick Quinshon Judkins.

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A seventh Ohio State player off the board already with the Colts grabbing Buckeyes edge rusher JT Tuimoloau. After adding Laiatu Latu in the first round last year, Indianapolis continues to rebuild its pass rush through the draft. — Christopher Price

BC’s Donovan Ezeiruaku is headed to Dallas. The Eagles’ star edge, winner of the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top defensive end after posting 16 1/2 sacks last season, should get plenty of opportunities to wreak havoc opposite Micah Parsons.

Ezeiruaku celebrates his sack of Pittsburgh quarterback Nate Yarnell.Barry Chin/Globe Staff

The 49ers continue to rebuild their defensive front with a huge body in Texas DT Alfred Collins. At 6-foot-5 and 332 pounds, Collins displays surprising agility at his size and can move around the front line for San Francisco. — Amin Touri

Love the pick of Mason Taylor at No. 42 to the Jets. The son of former Miami pass rusher Jason Taylor, he was the first 100-reception, 1,000-yard tight end in LSU history. He’ll contribute immediately for that New York team. — Christopher Price

A Sanders off the board, but still not Shedeur. The Bills trade up for South Carolina DT T.J. Sanders to bolster their trenches with a powerful road block in the run game. — Amin Touri

The Saints get a quarterback at No. 40, but it’s not Shedeur Sanders — it’s Louisville’s Tyler Shough, a sudden riser on draft boards over the last couple of weeks. At 25 years old, Shough is one of the oldest prospects in the draft, but he evidently interested New Orleans more than Sanders. — Amin Touri

Bit of a head-scratcher from the Bears, who take Missouri WR Luther Burden III at No. 39. Chicago already has plenty of options at receiver, took a pass-catcher in TE Colston Loveland in the first round, and there were higher-rated players at bigger positions of need available. — Amin Touri

Running back TreVeyon Henderson goes No. 38 overall to the Patriots. A 5-foot-10-inch, 210-pounder who rushed for 1,016 yards last season at Ohio State who also has the ability to contribute in the passing game (77 catches, 852 receiving yards). It’ll be interesting to see how this impacts the road ahead for Rhamondre Stevenson. — Christopher Price

Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea goes to the Dolphins at No. 37. The guy did just about everything at Arizona, lining up at both tackle spots, as well as right guard. A 6-foot-4-inch, 324-pounder, he’s the sort of guy who might not be an every-game starter but can be a valuable piece of the puzzle because of his versatility. A team captain last year, he was honorable mention All-Pac 12 for three consecutive seasons. — Christopher Price

The Browns go with a running back at No. 36, taking Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins. It’s not clear what that might mean for Nick Chubb, Cleveland’s longtime stalwart in the backfield, but Judkins is a talented back if the Browns are looking to reshape their running game. — Amin Touri

The Seahawks trade up to No. 35 to take safety Nick Emmanwori, one the biggest risers of the pre-draft process who just missed out on a first-round selection. Emmanwori tested off the charts at the NFL Draft Combine, giving Seattle coach Mike Macdonald an exciting athlete at the back end of his defense. — Amin Touri

Nick Emmanwori is a throwback pick for the Seahawks, an oversized defensive back who plays like a linebacker. Would have fit perfectly with Richard Sherman and his crew. — Christopher Price

If the Patriots are interested in a receiver, one is already off the board. The Texans go with Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins at No. 34. Higgins is a big-bodied, physical receiver for Houston to pair with Nico Collins after the departure of Stefon Diggs and the uncertain return of Tank Dell following a significant knee injury last season. — Amin Touri

Jayden Higgins to the Texans. Would have thought he would have fit with the Patriots at No. 38. The 6-foot-4-inch, 214-pounder is coming off a pair of impressive years at Iowa State where he caught 140 passes for 2,166 yards and 15 touchdowns in two years. On the heels of a great workout at the combine. A big body pass catcher who could theoretically grow into the role of an X receiver. — Christopher Price

The Browns go with defense to start the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, taking versatile linebacker Carson Schwesinger from UCLA. Schwesinger had a meteoric rise from walk-on to first team All-American and will join Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in the middle of the Cleveland defense.

