The New England Patriots took meaningful steps in free agency to fill a number of holes on their roster, but the work is far from finished.
With several needs still lingering and long-term roster construction in mind, the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft remains a critical opportunity to inject affordable, high-upside talent into a team set to navigate an increasingly tight financial outlook in the coming years, as several big-money contracts to retain their homegrown stars sit on the horizon.
This final mock draft takes into account those free agent additions and identifies prospects New England should consider to help the franchise load up for another deep playoff run come next season.
Prospects the Patriots should target to win the 2026 NFL Draft
Round 1, Pick 31: EDGE Malachi Lawrence, UCF
While signing Dre'Mont Jones in free agency will hopefully bolster a defensive unit that posted just the 22nd-ranked sack total league-wide last season, the Patriots would still benefit from the reinforcement to their pass rush, which drafting Malachi Lawrence out of UCF would provide.
At 6'4" and 253 lbs, the 2025 All-Big 12 first-team selection recorded 28 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and three pass deflections last season, as he earned an 89.5 pass rush grade on the year from Pro Football Focus.
NFL Next Gen Stats gave Lawrence an Athleticism Score of 88, ranking second best among edge rushers in the 2026 class, and his 9.94 Relative Athletic Score out of a possible 10.00 placed 13th out of 2,085 defensive end prospects from 1987 to 2026.
Lawrence excels at pressuring opposing quarterbacks, using his combination of explosiveness and a deep bag of moves to disrupt the pocket consistently; however, he will need to add some muscle mass to become more effective against the run. New England has shown an interest in Lawrence during the pre-draft process, having hosted him on a Top-30 visit.
Round 2, Pick 63: TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Long-term questions regarding the future of the tight end position still linger for the Patriots, with starter Hunter Henry entering his age-32 season and free agent signing Julian Hill having been more of a situational blocker than a pass catcher throughout his career.
Should Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers still be on the board when New England is on the clock in Round 2, adding him could give the team an eventual heir apparent to Henry.
Measuring in at 6'3" and 239 lbs, the John Mackey Award winner (given annually to the nation's top TE) hauled in a team-high 62 receptions for 769 yards and four touchdowns on his way to earning both AP All-American and All-SEC first-team honors. NFL Next Gen Stats gave Stowers a Production score of 82 and an Athleticism Score of 86, ranking first and fourth, respectively, among players at his position in the 2026 class.
A versatile athlete, Stowers played quarterback, wide receiver, and tight end at the collegiate level. Scouts praise his speed, catch radius, and ability to gain big yards after the catch, but he needs to improve at running crisp routes and become a more reliable run blocker.
Round 3, Pick 95: S Zakee Wheatley, Penn State
Replacing 2025 starter Jaylinn Hawkins with Kevin Byard was a win-now move by New England's front office, but inking the soon-to-be 33-year-old to a one-year pact means the franchise will eventually have to make long-term plans at the safety spot.
Penn State standout Zakee Wheatley would be a great fit for the team's current situation, as he would be given the time needed to develop into a dependable starter down the line.
At 6’3″ and 203 pounds, the All-Big Ten honorable mention finished with 74 tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception, and a pass breakup in 2025. Across 58 career games played with the Nittany Lions, he had a hand in 11 takeaways, including six interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles.
Wheatley lined up at corner, safety, and linebacker in various defensive schemes during his time at Penn State. Positives on his scouting report include a good nose for the football and success in open-field tackling; however, he's also been criticized for inconsistent pad level in run support and for trouble locating receivers who get behind him.
The Patriots have been keeping tabs on Wheatley, bringing him in for a Top-30 visit.
Round 4, Pick 125: OT Travis Burke, Memphis
After quarterback Drake Maye was sacked an NFL record 21 times during the playoffs and fourth most (sacked 47 times) league-wide during the regular season, New England will likely be keen on adding some offensive line help during the draft.
