What Stefon Diggs Addition Should Mean For Patriots’ Premier Pick

It’s not up for debate anymore.

Wide receiver remains a position of need for the Patriots, but the reported signing of Stefon Diggs lessens it. That’s undeniable. And now the biggest need is left tackle. That’s indisputable.

It confirms how the Patriots should proceed in the 2025 NFL Draft — well, it confirms the two avenues.

We’re at the point in the story where we have to provide a routine disclaimer: If either blue-chip prospect Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter slide to No. 4, then New England should select the one remaining. The Patriots are void of true blue-chip players and shouldn’t pass up on either. That should be route one on Route One.

However, if both Carter and Hunter are off the board, the decision for the Patriots should be easy. New England needs to select the best left tackle on its board with the fourth pick. That’s route two. The argument for a wide receiver (Tetairoa McMillan), edge rusher (Jalon Walker), tight end (Tyler Warren) or running back (Ashton Jeanty) should be put to rest. (They won’t, of course, given we still have another month.)

In such a situation, the most likely pick would be offensive lineman Will Campbell. Campbell’s arm length eclipsed 33 inches at LSU’s Pro Day on Wednesday after he measured 32 5/8 inches at the NFL scouting combine. The Patriots reportedly were high on Campbell even before his improved measurement, and it’s fair to think he helped himself with evaluators.

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Armand Membou is another player who will be considered. Membou, who played right tackle at Missouri, is thought to be more than capable of the switch to the left side. And it’s not only Tigers head coach Elijah Drinkwitz who believes it to be the case. As do some of the top draft experts, and NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah predicted Membou will be the first tackle off the board.

After a Tier I of Carter and Hunter, there’s not a large degree of separation between highly-regarded prospects. Though some might have Jeanty or Walker a line or two above Campbell and/or Membou, the relative closeness in the prospect poll should have the Patriots leaning toward need.

The Patriots addressed another one with Diggs, which solidifies the move they should make at fourth overall.