The New England Patriots snagged their first playoff win since Super Bowl LIII on Sunday against the Chargers, a 16-3 win. The game ensures New England will play again next weekend. Should they win, then, they'd advance to the AFC Championship for the first time since Tom Brady took down a 23-year-old Patrick Mahomes.
With New England's win, the range of their upcoming draft pick has become clearer. The Patriots will pick no earlier than No. 25 overall in April's draft, though fans will be hoping that pick is No. 32 with a Super Bowl win.
While No. 25 is certainly a later pick, the mid-20s haven't meant teams can't find stars. Just last season, the Giants selected Jaxson Dart with the 25th pick, and he's been a revelation to their franchise.
Dalton Kincaid (2023) has been one of Josh Allen's top weapons as of late, and Tyler Linderbaum, who would be a target for the Patriots in free agency, was selected by the Ravens at No. 25 back in 2022.
The Patriots last selected No. 25 overall in 2012, selecting Alabama's Dont'a Hightower. Hightower would go on to win three Super Bowls with the Patriots, making Second-Team All-Pro and a pair of Pro Bowls. He also joined the coaching staff last season as the inside linebackers coach, a fitting position given his nearly 600 career tackles.
Top draftable players for the Patriots are becoming more clear
The Patriots have plenty of flexibility come the draft, but the top needs are a pass catcher, offensive line help, and an edge threat. If a player slides down the board at positions like off-ball linebacker or cornerback, don't be surprised if New England makes their selection at these positions.
Offensive tackle seems like it could be a priority. Despite selecting Will Campbell No. 4 overall last season, Morgan Moses will turn 35 next year, and if New England can win the Super Bowl, he may opt to call it quits. I recently mocked Carter Smith (Indiana) and Austin Seireveld (Ohio State) to the Patriots, while Caleb Lomu (Utah) has also been discussed as an excellent fit.
Louisville's Chris Bell was an early-season favorite at wide receiver, while Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq will likely be the only tight end drafted in the first round. If New England is looking for a third option with Stefon Diggs and Hunter Henry, they could look in this direction.
Another early-season mock saw Texas Tech's Romello Height selected by the Patriots, while Ohio State's Kenyatta Jackson has elite athleticism that could see him shoot up draft boards into the first round. Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren could also be excellent options in the secondary.
Hopefully, fans will be able to put off talk about the NFL Draft for another month, and the Patriots will be analyzing the best prospects to select at No. 32 rather than pick 25. Regardless of where the Patriots pick, we can now confirm the eight pick range they'll be in come April.
The 2026 draft will be an excellent opportunity for them to further improve their overachieving squad.