The New England Patriots will be on the clock late on April 30 with the 31st pick in the NFL draft. There always exists a chance that they'll wheel the pick to get a higher one, or, more likely this year, to trade down to get more picks later.
No matter where they pick or when, Sophie Weller of Patriots Wire spoke to former Patriot great, Julian Edelman, who expects another knockout draft this season, as in 2025. Yet, he specifically signals out one unit for special attention.
Edelman had better be right if the 2026 Patiots hope to even approach their lofty levels of 2025 this season. Not only will their 2026 schedule be far more difficult due to their winning the AFC East, but they also have a bevy of roster holes to fill that seems to grow by the week.
Among the positions that need serious attention on offense are the offensive line at both tackle and guard; wide receiver; tight end, and running back. On defense, the edge is as thin as paper, and so is the inside linebacking unit. Both need multiple additions.
There are a lot of holes for Mike Vrabel and his personnel team to fill, and their lackluster 2026 free agency did little to help fill them.
Julian Edelman has high hopes for the Patriots 2026 draft
While Julian Edelman referenced the free agent additions last season, he didn't specifically comment on the team's 2026 free agent haul. There's a good reason for that. They improved one, and maybe a second position in free agency, and that was about it.
But he did point out one unit in particular that he feels has to be dealt with in the draft: the offensive line. And he was spot on.
Edelman shared his complete faith in the what the Patriots can accomplish in this year's draft, just as they did in 2025.
"From their track record of last year, getting 13 guys that all played, and drafting 13 rookies that are all on the team, or whatever that quoted was. Every guy they brought in last year and the rookies they drafted all made an impact last season. So, they know what they want in their system, so I'm excited to see. But they still have the draft. I would love to see some more help on that offensive line."
Edelman is a Patriots Hall of Famer and a should-be Pro Football Hall of Famer. He knows the game inside and out. Also, as primarily an offensive player (though he suited up in all three phases of the game), he's dialed in directly on the undeniable importance of the offensive line as the key determinant of where the 2026 Patriots will be heading.
The offensive line after the quarterback is the key to winning. If you have everything else and no quarterback, you can forget contending for anything big. It's not happening. Fortunately, the Patriots have that most critical of assets in the brilliant now third-year quarterback, Drake Maye.
Yet, Edelman is spot on in pointing out that they need to add to the offensive line.
Mike Vrabel and his personnel team had one offseason imperative above all others: to improve Drake Maye's protection. He was sacked or harassed on most of his 2025 passing plays. The 2025 O-line wasn't good. Adding an injury-prone guard, a backup tackle, and shifting a 2025 guard, who hasn't played any center in the NFL, to center isn't going to be nearly enough.
Vrabel and personnel have to be ready to throw their chips into the draft pot to add several offensive linemen. At least one tackle and one guard should be selected in rounds 1-4, with additional ones later on.
The Patriots surrendered 47 regular-season sacks and 21 more in the postseason, including six in the Super Bowl, wrecking any chance they had to win that game. If Vrabel and company fail to address the O-line as Edelman suggests, Patriot Nation shouldn't expect much in 2026. It won't get it.
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