Latest predictions for the Patriots' rookie class aren't all that bright

After getting a ton of production out of their rookie class last season, the New England Patriots entered the 2026 NFL Draft with some critical holes to fill.

While they selected several players with starting-caliber traits, this year's crop of prospects is based more on potential than on the ability to contribute from Day 1.

With nine of their 10 draft picks (plus three undrafted free agents) making the 53-man roster, the Patriots are clearly looking to get younger, especially with several starters on expiring contracts.

But after getting big-time contributions from Will Campbell, Jared Wilson, TreVeyon Henderson, Craig Woodson, and Andres Borregales a year ago, it would be unfair to expect that same immediate payoff from this year's class.

Still, there's no doubt the Patriots need a couple of their early picks to pan out sooner rather than later, given their depth (or lack thereof).

So, with Week 1 right around the corner, I'm going to put my prediction hat on and take a stab at projecting just how much (or little) each member of the Patriots' 2026 draft class will play this season.

Previewing what Patriots' rookies will do during the 2026 season

Caleb Lomu, OT, Round 1 (28th overall)

Although the Patriots traded up to secure his services, Caleb Lomu is clearly a developmental prospect who needs to get stronger before he's ready for prime time. His inconsistent training camp and preseason performances only validated concerns about his ability to contribute immediately.

Blessed with great athleticism and an ideal frame for the position, Lomu should only see the field as a jumbo tight end on running plays.

Otherwise, he seems bound to stand on the sidelines and learn the ropes from Morgan Moses. In an ideal world, he'll be the team's starting right tackle in 2027.

Gabe Jacas, OLB, Round 2 (55th overall)

Just as they did on Day 1, the Patriots traded up to land one of their top targets. Unlike Caleb Lomu, however, Gabe Jacas needs to overcome his slow summer and become a reliable contributor—at least on passing downs.

With veteran Harold Landry starting the season on the physically unable to perform list, the Patriots are razor-thin at outside linebacker. Dre'Mont Jones is a solid starter who can move around the defensive front, but he's the only proven commodity at that spot.

Meanwhile, second-year undrafted free agent Elijah Ponder is ahead of Jacas, but even he has a lot to prove. Given his immense power and physical playing style, Jacas has the most upside of any member of the Patriots' draft class, and I expect him to get his feet wet as an edge rusher on obvious passing downs.

In an ideal world, he should become a full-time starter by the end of the season. Since his head coach played that same spot, Jacas has someone who can offer valuable insight into how to leverage his impressive physical skill set.

Eli Raridon, TE, Round 3 (95th overall)

When the Patriots selected Eli Raridon with a top-100 pick, they didn't need him to play right away. But once free agent Julian Hill suffered a season-ending injury, that vaulted the Notre Dame product up the depth chart.

With only Hunter Henry ahead of him, Raridon looks primed to play a significant role in his first year in Foxboro. Although he'll need time to get stronger and improve his blocking skills, his upside as a receiver makes him incredibly intriguing.

Given Josh McDaniels' history of getting great production out of that position, I expect Raridon to play a healthy number of snaps as the team's No. 2 tight end. If he earns Drake Maye's trust, he could easily catch 25 passes and become a trusted red-zone target given his size and catch radius. Out of all the rookies on the roster, he should be the top contributor.

Karon Prunty, CB, Round 5 (171st overall)

With Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, and Marcus Jones atop the depth chart, Karon Prunty doesn't have a clear path to immediate playing time.

Of course, that could change quickly, considering Gonzalez and Davis don't have the cleanest injury histories.

Prunty's length and physicality make him a potential long-term replacement for Davis, but if he's playing a lot in 2026, that's a bad sign for the Patriots.

Damterious Crownover, OT, Round 6 (196th overall)

The Patriots smartly double-dipped at offensive tackle, and Damterious Crownover surprisingly outperformed Caleb Lomu all offseason.

He's listed as Will Campbell's backup, and given Lomu's struggles, it wouldn't be a surprise if he's the first man called up if Morgan Moses suffers an injury.

Crownover's 6-foot-7, 319-pound frame certainly looks much different than Campbell's, so it will be interesting to see how he performs if he gets pressed into action.

Namdi Obiazor, LB, Round 6 (212th overall)

Similar to tight end and edge, the Patriots are pretty thin at linebacker. That makes someone like Namdi Obiazor a sneaky candidate to play more snaps than you'd expect for a sixth-round pick.

With precious little depth behind Robert Spillane and Christian Ellis, the former TCU standout is just one injury away from being called upon.

Behren Morton, QB, Round 7 (234th overall)

It's never a bad thing to have too many NFL-caliber quarterbacks. Behren Morton demonstrated enough developmental upside to earn a roster spot, but he's never going to see the field in 2026.

Quintayvious Hutchins, OLB, Round 7 (247th overall)

Although he made the team, Quintayvious Hutchins faces an uphill battle to earn snaps over Dre'Mont Jones, Elijah Ponder, and Gabe Jacas. Plus, he'll be buried further down the depth chart whenever Harold Landry returns.

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