Commissioner Roger Goodell returned to the stage to announce that the Browns are on the clock to kick off Day 2 of the NFL Draft.

Tiffany Saine, the mother of Steelers first-round pick Derrick Harmon, died Thursday night shortly after Harmon was selected 21st in the NFL Draft.

Saine suffered a stroke in 2022 that left her paralyzed on her left side and was on life support in the hospital when Harmon was selected.

“Though we are excited to select Derrick in the first round of the NFL Draft, our hearts are heavy as we mourn the death of his mother, Tiffany Saine,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said Friday in a statement. “We will support Derrick and his family however we can as he navigates this period of grief. In times like this, we hope Derrick finds comfort in the love and support from the organization and Steelers fans around the world.”

I don’t make this comparison lightly because he was one of my favorites to cover (and watch play), but my first thought on seeing Will Campbell today in Foxborough is that he reminds me a little of Logan Mankins. Big, quiet offensive lineman with a country background and a bit of an edge to him when it comes to his playing style.

A few final predictions for the Patriots’ when it comes to Day Two of the draft:

• They’ll get at least one offensive skill position player tonight — maybe two, depending on how the draft falls. Wide receiver and tight end are the two most logical spots, given the depth of the draft and how they match up with New England’s needs.

• Had a fever dream last night that the Patriots ended up with Cam Skattebo at the end of Day Two, although I think New England might be able to wait until the start of Day Three to get him. If the Patriots go running back on Friday, TreyVeon Henderson is a real possibility.

• Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (Arkansas), running back Kyle Monangai (Rutgers), and linebacker Jack Sawyer (Ohio State) are three late Day 2 types/early Day 3 guys who are just football dudes who would fit really nicely in Foxborough.

• I don’t think they’ll make a trade tonight, but they’ll make at least one on Day Three.

By Amin Touri

As has become increasingly expected in recent weeks, Will Campbell is a New England Patriot.

The LSU offensive lineman was taken fourth overall by the Patriots at Thursday’s NFL Draft, giving New England a potential immediate upgrade at left tackle.

“It means everything,” Campbell said. “I played for an historic program at LSU, and now to play for one in New England, I guess I’m lucky. But I’m just super excited and thankful to wear that logo on the side of my helmet and across the front of my chest. It’s a complete honor, and I’m just excited.”

Campbell’s first priority in his new gig will be protecting Drake Maye, who was among the most-sacked quarterbacks in the NFL last season.

“I’m super excited,” Campbell said. “[Maye]’s a heck of a player, a heck of a leader, and he’s the commander of our offense. I’m not only excited to play with him, but the rest of the team. I’m excited for the future that we have in Foxborough, and I think we’ve got a special season coming.”

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By Christopher Price

The Patriots decided to stick and draft with the fourth overall selection Thursday night, taking offensive lineman Will Campbell out of LSU. But that’s just the first step in the process when it comes to New England’s offseason makeover — here’s a reset of the board after Day One, with a focus on the Patriots.

First off, New England has three picks on Friday night, and five more on Saturday.

Friday

• Second round (No. 38)

• Third round (No. 69)

• Third round (No. 77 — from Atlanta)

Saturday

• Fourth round (No. 106)

• Fifth round (No. 144)

• Fifth round (No. 177 — from Dallas)

• Seventh round (No. 220)

• Seventh round (No. 238)

There are a few intriguing Day 2 possibilities for the Patriots to consider.

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 By Christopher Price

FOXBOROUGH — Last fall, during his final season at Louisiana State, Will Campbell had a meeting with Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf. The offensive tackle had one request: Get me to New England.

Wolf and the rest of the Patriots’ brain trust granted Campbell his wish on Thursday night, making him the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft. On Friday afternoon, Campbell explained why he wanted to play for the Patriots so badly.

“The biggest thing for me was I wanted to play for an organization that had history,” he said as he faced the six Super Bowl banners above the far end zone at Gillette Stadium. “That cared. [One] that wants to win. That’s the thing for me.”

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By Christopher Price

FOXBOROUGH — From the surprise trade that left Travis Hunter with the Jaguars, to Shedeur Sanders’s tumble down the draft boards, the first round of the NFL Draft was fascinating. Here are our picks for winners and losers.

