Travis Hunter to Patriots, Ashton Jeanty to Raiders in NFL Executives' 2025 Mock Draft

Falling out of the running for the top pick in Week 18 may not cost the New England Patriots the chance to select a top talent in the 2025 NFL Draft.

An NFL executive surveyed by The Athletic's Mike Sando predicted the Patriots will use the No. 4 pick to draft wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter out of Colorado.

According to Sando, the executive "saw a big gap between Hunter and the other receivers and linemen available."

Patriots leadership met with Hunter during last week's NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf praised Hunter when speaking about him at the combine, calling him "unique and instinctive at both positions."

Another executive surveyed by Sando said he could see the Patriots pursuing wideout Tetairoa McMillan as a target for Drake Maye, or tight end Tyler Warren because "they could see him as Gronk."

NFL executives, meanwhile, predicted another Heisman Trophy finalist would come off the board at No. 6, when the Las Vegas Raiders are projected to select running back Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State.

According to Sando, executives believe the Raiders will trade for or sign a veteran quarterback in lieu of drafting a young signal-caller.

One executive told Sando that new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll is "dead set on running the ball."

“He had Marshawn (Lynch) in Seattle. He is going to want the back here," the executive told Sando.

The Raiders ranked last in the NFL with fewer than 80 rushing yards per game last season. Carroll called a focus on improving that stat "fundamental" during last week's combine.

"The quarterback position needs to be supported in every way possible... the running game is a huge part of that," Caroll said last Tuesday.

The Titans are projected to select quarterback Cam Ward with the top pick, while the Cleveland Browns turn to signal caller Shedeur Sanders at No. 2 in the executives' mock.

Edge-rusher Abdul Carter, defensive tackle Mason Graham, quarterback Jaxson Dart, McMillan, offensive tackle Kelvin Banks and offensive tackle Will Campbell round out the top 10 in the executives' mock.

There could be more movement in the draft order before the event begins on April 24 in Green Bay. ESPN's Turron Davenport and Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday that the majority of insiders surveyed believe the Tennessee Titans would prefer "to trade out" rather than draft at the No. 1 spot.