Patriots
“His athletic ability is what really stands out about him.”
The Patriots are continuing to build up their offensive line.
New England used its second third-round pick (No. 95 overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Georgia center Jared Wilson.
The 6-foot-3 center offers plenty of upside in the NFL ranks, with the 21-year-old expected to compete with both veteran Garrett Bradbury and 2021 first-round pick Cole Strange for New England’s starting center position in 2025 and beyond.
“Still relatively inexperienced, he needs to develop his consistency as a drive blocker in the run game and when working underneath defenders to anchor in pass protection,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said of Wilson. “Overall, Wilson lacks premium size and is fundamentally rough around the edges, but he sports the body control, movement skills and football IQ to lock down a long-term starting center role.
“His game is reminiscent of Rodney Hudson’s, and he should compete for immediate starting reps.”
As Brugler noted, Wilson is still relatively new to the center position, as he moved to that spot on the offensive line in 2022 and was only a one-year starter at the University of Georgia. The Winston-Salem, N.C. native earned a Second Team All-SEC selection in 2024.
As noted by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero — who tabbed Wilson as a potential first-round pick — Wilson allowed zero sacks in 511 pass-block snaps with the Bulldogs last season.
Eliot Wolf noted on Friday night that Wilson could also slot over to guard if needed.
“A young athletic offensive lineman — has center/ guard flex, didn’t give up a sack all year this year. His athletic ability is what really stands out about him.”
“Most of his experience has been in center this past year, but he had played guard — he was basically the sixth man at Georgia prior to this year,” Wolf added. “So he’s got experience practicing and playing a guard there. So I think centers ultimately going to his best position, but we’ll get him in here. See what he can do.”
Wilson is a unique prospect, beyond the fact that he didn’t start playing football until high school and was initially a soccer player while growing up in North Carolina. He tested off the charts at the NFL Combine, with the 310-pound offensive lineman running a 4.84 40-yard dash.
The 2025 NFL Draft has seen New England place a premium on surrounding Drake Maye with talent — with two of the Patriots’ first four selections solidifying the offensive line between left tackle Will Campbell and Wilson at center/guard.
The Patriots used their second and third-round selections to add playmakers in running back TreVeyon Henderson (No. 38 overall) and wide receiver Kyle Williams (No. 69 overall).
New England was initially set to pick 77th overall in the third round on Friday, but moved down twice via trades. The Patriots swapped the 77th pick — acquired from Atlanta in a trade involving Matthew Judon — for the 85th and 146th selections from the Panthers.
Shortly after that deal, New England pulled off another trade — dealing the 85th pick to the Chiefs for the 95th pick and a 2026 fourth-round selection.
Sign up for Patriots updates🏈
Get breaking news and analysis delivered to your inbox during football season.