The New England Patriots have put together a phenomenal first year under Vrabel, and regardless of how the end of the season goes, fans have something to be proud of. The 2024 rookie class has been a huge part of that success: Will Campbell and Jared Wilson are starters on the offensive line, TreVeyon Henderson is the team's leading rusher, and Kyle Williams is coming into his own as a deep threat.
Defensively, Craig Woodson has played over 750 snaps, Joshua Farmer has played a role too, and UDFA Elijah Ponder has three sacks in his last four games. The team has put together an exciting group of young players, but they shouldn't stop there. They have ten picks in the upcoming draft, meaning they can further add to this young nucleus.
With this weekend featuring nine major conference championships, each squad features players who New England could select in the upcoming draft. While we're still months away, don't be surprised if some of these players have their names called by the commissioner when the Patriots turn in their card.
Keep your eyes peeled for these conference championship players this weekend
C-USA: Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State
While it's a more under-the-radar matchup, the C-USA Championship features some late-round prospects the Patriots could have interest in. Kennesaw's Caleb Offord is a cornerback who was once committed to Notre Dame before flipping to Georgia.
2025 was his first year with the program after playing two seasons with Buffalo and last year with Alcorn State. He leads the team with 11 passes defended and has a pair of interceptions. The Patriots have had luck with late-round defensive backs before, and perhaps Offord is next.
On the other side of the ball, junior running back Cam Cook has been a force for the Gamecocks. After two years at TCU, Cook's 277 carries have netted nearly 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns. He's added 263 yards from 26 catches, too. His 5.7 yards per carry is very encouraging, and something NFL teams will salivate at should he declare.
Sun Belt: Troy vs. James Madison
Troy's Jordan Stringer is leading the team in tackles and leads a defense that jumped from 91st last season to 56th this year. He has over 100 tackles and NFL size despite playing in a smaller conference. Linebacker depth has been solid for New England, but adding a player on Day 3 of the draft would still be wise.
JMU has a very real shot at the playoffs, and that's been due to their incredible run game. Leading the way has been offensive tackle Joseph Simmons. At 6-foot-6 and 323 pounds, Simmons became the full-time left tackle this year after splitting time between both tackle spots in 2024.
He's allowed three sacks, been penalised three times, and has had his best overall PFF grade yet. His size makes for encouraging potential under offensive line coach Doug Marrone.
American: North Texas vs. Tulane
A pair of ranked teams will face off in the American Championship, and the Patriots could find some excellent depth for their 2026 squad if they so choose. NTU's Will Jones II has played over 800 snaps on defense and special teams this year, primarily in the box despite being sub-190 pounds.
He's also played six seasons of college football. The safety room has been impressive and is still very young, but making another addition could be wise. Jones is likely a priority UDFA at this point.
Drake Maye is no doubt QB1, and Josh Dobbs is under contract for next year. Third-stringer Tommy DeVito is a free agent, but the Patriots could opt to add a rookie. Jake Retzlaff has led the Green Wave to being No. 20 in the country. He totaled 28 touchdowns, 14 of which were on the ground, to just six interceptions.
While he's unlikely to ever be a starter in the NFL, his rushing ability should get him plenty of looks as a backup. It's been reported that his 40 time is as fast as 4.57, so a position change to receiver isn't out of the question at the next level.
Mountain West: Boise State vs. UNLV
Jeremiah Earby of Boise State has eight passes defended and four interceptions this season, both of which lead the Boise State defense. Adding the Bronco in the mid-rounds could be a good idea, as Charles Woods is currently operating as the CB4. Depth is more of an issue than star power at the cornerback position.
The Patriots have found success with back-of-the-envelope defensive line additions, with Khyiris Tonga and Cory Durden being the notable players in that category this year. UNLV's Jalen Lee has legit NFL size and leads the Rebels' interior in tackles. He has only one sack this season, but he's a sound run stopper.
Big 12: BYU vs. Texas Tech
The Patriots' tight ends have been highly utilized this season. Hunter Henry is on track for his best career season, and Austin Hooper has played 50% or more snaps in ten of his twelve games this year. Hooper's spike in production with 45 catches was nice to see, but he's come back down to Earth with 16 grabs this year.
