The New England Patriots entered the 2025 NFL Draft with nine picks, including two obtained through trades from a previous coaching regime. In 2023, under head coach Bill Belichick, the team secured the 217th and 238th selections in the seventh round.
The first of these selections came from trading kicker Nick Folk to the Tennessee Titans, while the second was part of the cornerback J.C. Jackson’s return to the Patriots. Although these trades were straightforward, they led to various subsequent transactions.
Now that the draft is over, we can analyze how these seemingly minor trades yielded interesting outcomes.
Nick Folk Trade to Titans
Nick Folk, who had been the team’s kicker since 2019, was released in August 2023 in favor of rookie Chad Ryland. The selection received in the trade for Folk was later sent to the Dallas Cowboys as part of a deal involving quarterback Joe Milton, setting the scene for further trades.
Patriots Trade Outcomes
After trading the 217th pick to Dallas, the Patriots received the 171st overall pick in the fifth round, which was then traded to the Detroit Lions for picks 6-182 and 7-228. The latter was subsequently sent to the Kansas City Chiefs for picks 7-251 and 7-257. In total, the following players joined the Patriots:
- K Andres Borregales (6-182)
- LS Julian Ashby (7-251)
- CB Kobee Minor (7-257)
Both Borregales and Ashby have the potential to play significant roles for the Patriots moving forward, with Borregales competing for the kicking job and Ashby in line for the long snapper position. Minor, the final pick in the draft, will aim for a depth role on defense but faces a tougher challenge.
Titans Trade Outcomes
From the Titans’ perspective, they acquired kicker Nick Folk without giving up additional draft picks. Folk had a productive tenure in Tennessee, playing 31 games over the 2023 and 2024 seasons and achieving impressive statistics, whereas New England’s kickers had less success.
Currently, Folk is a free agent, while Tennessee has since added Joey Slye after he was not retained by the Patriots.
Further Trade Outcomes
The trades stemming from the Patriots’ acquisition of the 171st pick resulted in several players transferring to other teams, beginning with Joe Milton’s trade to the Cowboys. Other notable moves included:
- Dallas Cowboys: QB Joe Milton III
- Dallas Cowboys: DT Jay Toia (7-217)
- Detroit Lions: OL Miles Frazier (5-171)
- Kansas City Chiefs: RB Brashard Smith (7-228)
Dallas used the pick from the Milton trade for Jay Toia, while the Lions added Miles Frazier, who previously played alongside Patriots first-round pick Will Campbell. Meanwhile, Kansas City took Brashard Smith at No. 228, whom New England was also considering.
