The New England Patriots put together a strong body of work during the 2025 NFL draft, as they addressed the majority of their remaining needs ahead of the upcoming season. In fact, the Patriots did so well during the early stages of the draft that they managed to use one of their final picks in a way not seen since 2021.
With their second-to-last pick in the seventh round, New England surprisingly selected Vanderbilt football long snapper Julian Ashby. It was the first time since 2021 a long snapper had been drafted, and it appears the Pats had a clear reason for their selection of Ashby.