Welcome to Potential Patriots!

Each day leading up to the NFL Draft on April 24, the Herald will introduce prospects the Patriots are likely targeting position by position. The Pats have nine draft picks, starting at No. 4 overall. As for their other picks, the Patriots are expected to address offensive tackle and wide receiver, though they could pad their depth at virtually any position.

Below is a breakdown of the Patriots’ best prospect fits at edge defender:

Day 1-2

Travis Hunter, Colorado

Projected round: 1st

Scouting report: The top wide receiver and cornerback in the 2025 NFL Draft, Hunter will likely be gone when the Patriots pick fourth overall.

Hunter is expected to be selected second overall by the Browns, but if for some reason he’s available, he would be a no-brainer pick for Mike Vrabel and the Patriots.

Hunter led the FBS with 15 touchdown catches last season as the Heisman Trophy winner. He’ll likely play both wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL.

Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

Ht/Wt: 6-4, 213

Projected round: 1st

Scouting report: Regarded as the top wide receiver in the class, McMillan was dominant and uber-productive in college but lacks top-end athletic traits. He caught 174 passes for 2,721 yards with 18 touchdowns over his last two seasons but only ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at his pro day.

McMillan is a prototypical “X” wide receiver who can win contested catches, but he might not be a game-breaker at the next level. The Patriots would have to trade down from the No. 4 overall pick or back into the first round to take him in the 2025 NFL Draft. Drafting him fourth overall would be a reach.

Matthew Golden, Texas

Ht/Wt: 5-11, 191

Projected round: 1st

Scouting report: Golden ran a blazing 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, but that speed doesn’t necessarily always show up on tape.

Golden began his college career at Houston before transferring to Texas for his senior season. He was productive in college but never broke the 1,000-yard plateau. He caught 58 passes for 987 yards with nine touchdowns in 16 games last season.

Golden would likely play the “Z” receiver spot in the NFL. He could potentially be selected in a trade back up into the first round.

Luther Burden III, Missouri

Ht/Wt: 6-0, 206

Projected round: 1st-2nd

Scouting report: Burden is a tantalizing playmaking slot receiver with the versatility to line up in the backfield in a role similar to Deebo Samuel. He does come with more speed than Samuel, however, clocking in a 4.41-second 40-yard dash the combine.

Burden had a monster 2023 campaign with 86 catches for 1,212 yards with nine touchdowns as a sophomore. He took a step back in 2024 with 61 catches for 676 yards with six touchdowns and two rushing scores.

Burden is only 21 years old and won’t turn 22 until December. He was an immediate contributor in college, and his ability to dominate in the SEC as a sophomore is a positive. His 8.5-inch hands rank in the 4th percentile among wide receivers.

Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Ht/Wt: 6-1, 201

Projected round: 1st-2nd

Scouting report: Egbuka primarily played in the slot in college, but he has the size and ability to play outside, as well. He’s a coach’s dream who was named a captain as a senior at Ohio State.

The 2024 national champion put together two 1,000-yard seasons at Ohio State — one in 2022 as a sophomore and another in 2024 as a senior. He set an Ohio State record with 205 career receptions and is second in school history with 2,868 yards.

Egbuka lacks flash but makes up for it in substance.

Jayden Higgins, Iowa State

Ht/Wt: 6-4, 214

Projected round: 2nd

Scouting report: Higgins was a late bloomer because he primarily focused on playing basketball in high school, but he’s one of the few prototypical X wide receivers in this class with strong speed (4.47-second 40-yard dash) for his size.

Higgins began his college career at Eastern Kentucky before transferring to Iowa State. He dropped just seven passes in 48 career college games and made 87 receptions for 1,183 yards with nine touchdowns in 2024.

Jalen Royals, Utah State

Ht/Wt: 6-0, 205

Projected round: 2nd-3rd

Scouting report: Royals began his college career at Georgia Military College as a no-star recruit before transferring to Utah State. He proved the competition level of the FBS wasn’t too great during his junior season when he scored 15 touchdowns on 71 catches and 1,080 yards. He was on pace for another 1,000-yard season in 2024 when he injured his foot seven games into the season after already collecting 55 catches for 834 yards with six touchdowns.

Royals is an outside wide receiver who’s adept at making plays with the ball in his hands. He ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the combine.

Tre Harris, Ole Miss

Ht/Wt: 6-2, 205

Projected round: 2nd-3rd

Scouting report: Harris, like Royals, was on pace for an unbelievable season before injuries slowed him. He caught 60 passes for 1,030 yards with seven touchdowns despite missing five games with a groin injury.

A high school quarterback, Harris played five years of college football, so he’s slightly older than most of the top prospects. He’s another player in this class who can line up at “X” wide receiver.

Jack Bech, TCU

Ht/Wt: 6-1, 214

Projected round: 2nd-3rd

Scouting report: Bech began his college career at LSU and led the Tigers in receptions despite being teammates with Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Kayshon Boutte. He transferred to TCU after getting buried on the depth chart and finally emerged as a starter in 2024, when he caught 62 passes for 1,034 yards with nine touchdowns.

He has outside-inside versatility and dropped just four passes in college. He tragically lost his brother, Tiger, in the Jan. 1, 2025 terrorist attack in New Orleans.

Kyle Williams, Washington State

Ht/Wt: 5-11, 190

Projected round: 3rd

Scouting report: Williams is undersized but played “X” receiver at Washington State, where he caught 70 passes for 1,198 yards with 14 touchdowns in 2024.

Williams began his college career at UNLV and played five seasons before entering the NFL draft. He ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at the combine.

Day 3

Elijhah Badger, Florida

Projected round: 6th-7th

Scouting report: A potential late-round steal, Badger produced as a sophomore and junior at Arizona State before transferring to Florida, where he averaged 20.7 yards per catch as a senior.

Badger ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash and finished his five-year college career with 181 catches for 2,446 yards with 14 touchdowns.