The New England Patriots have roster holes across the board, but one of their most pressing concerns is improving their pass defense. While they could use their No. 4 overall pick to address the secondary, they may also find value in the early second round.
In Athlon Sports’ latest three-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft, the Patriots land Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison at No. 38 overall. Morrison has been a standout on one of college football’s top defenses over the past three seasons. Though he lacks ideal size, he makes up for it with exceptional speed, sharp instincts, top-tier athleticism, and the ability to read plays quickly allowing him to break up passes or snag interceptions. He burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2022, earning Freshman All-American honors, and was named a preseason All-American in both 2023 and 2024. However, he missed the latter half of the 2023 season due to a hip injury that required surgery.
Across 31 collegiate games, Morrison racked up 84 total tackles, 61 solo tackles, 18 pass breakups, and nine interceptions. His addition would be a major boost for a Patriots secondary that struggled this season, ranking 23rd in pass defense while surrendering 27 passing touchdowns and 189 first downs through the air.
Morrison would provide a strong counterpart to second-team All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez, giving the Patriots a formidable duo on the outside. While New England has other talented corners, they’d be better utilized in the slot, which would help the defense operate more efficiently.
