With the 2026 NFL Draft now over and the Patriots having addressed nearly every position of need with their selections, it's finally time to look ahead to the rest of the offseason. It's clear what they need to do next: some spots on the roster still need upgrades, and, given how the season ended, they should know where their priorities lie.
Of course, the rookies they just added provide a lot of insurance in those areas, but the offensive line, for example, needs to remain the priority if the Patriots want to elevate Drake Maye to even newer heights in Year 3.
That was a clear focus in the draft, and with the players they signed as undrafted free agents, Vice President of Player Personnel Ryan Cowden emphasized the team's desire to keep it a priority for the rest of the offseason.
He might have tipped his hat a little with how the Patriots will operate before the start of the 2026 season.
Ryan Cowden's philosophy on the offensive line is something Patriots fans will love
While speaking to reporters after the draft concluded, Cowden was asked about double-dipping at offensive tackle, having taken Caleb Lomu in the first round and Dametrious Crownover in the sixth, and his response was a solid sign of what's to come: you can never have enough offensive line help.
“[Offensive tackle] is a premium position in our league. The pool of players that can play the position is really small, and you can never have enough depth there … when we see talent at the tackle position, I think we’re always going to look to have that … if there’s one room that I’ll take as crowded, I’ll take that room.”
Because one of the biggest reasons for the Patriots' downfall in Super Bowl LX was their lack of adequate protection on offense, loading up on the offensive line should be a priority, and Cowden's philosophy is one fans can certainly get behind.
They already made serious progress with their draft selections, even finding a potential future starting right tackle to succeed Morgan Moses and locking down left guard with Alijah Vera-Tucker, and they still have options available to add even more.
It will put Maye in a much more comfortable position than he was in for most of the 2025 season, and hopefully that means he will also be sacked less and the run game can be far more integrated into the game plan than it had been.
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