It's finally time for the 2026 NFL Draft, and as of right now, the New England Patriots are among the richest in the league, as they hold 11 selections over the three-day event.
After hitting the jackpot with their picks last offseason, the plan is to replicate that this year and build an even younger and faster group to compete for another Super Bowl. There are plenty of roster holes to address across all three phases of the game, and it's difficult to predict what will be prioritized most.
There's plenty to suggest what their early round picks will be, and maybe they will pull off some blockbuster trades, which Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf have not dismissed when discussing their plans, and really put the team over the top after an unexpectedly successful 2025 season.
We know they'll want to build a better group around Drake Maye for his third season, while also creating a more dominant defense to build on what they started last year and make up for the players they lost in free agency.
It might not be the most exciting draft class, but if 2025 told Patriots fans anything, it's that Vrabel and Wolf know how to scout the right players and can be trusted to select the guys who will inevitably make the biggest difference on and off the field.
- Patriots draft snapshot
- Best remaining draft targets
- What the experts are saying
- Updated Patriots depth chart
- AFC East rival draft picks:
- Draft pick tracker
Patriots draft snapshot
- Current draft capital: Picks No. 31, 63, 95, 125, 131, 171, 191, 198, 202, 212, 247
- Primary needs: EDGE, offensive tackle, tight end
- Latest mock selection: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (FL) (Mel Kiper of ESPN)
- Last updated: April 18 @ 7:30 pm
The Patriots go into this year's draft with a near-league-high number of picks to drastically improve their team for the 2026 season and beyond. They accomplished that last offseason, laying the groundwork for a Super Bowl run, and they hope to follow that recipe again this year.
The holes on the roster are clear, and although this year's class isn't considered generational, there are plenty of talented names that could add what the current team is missing in all aspects of the game.
They will almost surely prioritize the defensive and offensive lines early on, and then move on to give Drake Maye more talent around him on offense to ensure his future remains bright. Whether that's adding another receiver or finding a successor to Hunter Henry, we'll have to see. But it's clear what needs improving, and now we have to see if Vrabel and Wolf can accomplish that for the second year in a row.
No. 31 pick: Stay tuned
No. 63 pick: Stay tuned
No. 95 pick: Stay tuned
Best remaining draft targets
Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
For much of the offseason, the Patriots have been mock-drafted to take Zion Young, one of the best pass rushers of the class, with their first-round pick. That remains heading into the draft, and if he's on the board at No. 31, there's a high likelihood that he's headed to New England.
There's a big need for a dominant pass rusher on the defensive line, especially since K'Lavon Chaisson left for the Commanders in free agency, and he led the team in sacks last year. Young has all the traits to make up for his absence, while also working his way to becoming the superstar defender their top-10 defense needs.
Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
By far the most connected offensive lineman to New England over the past month has been Max Iheanachor, an impressive right tackle prospect that Mike Vrabel appears to have a significant interest in.
We saw that during Iheanachor's Pro Day last month, with the head coach getting involved in some scrums, and there's a lot to like about what he could bring to the offense. He would presumably replace Morgan Moses as the starter in 2027 and use this upcoming season to acclimate to the NFL while being mentored by one of the best in the league.
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
With Hunter Henry playing on the final year of his contract in 2026, and the decision not to re-sign Austin Hooper in free agency, the Patriots have a clear need for a tight end, and they could snag the best of the incoming class by picking Kenyon Sadiq.
Although there's an argument to be made that other positions are more needy than tight end, it would be hard for Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf to overlook the value that Sadiq would bring to the offense, especially in the long term, as he could become their next franchise star and take over the role as Maye's security blanket if Henry moves on or retires.
Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
In the week leading up to the draft, Zion Young has taken a backseat to another pass rusher in mock drafts, with Miami's Akheem Mesidor becoming the new favorite to land in New England.
His college career certainly stands out, and if he can bring that kind of explosiveness and production to the field, then the Patriots' defense will be on a whole new level in 2026. Mesidor fits exactly what Mike Vrabel wants the group's identity to be, and he could easily become the player who instills fear in the Patriots' future opponents for years to come.