A rookie with excellent blocking, like BYU's Carsen Ryan, could be a nice addition. He has 35 catches for 472 yards and three touchdowns, and his 77.5 run blocking grade is among the best in the country from tight ends.
A Heisman candidate on defense is very rare, but it's rare for a player to have a season like Jacob Rodriguez is having. He has 101 tackles, has forced seven fumbles, and has four interceptions as the Red Raiders' mike linebacker, as well as two rushing touchdowns. He's PFF's highest graded defender in the country (min. 100 snaps) at a 93.5 overall.
He also has the best run defense grade and second-best pass coverage grade within those parameters. Edge rushers David Bailey and Romello Height are both projected to go in the first round, but Rodriguez is a must-watch.
MAC: Western Michigan vs. Miami (OH)
A pair of edge rushers should stick out in this game: WMU's Nadame Tucker and Miami's Adam Trick. Tucker has racked up 12 sacks and 36 stops this year, with a stellar 90.8 overall grade. He had an uneventful three seasons in Houston before making the transfer up north, and the change of scenery has brought out his best.
Trick has eight sacks and 33 stops, but his 91.5 grade bests Tucker's. His 17.6% missed tackle rate could prove problematic, but his excellent pass-rushing stats indicate he could be a solid situational pass rusher at the next level.
The Patriots are 21st in sacks so far, and K'Lavon Chaisson, who has 6.5 sacks, is a free agent at the end of the year. Adding a pass rusher in the mid-rounds seems likely.
SEC: Georgia vs. Alabama
Two powerhouses of the SEC and two of the best feeder schools for NFL talent, the SEC Championship should be incredible. Both front sevens stick out as areas that will see several players go to the NFL.
For Georgia, linebacker C.J. Allen has a chance to make his way into the first round. While Christian Elliss has put together a nice second half of the season so far, adding a linebacker with SEC pedigree next to Spillane would be incredible. He ranks in the 98th percentile of in-game athleticism according to PFF's metrics, and would be a force in the middle for New England. He's had 197 tackles in three seasons at UGA.
The edge could use some additional help, and Alabama's L.T. Overton could be the solution. Another player likely to be selected in the first round, Overton was a five-star recruit from Georgia who played his first two seasons at Texas A&M before transferring to the Crimson Tide before the 2024 season. He is second on the team with five sacks, and at almost 280 pounds, he should have no trouble setting an edge in the NFL.
Compared to Cam Heyward, he has the versatility to play both inside and out, making the line featuring Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, and Harold Landry even more dangerous.
ACC: Virginia vs. Duke
Virginia's J'Mari Taylor has been an efficient runner this season since transferring from NC Central. He's rushed for 997 yards and 14 touchdowns and has 219 more through the air. At 5-foot-9, he isn't likely to be an every-down back at the next level, but he could offer a nice change of pace and has experience as a kick returner.
Duke right tackle Brian Parker II is projected to be a third-rounder in the draft this year, as his experience at right tackle should be very appealing for New England. It seems unlikely Caedan Wallace will ever play meaningful snaps in Foxborough, so finding a long-term replacement for 34-year-old Morgan Moses will be key. Parker could be the answer.
Big 10: Ohio State vs. Indiana
Both teams are chock-full of talent, but that's to be expected in a matchup that features the top two teams in the country. Ohio State's Carnell Tate has skyrocketed up draft boards to the point that he may end up a top ten pick. He's also gone as low as the late teens in recent mock drafts, so if New England is in the market to trade up, he could be the guy.
Defensively, Sonny Styles would make an excellent linebacker option next to Spillane.
The Patriots need to add depth along the offensive line, and center Pat Coogan can do exactly that. With the flexibility to play guard too, he's been Fernando Mendoza's anchor man during his incredible season. Wide receivers Omar Cooper and Elijah Sarratt are the Heisman candidate's top two receiving threats, so keep an eye out for that pair, too.
This weekend should bring some young stars to the forefront, and it will be exciting to see exactly how these games might affect their draft stock.