Picking Travis Burke out of Memphis would give them a developmental option who can compete for a swing tackle role early while refining his technique to potentially grow into a starter.
Standing 6'8" and 325 lbs, the All-American Conference first-team member started 11 games at right tackle last season, earning a PFF overall grade of 84.5 (81.5 in pass blocking and 84.2 in run blocking), which clocked in as the 11th highest mark among 632 qualifying offensive tackles. He made 22 starts at left tackle during his 2024 and 2023 campaigns spent at Florida International.
Burke's strengths include strong hand placement, a powerful initial punch, and the ability to anchor against bull rushes, although scouts have noted he can struggle with speed rushers off the edge and needs to improve his footwork consistency in space. The Patriots brought Burke in for a Top-30 visit to further evaluate his possible fit on their roster.
Round 4, Pick 131: WR Ja'Kobi Lane, USC
New England had just one wide receiver who stood above 6'0" (Mack Hollins) that caught passes for them last season, and may be interested in adding another big target for Maye via the draft, a need USC's Ja'Kobi Lane certainly has the height to help fill.
With a 6'4" and 200 lbs frame, the All-Big Ten honorable mention caught 49 passes for 745 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. His 9.38 Relative Athletic Score ranked 245th out of 3,926 wideout prospects from 1987 to 2026, and he earned an NFL Next Gen Stats Athleticism Score of 79, which placed 17th among receivers in the class.
Lane projects as a dangerous red-zone threat who can be a matchup nightmare for smaller corners and boasts impressive hand-eye coordination, but will need to improve playing through contact and separating from press coverage to realize his full potential at the pro level.
Though NFL insider Adam Schefter has said the Patriots are expected to attempt a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles for AJ Brown after June 1, with no deal done yet and the reported possibility of trading Kayshon Boutte, the team should still be in the market for another pass catcher.
Round 5, Pick 169:Â RB Adam Randall, Clemson
Going into 2026, the Patriots have their top two contributors set at running back in Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, but remain without a clear-cut third back. Selecting Adam Randall out of Clemson would provide the team with a versatile player to fill out their depth at this position.
Measuring 6'3" and 232 lbs, the converted wide receiver had a breakout campaign in 2025 during his first full season as a running back, taking 168 carries for a team-leading 814 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also recording 36 catches for 254 yards and three more scores through the air. He could also provide some special teams help, having returned nine kickoffs for 213 yards last season.
NFL Next Gen Stats gave the Tigers team captain an Athleticism Score of 80, 6th best at his position in the 2026 class.
Randall is a hard runner who can pick up additional yards after contact, and his experience as a wideout makes him a legitimate receiving option out of the backfield. However, he can be indecisive at times as a runner, has struggled with several injuries during college, and must improve his pass protection.
New England hosted Randall for a Top-30 visit, displaying a noted interest in potentially drafting him.
Round 6, Pick 190: LB Jack Kelly, BYU
Following the departure of Jack Gibbens, a major contributor during the 2025 campaign, to the Arizona Cardinals, the Patriots should look to offset that loss by adding some youth to their linebacking corps, with BYU's Jack Kelly potentially being an ideal late-round target.
Standing 6'1" and 240 lbs, the All-Big 12 first-team selection posted 55 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, a pass breakup, and two forced fumbles last year. His NFL Next Gen Stats Athleticism Score of 85 placed fourth best among linebackers in the 2026 class, and the 9.70 Relative Athletic Score he garnered ranked 100th out of 3,300 players at his position from 1987 to 2026.
Kelly is an aggressive player, effective at blitzing, and can close quickly to make plays on pass catchers when in both man and zone coverage. He'll need to improve at defending against the run, finishing open field tackles, and consistently breaking free from blockers.
Round 6, Pick 201: DT Rene Konga, Louisville
The Patriots currently boast an elite starting defensive tackle duo of Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, although the later has been named as a candidate for the team to potentially move on from.
