The New England Patriots hold eleven selections in tonight's draft, and at this point, the hard work is done. Navigating the board and moving some of their selections into future years may be something they do on draft night, but adding talent from this year's crop will be the priority.
They've met with a wide array of prospects, and that will give them the knowledge and flexibility to select whoever they see fit. They set a strong foundation with their free-agent class, and now the team has the opportunity to cash in on all the hard work they've put into the scouting process.
The Patriots focus on building the defense in final 2026 NFL mock draft
Round 1, Pick 31: DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Selecting a defensive tackle early in the draft may seem like a surprise, but don't be all that surprised if Vrabel and company opt for a run stuffer. After losing Khyiris Tonga to free agency, the Patriots will need to find his replacement. Ideally, an in-house option like Joshua Farmer or Eric Gregory could absorb the nose tackle role, but McDonald could prove to be an anchor on the defensive line.
While the top-end talent is certainly there for the Patriots, Mike Vrabel hasn't been shy about replacing players from old regimes. Unless we see a sudden uptick in production, Christian Barmore may be the next player phased out.
Despite ranking 7th among defensive tackles in pass rush win rate last year, Barmore's production was limited. His 2023 season was spectacular, as he broke out with an 8.5 sack season that earned him an extension worth up to $92 million.
Since that extension, he's played in 25 regular and postseason games, and he's had only four sacks. When Milton Williams was out, he couldn't bring down the QB in five games. If the Patriots were to release him at the end of the year, they would save around 70% of his nearly $24 million cap hit.
McDonald, who had 65 tackles, 3 sacks, and a 13.8% run stop rate from the nose tackle position, would be a younger and cheaper option than Barmore, and would be an immediate upgrade over Tonga in the short term.
Round 2, Pick 63: ED Romello Height, Texas Tech
Age is a major concern with Height. At the conclusion of his rookie year, he'll be turning 26, but that should mean he can contribute immediately. Eliot Wolf mentioned wanting to get faster on the edge, and the TTU pass rusher should help them do just that.
As things stand, New England has a very heavy defensive line. Harold Landry and Elijah Ponder have athleticism, but are more power dependent, while Dre'Mont Jones is certainly a power rusher at 280 pounds.
Height had 10 sacks last year for the Raiders, and was a key member of their famous $7 million defensive line that featured three other likely draft picks. Height being part of such a strong unit could be a reason for concern, as his production may have been a result of him slipping through the cracks while David Bailey and Lee Hunter received more attention.
Nonetheless, he had a near-22% pass-rush win rate and graded among the best in the nation by PFF's standards. He finished with a 92.5 overall grade, a 92.6 pass rush grade, and a 91.2 true pass set pass rush grade.
At under 240 pounds, he isn't likely to ever be more than a high-quality situational pass rusher, but that's the sort of spark New England needs on the edge. Combined with Williams and Barmore down the middle, Landry and Height should be able to push the pocket from the edge.
Round 3, Pick 95: TE Oscar Delp, Georgia
Delp is a player New England has met with numerous times now, and given his athletic profile, it's easy to see why. Nearly 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 245 pounds, Delp's NextGen Stats' athletic score is an 89/99, second best of any tight end in the class.
During his time in Tennessee, Vrabel selected both Jonnu Smith and Chig Okonkwo, especially athletic tight ends. Hunter Henry leads the tight end room, but he will turn 32 during the season and is in the final year of his deal. Julian Hill will have a role in the offense given his three-year deal, but to expect significant receiving production from a player with 298 career yards would be foolish.
Delp could immediately contribute as a second tight end, and eventually succeed Henry as Drake Maye's primary seam threat.
Round 3, Pick 100: OT Jude Bowry, Boston College
NE trades Pick 125 (4) and Pick 131 (4) to JAX for Pick 100 (3)
New England moves a pair of fourth-round picks to snag the local tackle with the final pick in the third round. The tackle position is set for 2026, but there's still some uncertainty. Will Campbell struggled immensely during the playoffs, and Morgan Moses was reported to have been contemplating retirement.
James Hudson was signed to replace Vederian Lowe as the swing tackle, but he's a significant downgrade if his 2025 play is any indication of how he might perform this year. Thayer Munford was not retained, and not much is expected from Marcus Bryant. Adding depth and a potential right tackle of the future via Bowry would appear to be a strong idea.
Bowry allowed only two sacks in his college career, both coming in consecutive games against Virginia Tech and Louisville in 2024. He missed time with a leg injury in 2025, but allowed just a 4.3% pressure rate and no sacks.
His athleticism is a plus, too: he grades out to an 84/99 on NextGen Stats' scale. If Bowry can supply depth during his first season and eventually succeed Moses, he'd be a home run pick.
Round 5, Pick 171: RB Adam Randall, Clemson
New England has one of the league's more interesting running back rooms. TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson are a strong tandem, but depth is unproven.
Terrell Jennings acted as the RB3 before his concussion, but he's somewhat one-dimensional as a short-yardage back. 2025 UDFA Lan Larison was a dominant player at UC Davis, but he played in only one preseason game last season before being placed on season-ending IR.
