The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft was far more exciting than anyone anticipated, even for fans of the New England Patriots, as they traded up three spots to secure the last offensive tackle projected to be a first-rounder.
They addressed a major need for the future by selecting left tackle Caleb Lomu, with swing-tackle capabilities, presumably to become the next starting right tackle after Morgan Moses. In the meantime, he will serve as solid depth for the offensive line, which allows the Patriots to shift their focus in Rounds 2 and 3 on pass rushers.
Fortunately for them, despite the class being widely considered talented and deep, there are a number of top talents still on the board after Round 1 has ended, and there's a good chance one could fall into the Patriots' lap, or they get another opportunity to trade up.
Regardless, their need for a dominant addition to the defensive line should be enough reason to get the pass rusher they need.
The Patriots have a clear pathway to land a top pass rusher on Day 2 of the NFL Draft
For much of the offseason, Missouri's Zion Young was mock-drafted to the Patriots at the end of the first round. Now that he's fallen into Day 2, he could still become their latest pick, but it might require a big trade-up from No. 63.
The talented defender has everything New England needs on their defense, and it might be their best decision yet to make an aggressive move to ensure that he's on their roster in 2026.
If they aren't 100% sold on Young, however, others who have been linked to them all offseason remain available, as well, including Clemson's T.J. Parker and Texas A&M's Cashius Howell.
Based on how the chips fell near the end of the first round, it's fair to assume that pass rushers will be a popular selection at the start of Round 2. That's a disaster in the making for a team like the Patriots, who have a significant need on their defensive line and cannot afford to lose out on the remaining top prospects.
Because they have a plethora of selections on Day 3, they might need to utilize them in a trade-up scenario, assuming they view their pass rush as one of their top remaining weaknesses.
If they don't, perhaps they continue with the offensive side of the ball, specifically targeting a wide receiver or two that fell into the second round, or maybe a tight end to be Hunter Henry's successor. It would be difficult to argue against doing that, but if they don't have a solid plan to address their pass rush, it would immediately become a scrutinized decision.
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