EXPERT: Phil Perry, NBC Sports Boston

LAST UPDATED: February 14, 2025

NOTE: Perry projects a trade with the Raiders to move down to the #6 overall pick and also gaining a 2nd rounder in the deal.

Perry’s Analysis:
“In this scenario, the new Patriots regime puts its stamp on its first draft by taking a player who brings a familiar trait to the table for Mike Vrabel: versatility. Walker doesn’t have the size that made Vrabel a moveable front-seven chess piece for Bill Belichick, but he has the ability to be a hybrid player in the new-look Patriots defense. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Walker won the Butkus Award as a 20-year-old this past season as an off-the-line ‘backer who showed an innate talent for rushing off the edge when given the opportunity. He was wickedly disruptive against Texas, Tennessee and Clemson, showing his sideline-to-sideline athleticism and high-level football IQ. He’s also thought to have outstanding football character.”

Click here for Phil Perry’s mock draft.