Even though Barmore's standing with the franchise seems to have improved somewhat after the apparent resolution of his off-field legal issues, it makes sense for the team to draft another player at the position as insurance, such as Rene Konga out of Louisville.
At 6'3" and 298 lbs, the All-ACC second-team member notched 29 tackles, five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and six pass deflections last season. He ran an impressive 4.78 40-yard dash at his pro day and received a 9.78 Relative Athletic Score, the 50th best mark out of 2,270 defensive tackles from 1987 to 2026.
Scouts have noted the unusually fast, explosive athletic abilities of an interior defender, which Konga displays, creating penetration with his initial quickness off the line of scrimmage.
However, his on-field production in college lagged behind his eye-popping testing numbers, and he will need to add more muscle mass to withstand double teams in the NFL. New England held a virtual meeting with Konga, as they consider him to help replace the loss of Khyiris Tonga.
Round 6, Pick 208:Â CB Domani Jackson, Alabama
The Patriots already have a trio of top-flight trio of cornerbacks on the roster in Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, and Marcus Jones. However, their depth falls off sharply after those three, and the team would benefit from bringing in more talent to this group through the draft, with Alabama's Domani Jackson an intriguing option.
Measuring 6'0" and 194 lbs, Jackson recorded 39 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a pass breakup last season, though his most productive campaign was in 2024 with the Crimson Tide when he finished with 52 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups.
The former USC Trojan tied for the fourth fastest 40-yard dash (4.41) among cornerbacks at the NFL Combine, and his 9.00 Relative Athletic Score ranked 307th out of 3,069 corners from 1987 to 2026.
The former high-school track star has elite speed and creates explosive contact to jar balls loose from opposing pass catchers. Jackson faced some struggles in 2025, though ultimately, he was benched before he managed to regain his starting role. He'll need to become a more consistent player to make it in the NFL, with control and balance being particular areas that require improvement.
Round 6, Pick 211: G Ar'maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M
New England’s aforementioned issues protecting Maye and their possible intent to shift 2025 starting left guard Jared Wilson back to his collegiate position at center mean adding interior offensive line depth in the draft is likely a move. If so, the Patriots would be wise to take a late-round flier on Ar’Maj Reed-Adams out of Texas A&M.
The 6'5", 314 lbs lineman once carried first-round hype following a standout 2024 season, where he posted a 79.7 overall PFF grade and an 82.4 run-blocking mark, the latter mark ranking second among Power Four guards.
His production dipped in 2025 (69.1 overall, 72.7 run blocking), which contributed to a major slide in his draft stock, but he still surrendered just one sack over 680 snaps last season, earning second-team All-American honors.
Reed-Adams possesses excellent size, length (34 3/8" arms), and can stand his ground against opposing bull rushes. The Aggies team captain has encountered problems with his discipline (20 flags over the past two seasons) and conditioning, but the physical tools he brings to the table provide enough upside to warrant taking a chance on him towards the end of the draft, given his eventual development.
Round 7, Pick 248: QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
By releasing 2025 backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs earlier this offseason, the Patriots opened the door for last year's third-stringer Tommy DeVito to become the primary backup behind Maye, but will almost certainly acquire another signal caller before training camp begins.
Luke Altmyer out of Illinois might be the most talented arm still on the board when New England is on the clock for their final pick of this draft.
Standing 6'1" and 210 lbs, the All-Big Ten honorable mention completed 246 out of 365 (school record 67.4%) for 3,007 yards and 22 touchdowns against five interceptions, while also taking 100 carries for 242 yards and five scores on the ground. NFL Next Gen Stats gave him an Athleticism Score of 73, which placed 10th among signal callers in the 2026 class.
Altmyer has earned praise for how he moves defenders away from targets with his eyes, patience while routes develop, and solid timing throwing into intermediate windows.
However, he's been knocked for below-average arm talent, undisciplined footwork, and a lack of consistent poise under duress, but he could still ultimately develop into a serviceable backup.
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