What the experts are saying
For much of the offseason, there was a clear direction that analysts believed the Patriots would go in with their first-round pick. They projected they would take one of the best pass rushers of the class, or an offensive lineman, particularly a right tackle, to replace Morgan Moses after the 2026 season.
Now that the NFL Draft is right around the corner, there isn't much consistency across the latest mock drafts, as the latest predictions include wide receivers, edge defenders, offensive tackles, and even linebackers.
There is a lot more smoke around a player like Denzel Boston, a receiver from Washington, if he falls to pick No. 31. Because the Patriots need to improve their receiving corps, since they only signed Romeo Doubs and released Stefon Diggs, analysts like Patriots.com's Mike Dussault believe he's a fit.
Beyond that, the defense remains the most consistently selected group for their first round pick, with linebacker C.J. Allen rising in the ranks over the past week, as Vinny Iyer of the Sporting News and Chad Reuter of NFL.com predict he will be first off the board for New England.
Then, of course, there's a pass rusher, but who that could be remains a question. Experts like Rob Rang of FOX Sports and Pete Prisco of CBS Sports see Missouri's Zion Young being the guy, while Dane Brugler of The Athletic and OurLads.com envision T.J. Parker to be the right pick.
Updated Patriots depth chart
Offense
- QB: Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito
- RB: Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Terrell Jennings, Elijah Mitchell, Lan Larison
- FB: Reggie Gilliam, Jack Westover, Brock Lampe
- WR: Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III
- TE: Hunter Henry, Julian Hill, CJ Dippre
- OL: Will Campbell, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, Mike Onwenu, Morgan Moses
There were high expectations that the Patriots' staff would make more drastic moves to improve the offense in free agency, but that just wasn't the case. The biggest additions were fullback Reggie Gilliam, giving the offensive line more help, and giving Maye another solid weapon, receiver Romeo Doubs, who will help make up for the loss of Stefon Diggs, and left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, to complete the offensive line.
While those moves were mostly applauded, there are still plenty of positions that need to be upgraded, with Patriots fans hoping to see another explosive wide receiver drafted, a successor to tight end Hunter Henry, and more depth to the tackle room.
Based on the overall impression of this year's draft class, there's reason to believe they can address it all and then some, making who they will inevitably select that much more exciting.
Defense
- IDL: K.J. Britt, Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Leonard Taylor III, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Eric Gregory
- EDGE: Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Dre'Mont Jones
- LB: Harold Landry III, Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson, Chad Muma
- CB: Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones, Kindle Vildor, Marcellas Dial, Charles Woods, Brandon Crossley, Kobee Minor
- S: Kevin Byard III, Craig Woodson, Brenden Schooler, Dell Pettus
After posting one of the worst defenses in the league in 2024, the Patriots' new coaching staff completely turned things around last year, making them a top-10 unit. Despite the lack of big-name superstars leading the way, the defense was beyond impressive and overdelivered on expectations, with the hope of keeping that momentum going into 2026.
There is a good chance they can make the group even better through this year's draft, particularly with their early selections, as the incoming class is considered dominant on many levels.
They need to find their next difference-making pass rusher, which is widely projected to be their first or second-round pick. Beyond that, Eliot Wolf expressed his confidence in finding the caliber of linebacker that they're currently missing on Day 3, and analysts believe they'll also add another defensive tackle to an already impressive group.
AFC East rival draft picks:
Bills: No. 26, 91, 126, 165, 168, 182, 220
Dolphins: No. 11, 30, 43, 75, 87, 90, 94, 130, 151, 227, 238
Jets: No. 2, 16, 33, 44, 103, 140, 179, 228, 242
Draft pick tracker
Pick | Player |
|---|---|
31 | TBD |
63 | TBD |
95 | TBD |
125 | TBD |
131 | TBD |
171 | TBD |
191 | TBD |
198 | TBD |
202 | TBD |
212 | TBD |
247 | TBD |
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