Elijah Mitchell had success with the 49ers as a late-round draft pick, but injuries and regression have resulted in him not taking a carry since 2023.
New England adding a back in the draft seems inevitable. I mentioned Jonah Coleman of Washington as an option, but Clemson's Randall isn't a bad shout either. Originally a wide receiver, Randall is a tall back at 6-foot-3, and demonstrates impressive power with a 232-pound frame. His 80/99 NextGen Stats athletic score was seventh among running backs this season, while he ran a 4.50 40-yard dash.
Last season with the Tigers was his first in the backfield, but he also totaled his most career catches in a season. He had 814 yards from 168 carries (4.8 YPC) and 10 touchdowns. He added 36 catches for 254 yards and 3 more touchdowns through the air.
He additionally returned nine kicks last season, making him a prime candidate to replace Antonio Gibson.
Round 6, Pick 191: ED George Gumbs Jr., Florida
The pass rush needs to be improved. The team ranked 22nd in sacks last season, and K'Lavon Chaisson, who had 10.5 sacks through the regular season and playoffs, departed in free agency. Height in the second round is a nice start, but adding depth down the board should also be a priority.
Gumbs played tight end and wide receiver before making the move to the defensive side of the ball. He had 4 catches for 44 yards during his career at Northern Illinois, but has operated from the edge position for the last three seasons, the last two coming in The Sunshine State. He's had 11 sacks over his defensive career and a 10.3% pressure rate across his career.
His production has been limited, but his being new to the position and his solid SEC athletic profile (77/99 NGS athletic score) could excite teams about his potential as a rotational pass rusher and core special teamer.
Round 6, Pick 198: OG Anez Cooper, Miami
The Patriots, somewhat surprisingly, have had more focus on the guard position during the draft process than one would think. They used a top-30 visit on Oregon guard Emmanuel Pregnon and attempted to meet with Texas A&M's Chase Bisontis, but were unable due to scheduling conflicts. Peter Schrager recently mocked Georgia Tech's Keylan Rutledge.
I, for one, don't see a reason to take a guard early on. Mike Onwenu will be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season, but he's been one of the league's best over his time with New England. Instead, Vrabel quenches his thirst for an interior lineman through Cooper in the sixth round.
Cooper is nearly 6-foot-6 and weighs upwards of 330 pounds. He has over 3,000 career snaps at guard, and this season, allowed only one sack. Penalties have been a major issue for him, however, as he's racked up 19 over the last four seasons, with eight of those coming in 2025.
His 3.1% career pressure rate allowed is very respectable, and his 2.2% rate this season was a career best. Adding depth to the offensive line is never a bad idea.
Round 6, Pick 202: DT Michael Otty, Bryant
New England met with Otty during their invite-only local Pro Day. The FCS prospect was productive this season, recording 41 total tackles, 17 TFLs, and 5.0 sacks in 12 games. On special teams, he managed to block a kick against Albany.
Competition level is no doubt a concern, but Otty has solid size. On Bryant's website, he's listed at 6-foot-1, 292 pounds. New England lost Khyiris Tonga this offseason, and his void is likely to be filled by a combination of Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory, and, in this mock, Kayden McDonald.
Otty would offer depth to a defensive line room that already features strong top-end talent in Milton Williams and Christian Barmore.
Round 6, Pick 212: SAF Robert Spears-Jennings, Oklahoma
Safety depth is mostly unknown for the Patriots as things stand. Behind Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson, Dell Pettus, Mike Brown, and John Saunders Jr. don't offer much proven play. While Pettus had a small role last season, Brown played only four snaps in Tennessee, while Saunders didn't see any action.
The Sooner ran well at the NFL Combine (4.32 40-yard dash) and measured in at just under 6-foot-2. He's been deployed as both an over-the-top safety and in the box, demonstrating the flexibility Vrabel seems to value.
Spears-Jennings isn't likely to solve their depth woes, but the SEC safety could weasel his way into a role with a strong camp.
Round 7, Pick 247: QB Jalon Daniels, Kansas
The Patriots released Josh Dobbs in favor of the newly extended Tommy DeVito, but continuing to add to the QB pipeline will remain a priority. New England has been in contact with several late-round prospects, including Georgia Tech's Haynes King, Texas Tech's Behren Morton, and Jalon Daniels.
The Jayhawk is a plus athlete, exactly what teams look for when evaluating high-ceiling quarterbacks. In his sixth season at KU, he totaled 26 touchdowns to 7 interceptions, his best year since 2022. His NextGen Stats athletic score of 78/99 is fifth in the class, and he ran a 4.65 40-yard dash.
At 6-feet, 219 pounds, he could make the transition to receiver if his quarterback journey doesn't work out as planned.
This final mock of the offseason sees New England prioritize the defense, adding to the front seven in the first two rounds. The athletic Delp adds upside at tight end, while a trade up for Bowry helps secure the future of the tackle position.
Day 3 sees Vrabel and company throw spaghetti at the wall. Gumbs, Otty, and Spears-Jennings offer potential depth, and the staff completes their search for a guard via Anez Cooper. All in all, this draft offers upside while heavily considering who New England has met with thus far.
Add us as a preferred source on Google