On the eve of the 2026 NFL Draft, there was some serious buzz among league insiders that the New England Patriots were open to trading out of the first round. For a team with just three picks inside the top 100, and a small army of selections on Day 3, that was definitely not the strategy fans were hoping for.
Thankfully, the Patriots took the opposite approach on the first two days of the draft — they got aggressive.
The best part about the Patriots’ 2026 rookie class is that they targeted both left tackle Caleb Lomu and edge defender Gabe Jacas in early-round moves up the board. They were in a position of power, entering the weekend with 11 total selections. While the jury is still out on how much any of their nine draft picks will contribute in Year 1, fans can take solace in knowing that the team went and got players they feel will fit their culture.
On that note, here are the team's biggest winners and losers with the 2026 draft now officially in the books.
The Patriots’ 2026 draft may have just changed everything for these players
Winner: Drake Maye
The Patriots drafted two offensive tackles, including Lomu with pick No. 28 overall. Shoring up the protection for Maye was clearly a top priority this offseason, and the team just rounded out those efforts over the weekend.
Winner: A.J. Brown
Need more proof that Maye was the Patriots’ biggest winner of draft weekend? He’s about to get one of the most dominant wide receivers in the NFL.
While obviously not official (yet), New England’s pending post-June 1 trade with the Eagles for Brown has become the worst-kept secret in sports. The Patriots passed on drafting a wide receiver for the first time in six years. Philadelphia, meanwhile, traded up in the first round this year to select USC wideout Makai Lemon. The Eagles then used their second-round pick on a de facto wide receiver at tight end in Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers.
If Brown wants out of Philly as much as it has seemed this offseason, it sure looks like he’s about to get his wish.
Loser: Will Campbell
As it stands, Campbell remains the Patriots’ starter at left tackle for 2026 and beyond. He’s not moving to the right side or kicking inside to guard anytime soon.
But the team’s decision to spend another first-round pick on a career college left tackle is impossible to ignore. Lomu will most likely enter training camp as the Patriots’ swing tackle, proving valuable insurance for Morgan Moses as he enters his age-35 season while serving as Campbell's top backup.
Campbell is definitely on thinner ice than he was at this time last year, though. If he struggles against the Patriots’ tough 2026 schedule or misses significant time once again due to injuries, calls for the team to make a change at left tackle will only grow louder.
Winner: Cory Durden
There were zero expectations for Durden entering the 2025 season, but he was able to earn head coach Mike Vrabel’s trust and carve out a key role in the defensive line rotation. That role now stands to increase after Khyiris Tonga bolted in free agency to join the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Patriots surprisingly passed on adding a defensive tackle in the draft. It’s possible an undrafted rookie finds his way onto the 53-man roster, but for now, Durden projects as a starter alongside Christian Barmore and Milton Williams.
Winner: Bryce Baringer
The Patriots selected Baringer in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The fact that they didn’t seek out his potential replacement in this year’s event was kind of a stunner.
Baringer’s production took a clear step back in 2025. He averaged a career-low 47.4 yards per punt and failed to give the team’s struggling offense much of a lift in some bad-weather games late in the season.
The team will likely add some competition ahead of training camp, similar to the kicking situation last summer between Andy Borregales and John Parker Romo, but Baringer seems to have survived any major threats to his job in 2026. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract, so the Patriots could be banking on a bounce-back season from the 27-year-old.
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