The New England Patriots veritably shocked the NFL by beating the Denver Broncos and advancing to the Super Bowl as AFC Champs.
Now, Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye will lead the Patriots in a quest for the team's seventh Lombardi Trophy. Yet, whatever the result, the April 2026 draft looms, and the team's needs will remain the same whether they win or lose the Super Bowl.
The offseason begins on April 9 no matter the result. So it's timely to roll out a new mock draft that takes into account all the developments in the offseason and over the past year. The Patriots need additions, and one place to get them is in the NFL draft.
In light of the significant number of sacks allowed by the make-shift 2025 offensive line (including 15 in their three playoff games!), expect major reinforcements to arrive in the offseason there, as well as on the edge. The Patriots gave up far too many sacks all season and didn't register enough of their own.
Those two positions will be addressed in this four-round, five-pick new mock draft. (Thanks to Pro Football Network for the use of their draft simulator.)
Pre-Super Bowl LX 4-round mock draft has the Patriots filling all their roster holes
Round 1: Pick No. 31, Offensive Tackle, Monroe Freeling, Georgia
With their own first-round pick, the Patriots immediately address their most pressing need, the offensive line. They use their own pick No. 31 and select the best tackle on the Board. Pro Football Focus's fifth-rated offensive tackle, Monroe Freeling from Georgia.
Freeling is a 6'7", 295-pound left tackle who will be groomed immediately as a swing tackle behind Will Campbell and Morgan Moses. NFL Draft Buzz sees Freeling as a developmental type initially.
"The athletic foundation is undeniably impressive, but Freeling's inconsistent technique creates legitimate concerns about his immediate NFL readiness. His speed and 84-inch wingspan represent elite physical tools, yet the struggles with upper body strength and tendency to reach for blocks suggest he'll need significant development time.
His run blocking shows more natural ability than his pass protection skills, where patience and hand placement remain ongoing projects that could prove costly against pro level rushers."
Round 2: Pick No. 63, Isaiah World, Tackle/Guard, Oregon
In the second round with their own pick, the Patriots go with the best value pick and further augment their offensive line with a huge tackle who immediately projects to guard. They select 6'8", 312-pound Isaiah World from Oregon.
The Patriots surrendered 47 sacks in the regular season and the aforementioned 15 in the first three playoff games. Little more has to be said about their priorities in the 2026 offseason.
NFL Draft Buzz sees World as a tackle, but the Patriots want to add size at guard, and that's where he'll be projected to play.
"Any NFL team adding World to their roster will be investing in a high-ceiling, developmental tackle who could blossom into a quality starter with time and proper coaching. His film shows a prospect with excellent pass protection instincts but a work-in-progress as a run blocker - making him a perfect fit for pass-first offensive systems that emphasize vertical sets where his length and improving lateral movement can shine immediately."
Round 3, Pick No. 95, Max Klare, tight end, Ohio State
With the edge possibilities slim, and hopefully the Patriots have already addressed the edge in free agency, the team uses its own third-round pick and drafts for another need. This time it's for a young tight end with pass-catching ability.
It's the 6'5", 243-pound Max Klare from Ohio State. After transferring from Purdue, Klare stepped into a top tight end role and snagged 43 passes for 448 yards and two touchdowns for the Buckeyes.
The Patriots need a young tight end to augment their current tight end room. Hunter Henry is set but Austin Hooper is a free agent. Both will be entering their year-32 seasons. Even if Hooper remains, the Patriots need to add youth to the position, and NFL Draft Buzz cites Klare's strength as a receiving tight end.
"Klare is a tight end with natural receiving gifts and concerning blocking limitations that create an intriguing evaluation paradox. When running routes and catching passes, he displays the fluid athleticism and instinctive hands that offensive coordinators covet, particularly on intermediate routes where he consistently creates separation with subtle movements and understands how to shield defenders from the ball. Y
et these receiving talents are currently undermined by significant deficiencies in the blocking phase ..."
Round 4, Pick No. 125, Keyron Crawford, Auburn
In the fourth round, the Patriots finally address the edge and use their own fourth-round pick to draft Auburn's Keyron Crawford. Crawford is a 6'4", 251-pound edge from the SEC's Auburn. Crawford raked up five sacks and 9 tackles for loss along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for the Tigers in 2025.
The Draft Network looks at Crawford as a stand-up edge rusher, which fits Mike Vrabel's defense to a tee.
"Auburn's Keyron Crawford is an athletic pass rusher with first-step quickness and explosiveness. Crawford should threaten offensive tackles as a stand-up outside linebacker at the next level. Holding up at the point of attack is a question."
Round 4, (from Chicago), Bryce Lance, Wide Receiver, North Dakota State
The Patriots look to add more size to their wide receiver room, and with a pick acquired from Kansas City in the 2025 draft, they select with Trey Lance's brother, Bryce, a wide receiver from North Dakota State.
Lance notched 51 receptions for 1,079 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025, averaging 21.2 yards per reception. Lance is a big, 6'3", 209-pound receiver, and Pro Football Focus cites his good blocking, an asset in the Patriots offense, as a strength.
"Lance has just one year of starting experience, but he flashed encouraging play in that lone season. His hands were reliable in all situations in 2024. He also showed up big in some of the most significant games of the year. His top speed and overall athleticism appear limited for the NFL, but he still wins as a receiver by setting up defenders with head and shoulder fakes and tempoing his routes to his advantage. He brings a solid blocking technique due to years of special teams experience."
That's a quick, four-round draft in which the Patriots, once again under Mike Vrabel, go heavy to add players for Drake Maye's offense while adding an edge, as well.
The supposition is that the team will address the edge in free agency, and a major addition like Trey Hutchinson of the Bengals could be a monster one for Mike Vrabel's 2026 defense.