The New England Patriots had an excellent 2025 offseason, one that checked the box on ensuring several important positions were fixed for the long term.
Will Campbell and Jared Wilson should be long-term starters on the offensive line, and TreVeyon Henderson looks sure to be the running back for the next five years or so. In free agency, additions like Milton Williams and Robert Spillane ensured the core of the defense would be steady for the duration of their deals.
Short-term fixes, like center Garrett Bradbury, 34-year-old right tackle Morgan Moses, and even Stefon Diggs, have offered some stability in 2025, but they shouldn't be considered options for the long term come the offseason. These complications further open up options for what the Patriots may be able to do during the draft.
It's important to remember that, though veterans may be aging, they will still be involved next season. Stefon Diggs and Morgan Moses will both start in their respective roles, of course, but adding depth and a future shouldn't be neglected on account of these players.
Edge defender, wide receiver, and cornerback all considered top Patriots' needs in the draft
While a strong baseline has been set, Bleacher Report suggests the three positions the Patriots should look at in the first round are edge defender, cornerback, and wide receiver. While each position has stability now, adding to each group is a very nice thought.
Harold Landry and K'Lavon Chaisson lead the group of edge defenders, but Landry isn't an alpha edge rusher option. Chaisson was signed to a one-year deal, but looks poised to sign a big deal. While he's cooled off the last two games, he had 6.5 sacks in his first nine. Anfernee Jennings will likely be a cap casualty. Adding to a defense that ranks 20th in sacks makes sense.
The Patriots have invested heavily in the cornerback position, but there are still questions, and rightfully so. Christian Gonzalez is one of the top three corners in football when healthy, but he's played just 29 career games. Marcus Jones was just extended and is one of the best slot receivers in the league.
The jury is still out on Carlton Davis, who's allowed a 60.4% completion percentage and has been penalized seven times this year despite being paid like a star ($20 million per year).
It seems unlikely the Patriots could or would get out of his contract, as he had a nice game against a depleted Bengals. Cutting him this offseason wouldn't do much good, but a trade could still be in the cards.
Adding to the group behind the top three is a must, though: Alex Austin and Marcellas Dial are on IR, so Charles Woods has been and will be taking the CB4 snaps. Miles Battle was signed from the practice squad and could be one to watch over the next few weeks. The first round seems overzealous, but an addition seems a given.
Wide receiver is the Patriots' biggest need from the 2026 NFL Draft
The third position that was highlighted for the Patriots by the B/R staff was wide receiver. This shouldn't come as a major shock: Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams have all been nice additions and are all under contract for next season, but they shouldn't stop Vrabel and Co. from adding to Drake Maye's cache.
The article specifically cites Carnell Tate (Ohio State), Makai Lemon (USC), and Chris Brazzell II (Tennessee) as top scheme fits for the Patriots. Tate is the No. 10 player on their Big Board, meaning a trade-up would likely be necessary to snag him.
Lemon and Brazzell seem like more realistic options for a team picking in the 20s. Lemon's played 86% of his snaps from the slot this year and is fourth in the nation in receiving yards. He also ranks sixth in catches and eighth in touchdowns. Lemon would make an excellent complement to Diggs and Boutte on the outside, and is a massive upgrade over Pop Douglas.
Brazzell, on the other hand, has played 95% of his snaps out wide, which isn't a surprise given his six-foot-five frame. He ranks 47th in catches, but 14th in yards, and his eight touchdowns rank him 15th. It's estimated he runs a 4.48 40-yard dash, so between his size and speed, he seems sure to be a sound deep threat at the NFL level: he's one of seven players to average 16.5 or more yards a catch with 50+ catches.
Lemon is a better player, but Brazzell would allow Diggs to play in the slot full-time, a place he's thrived all year. Adding another young pass catcher seems like the best plan for New England. Be it Tate, Lemon, Brazzell, or someone else, like Louisville's Chris Bell or Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq, the offense would no doubt be better off. It will be fascinating to see what Vrabel chooses to do.