Patriots' Eliot Wolf plans to select the 'best player available' in the 2025 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots had a busy offseason, splurging on expensive defensive players like Milton Williams and Carlton Davis. With plenty of money to spend and numerous roster gaps to fill, their aggressive spending spree makes sense. This strategy also allows them to have more flexibility when it comes to the draft, although significant holes still remain, including at left tackle and in the wide receiver position.

Despite these clear needs, Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf told season ticket holders on Sunday that the team plans to draft the best player available next month. Wolf acknowledged that the team may have focused too heavily on filling needs last year.

"No, we don't (feel compelled to draft for need). The best player available is going to be the way it is," he said, via Karen Guregian of MassLive. "Maybe we went to need a little bit too much last year. Obviously that culminated in us drafting Drake Maye, so it wasn't all bad. But moving forward, it's about taking the best player, knowing we've already addressed a lot of our needs through free agency."

With the additions of Williams, Davis, edge rusher Harold Landry, linebacker Robert Spillane, and right tackle Morgan Moses, New England has addressed many weaknesses ahead of Mike Vrabel's first season as head coach. However, the left tackle position remains a significant issue, especially after Cam Robinson chose to sign with Houston last week. The Patriots have a better chance of adding a veteran wide receiver, as several are still available on the market. Stefon Diggs' visit to Foxborough is part of this effort, although Wolf didn't provide specifics on discussions, only noting the team wanted to evaluate the receiver, who is recovering from a season-ending knee injury.

"We're really excited about some of the names we've added. We know there's still a lot of work to do," Wolf said. "(We've made) several defensive additions, a few offensive ones, and we're still looking. The Diggs' visit is part of that. We're just excited to enter the draft without being forced to make a pick."

Strong teams typically focus on selecting the best player available, while poorly managed teams tend to draft lesser players to fill immediate needs, which rarely works out well. However, if two players are ranked similarly, most teams will opt for the one who fills a more pressing need.

While the Patriots may not feel compelled to make a draft pick to address a specific gap, securing a left tackle remains a priority, whether it happens with the No. 4 overall pick or later in the draft. Last year's plan quickly faltered, and to ensure that Maye's future isn't marred by constant pressure, they need to shore up the left tackle position soon.