After trading up for their first two picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Patriots had to hang out for a while on Day 3 until they were finally on the clock. That time came in Round 5, pick No. 171, and although most of the most coveted talent had already been taken, they addressed another major need by selecting Wake Forest cornerback Karon Prunty.
At first glance, it doesn't seem like they need to add any more talent to the cornerback room, but there is a lack of depth that needed to be addressed, and Prunty is the right guy to fill that role.
He played outside corner throughout his college career and put together an impressive 2025 campaign that would be incredible if he could replicate it upon his arrival in the NFL. Regardless, the Patriots now have another young player in their secondary to maintain their dominance on defense.
The only issue is that it feels like an overreach, as some of the top draft experts around the league believed he would go undrafted.
Was CB Karon Prunty a REACH for the Patriots at 171?🤔
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) April 25, 2026
"It's objectively a reach, so it's a wait and see type of pick,"@tkyles39 and @mikekadlick react to the pick on @CLNSMedia: https://t.co/Sb4LeeELYV pic.twitter.com/tmcJlVVB5z
Patriots address their weak depth in the secondary with athletic cornerback
Although he's being labeled a reach by some analysts, Prunty impressed at his Pro Day with his size and, especially, his speed.
He not only provides the Patriots with another piece for their secondary but also has the skill set to develop a solid role on special teams, which we saw was a clear issue throughout the 2025 season.
Played primarily at wide corner (737 snaps), per @PFF. Third-team All-ACC. Had the second-best catch rate allowed in the ACC (44.4%), according to Wake Forest.
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) April 25, 2026
Doesn't look like he played much in the kicking game. PFF had him for 10 PR snaps and 6 FG block snaps in 2025. https://t.co/GoGnyaIW8n
There is some potential with what he can do with the Patriots, and although the pick is already being criticized, Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf have proven to have a good eye for talent, as we saw with their picks last offseason.
This will be another example of trusting their instincts and believing they see something others don't.
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