Jacksonville: It gets the Heisman Trophy winner, a unique talent who can play on both sides of the ball. The Jaguars are giving up an awful lot, including their first-round pick next season, but they get a ton of credit for taking a gamble and dealing up for someone like Travis Hunter. The two-way star is an electric player and a face of the franchise who makes Jacksonville relevant on the NFL landscape. (The Jaguars also got picks 104 and 200.)

Cleveland: (Both things can be true!) The Browns traded down, got a bunch of picks — 5, 36, and 126, as well as Jacksonville’s 2026 first-rounder — and added the best defensive tackle in the draft in Michigan’s Mason Graham. The Jaguars should be better in 2026, but getting that 2026 first-rounder back from Jacksonville could be a really nice lottery ticket for Kevin Stefanski and the Browns.

Matthew Golden: For the first time since 2002, the Packers drafted a wide receiver in the first round. The Green Bay crowd just about lost its collective mind when Golden stepped to the mic to fire up the crowd. Great move by the rookie receiver to endear himself to the home fans.

New York Giants: The Giants land in our winners bracket simply for not mucking things up, to be honest. (It’s a low bar, I know, but we’re talking about the Giants here.) They stick at No. 3 and got the most impactful defensive player in the draft in Abdul Carter, adding to a good pass rush. And they traded back into the late stages of the first round to get a quarterback in Jaxson Dart. I’ll say this: They’ll have the most unintentionally hilarious quarterback room in the history of the game with Jameis Winston, Russell Wilson, Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito, and Dart. (“Hard Knocks” with the Giants this summer would be must-see TV.)

Philadelphia: Jihaad Campbell was a legit mid-first rounder before a shoulder issue, but the Eagles got an absolute steal in him at No. 31. Philadelphia adds another sensational defensive piece for the front seven. There’s a lot of Dont’a Hightower in Campbell’s game. If he’s healthy, he’s another terrifying presence for the Super Bowl champs’ defensive front.

Shedeur Sanders: The Colorado quarterback, who had been mocked as high as No. 3 to the Giants, spent the night tumbling down the draft board clear out of the first round. (It looked briefly like he might have ended up in New York after the Giants traded back into the back end of the first round, but they ended up going after Dart.) It’ll be fascinating to see where Sanders ends up, and how he responds this season.

Mel Kiper Jr.: Kiper spent most of the pre-draft process stumping loudly for Sanders as his No. 1 quarterback. On Thursday, as Sanders continued his free fall, Kiper pulled out the name of every great signal-caller who didn’t hear their name called in the first round over the course of his career. Kiper gets credit for sticking to his guns, but needless to say, the night didn’t end up the way he might have hoped.

Atlanta: This one needs a little nuance. The Falcons get credit for adding two terrific defensive pieces in James Pearce and Jalon Walker … but the cost for a relatively small trade for a guy like Pearce was massive. Atlanta gave away a first-round pick to the Rams next year. With the amount of uncertainty at the quarterback position for the Falcons, that selection could be a top-10 pick.

Roger Goodell: The commissioner’s ability to find and utilize human shields in the wake of an expected withering crowd reaction remains unparalleled. He hauled a collection of Green Bay legends (and Packers superfan Lil Wayne) on stage with him at the start of the night, which tempered some of the booing. (Some A-plus trolling on the part of former Green Bay legend Clay Matthews also helped.) But the Wisconsin crowd relished the chance to let him hear it.

Tyler Warren: The Penn State product was thought to be a lock as the first tight end off the board — Warren was ticketed to the Bears in just about every mock out there — but he was bumped down the board a few spots by Michigan’s Colston Loveland, who was scooped up by Indianapolis.

By Ben Volin

GREEN BAY, Wis. — An NFL draft pick’s moment on stage is brief, but the logistics to make it all happen are complex.

The Globe was granted behind-the-scenes access at the draft Thursday night, replicating the draft experience from the green room to the spotlight. Here’s what it’s like.

Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her @nicolecyang. Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him @cpriceglobe. Chad Finn can be reached at chad.finn@globe.com. Follow him @GlobeChadFinn. Emma can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @_EmmaHealy_. Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com.