The New England Patriots have had an eventful offseason, being involved in the trade market, spending big in free agency, and trying their best to ensure Vrabel's team doesn't see a sophomore slump.
With the 2026 NFL Draft quickly approaching, New England needs to make the most of their 11 selections to return to the promised land. In a recent seven-round mock from CBS's Josh Edwards, New England looks to do exactly that.
Recent mock draft has the Patriots focusing on boosting the offense
The Patriots made six offensive selections in this mock, three of which came in the first three rounds. Much like last season, the Patriots would add exclusively offensive players to their roster in the top 100.
Max Iheanachor has been a popular selection at No. 31 recently, and that trend continues here. Penalties are a concern with the Arizona State right tackle, as he was flagged eight times last year and 16 times in the last three seasons.
Nonetheless, his pressure rate allowed is respectable, and he didn't concede a sack in 2025. Albeit a potential dependent pick, Iheanachor has the athleticism to be a long-term starter on the right side.
The Patriots then opt for Georgia State wideout Ted Hurst at No. 63 to fill the void left by Stefon Diggs' departure. Romeo Doubs was added this offseason, but the structure of the deal allows New England to get out after two seasons, and he hasn't been an upper-echelon playmaker to this point in his career. Upgrading the position is necessary.
Hurst had 1,004 yards and 6 touchdowns this season from 71 catches. He spent two years at DII Valdosta State, but had 961 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2024 after moving to DL. Standing at 6-foot-4 with 4.42 speed, he boasts a near 60% contested catch rate.
More weapons are added down the board
While Iheanachor and Hurst were the first two offensive selections, Drake Maye's help doesn't end there. The Patriots opt for Ohio State tight end Max Klare in Round 3, who's one of the nation's premier receiving tight ends.
The Patriots add a quarterback in Round 5, the athletic NDSU prospect Cole Payton. Payton is a tremendous runner, with 777 yards on the ground last year. He eclipsed 100 yards in a game on three occasions, including a season high 137 with 4 touchdowns against rival South Dakota State.
He had 10+ attempts in 9/13 games this season, and ran a 4.56 40-yard dash at 6-foot-3, 233 pounds. Payton being left-handed isn't ideal, as he won't mirror Maye or Tommy DeVito's play, but the opportunity to channel his athleticism could be worth a Day 3 pick.
In the sixth round, the Patriots add Missouri right tackle Keagan Trost, who succeeded top ten pick Armand Membou for the Tigers this past season. A seventh-year senior, Trost played at four different schools: Morgan State (1 season and Covid), Indiana State (3), Wake Forest (1), and finally Missouri this past year.
He'd be the second Missouri tackle selected by Vrabel in two seasons, with the Patriots drafting Marcus Bryant last season.
They further add Penn State running back Kaytron Allen in the sixth round for their final offensive pick, an absolute steal. Allen is widely thought to be a player likely to end up as a late third to fourth round pick, so landing the Second-Team All-American in the sixth round would be a massive boost to the running back room.
Allen had over 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns this season while splitting carries with Nick Singleton. Allen slipping in the draft would be due to his inexperience in the receiving game (68 yards this year) and lack of top-end speed. Nonetheless, he could be a sound depth option as a power back behind TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson.
The defense was an after thought and that is something the Patriots will regret
While New England fueled their offense with a plethora of young talent, the defense was something of an afterthought. The team waited until Day 3 to address Zak Kuhr's side of the ball in this simulation, just as they did in 2025. In total, they brought in five defenders: four front-seven players and a defensive back.
In Round 4, the Patriots brought in a pair of fascinating prospects: Clemson defensive lineman DeMonte Capehart and Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York. Capehart, a 6-foot-5 interior disruptor, ranked third at his position in NextGen Stats' athletic coefficient: 87/99. He shared the IDL with Peter Woods this past year, but his stats didn't see a major boost given Woods' dropoff in 2026.
York is a good linebacker, but he stands at just 5-foot-10, far too small for a linebacker with average coverage skills. Nonetheless, taking a flier on a productive college player after losing all three backup linebackers to free agency or release seems a wise idea.
The Patriots go on to select Cal cornerback Brent Austin, who spent time at JMU and USF before joining the Golden Bears, and finally add edge defenders George Gumbs Jr. of Florida and Mikail Kamara of Indiana.
Gumbs had a near 14% pressure rate this past season, but had only 2.5 sacks on the year. 2024 was better with 5, but expecting him to blossom into an elite pass rusher isn't realistic. Kamara won a National Championship with Curt Cignetti's Hoosiers this past season, a game in which he blocked a punt. He's 24 and had only one sack last season, but did manage 10 sacks the year prior.
The Patriots wait until the sixth round to address the edge
While New England bolstered their offense significantly in Josh Edwards' mock, they neglected the edge until very late, arguably their biggest position of need.
The Patriots ranked 22nd in sacks last season and ranked 28th in red zone sack percentage. Harold Landry is likely to improve upon his lackluster end of season play with offseason surgery and rest, but the team lost K'Lavon Chaisson to free agency and released Anfernee Jennings.
Dre'Mont Jones was added to replace Chaisson, but his sack production was limited to only 7 last season. Even if there aren't any hiccups in Jones' transition to Kuhr's system, the team should still look to improve at the position. Investing in the top 100 capital is reasonable, which they failed to do here.
New England should be in the market for a veteran pass rusher if a draft like this were to occur. Perhaps Joey Bosa? Nonetheless, adding depth at linebacker while fortifying Maye's protection and supporting cast in the first four rounds is a method of attack I like.