The New England Patriots signed many players in free agency and let a few go. They had several needs going into free agency and addressed them, to an extent. Yet, the effort in a few areas wasn't sufficient to improve the roster enough to meet the challenges of a more difficult 2026 NFL schedule.
Now, Mike Vrabel and his personnel team must fill in the gaps either by trade or the draft. The unfilled needs remaining include the offensive line, the edge, and wide receiver.
With many expectations centering on a trade for the Eagles' A.J. Brown, the Patriots will hopefully center their draft on the offense and the defensive line.
They'll seek to address these needs in a full 7-round draft loaded with trades. The Patriots need to fill these holes if they expect to again best the Buffalo Bills for the AFC East title. They will attempt to do just that in this mock draft, highlighted by four big trades.
The Patriots trade their first-round pick, No. 31, to the Chicago Bears for picks No. 57, 60, and 89.
With pick No. 57 in the 2nd round, acquired from Chicago, the Patriots select tackle/guard Gennings Dunker, Iowa
After a massive trade down for more premium picks, the Patriots bolster their No. 1 need, the offensive line, with a hybrid tackle/guard in Gennings Dunker from Iowa. Dunker played tackle at Iowa but is projected to guard in the NFL, a position that needs bolstering by the Patriots. He can play either.
NFL.com's Overview of the 6'5". 317-pound mauler Dunker is solid.
"Dunker is a three-year starter with a pro-ready frame but limited athleticism that is likely to push him inside to guard. He plays with average pad level, heavy hands and enough upper-body power to displace defenders if he plays with more consistent hand placement.
The move inside should accentuate his play strength and allow him to get on top of opponents more quickly, but sub-package rushers and gaming fronts could be an ongoing challenge."
With pick No. 60 in the 2nd round, acquired from Chicago, the Patriots select Oscar Delp, tight end, Georgia
The Patriots needed to upgrade the tight end position after losing Austin Hooper to free agency. They do so early with one of the draft's best, the 6'5", 245-pound Oscar Delp from Georgia. Delp caught a modest 20 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown for the 2025 Bulldogs, but his potential is off-the-charts.
NFL.com's Overview notes,
"Delp is a fluid athlete with the forward lean, short-area quickness and pure speed to beat linebackers on intermediate routes...He has enough toughness and technique to help in the run game as he improves his strength. Delp projects as a Day 3 prospect with three-down potential and untapped upside as a pass catcher."
The Patriots trade down to acquire value. This time, they trade picks No. 63, 202, and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Falcons for picks No. 79, 114, and 197.
With pick No. 79 in the 3rd round, acquired from Atlanta, the Patriots select Ja'Kobi Lane, wide receiver, USC
The Patriots need additional help at wide receiver. If they make a trade for A.J. Brown, it solves a lot of issues. If not, they select Ja'Kobi Lane, a 6'4", 200-pounder, to give Drake Maye another big target, especially in the red zone.
He caught 49 passes for 745 yards and four touchdowns for the Trojans in 2025 and ran a 4.48 forty-yard dash at the Combine.
NFL.com's Overview notes,
"Lane is a red-zone stalwart with elite length and ball skills to mismatch cornerbacks when he’s given room to work... his catch radius, hand-eye coordination and focus give him a substantial advantage as a ball-winner...Lane has the confidence and talent to become a productive pro and red-zone specialist..."
With pick No. 89 in the 3rd round acquired from Chicago, the Patriots select Dani Dennis- Sutton, edge, Penn State
A top offseason need for the Patriots was at the edge. They lost K'Lavon Chaisson in free agency and replaced him with Dre'Mont Jones. With further additions necessary, they drafted Penn State's huge, 6'6", 256-pound edge, Dani Dennis-Sutton, in the third round.
He had a productive season for the Nittany Lions with 42 total stops, 12 tackles for loss, three passes defended, three forced fumbles, and a solid 8.5 sacks.
NFL.com's Overview confusedly downplays his pass-rush ability.
"Dennis-Sutton is a base defensive end with toughness. He’s effective against the run, but he has limited pass-rushing upside...He uses hand violence and brute force to challenge tackles with weak anchors. He’ll get bounced around because his pad level is too high, but he’s tough to finish and finds his way to the action when it’s near him."
The Patriots trade down with the Jets and send picks No. 95 this year and 2027's sixth-round pick to the Jets for picks No. 103 and 140 this year.
With pick No. 103 in the fourth round acquired from the Jets, the Patriots select Bryce Lance, wide receiver, North Dakota State
The Patriots continue to trade down for value and send pick No. 95 in the 3rd round, along with a 2027 seventh-round pick, to the Jets for picks No. 103 and 140 this year. With pick No. 103, they take North Dakota State's 6'3", 204-pound wide receiver, Bryce Lance, brother of NFL quarterback Trey Lance.
Lance caught 51 passes for 1,079 yards and eight touchdowns for the Bison in 2025. He also ran a blistering 4.34 forty at the Combine.
NFL.com notes his "explosive production",
"Fifth-year senior with two seasons of explosive production as a boundary target. Lance lacks release quickness/short-area agility as a route-runner but possesses outstanding ball skills and positional instincts that allow him to create catch space. He has run-by speed on the FCS level but won’t be able to rely on pure gas to beat NFL coverage."
With pick No. 114 in the fourth round acquired from the Falcons, the Patriots select Kaytron Allen, running back, Penn State.
With another pick acquired from the Falcons, the Patriots continue to stockpile offensive weapons for their MVP quarterback in waiting. This time, it's back to Penn State for their bruising 5'11", 216-pound running back Kaytron Allen.
He ground out 1,303 yards, with a 6.2 yards per carry average and 15 touchdowns. He also had 18 receptions.
NFL.com projects him as a backup but his production in the Big 12 indicates otherwise.
"Allen is productive with good size and vision but below-average explosiveness. He’s a fluid runner with ideal patience and a natural feel for when to cut off his blocks. He runs low to the ground with the strength to run through arm tackles and fall forward after contact. A feel for lane development allows him to fit any run scheme, but his lack of burst is likely to constrict the field and limit his ability to find explosive runs."
With pick No. 125 in the fourth round acquired last season from Chicago, the Patriots select L.T. Overton, edge, Alabama
The Patriots needed to re-stock their edge position, and they selected a second in this draft, Alabama edge, L.T. Overton, in the fourth round. Overton notched 42 total stops with six tackles for loss, a pass defended, and four sacks in 2025.
The 6'3", 274-pound Overton is more of a defensive end type. He'll be a depth piece for Head Coach Mike Vrabel and his defense.
NFL.com foresees a possible move inside for the edge.
"Overton is a slow-twitch end with impressive power and a consistently rugged demeanor. He has long arms and plays with the anchor/leverage that helps him secure his gap...Overton’s play strength and leverage create power on the edge, but power won’t trump production. Adding mass and moving inside to 3-technique could be in his best interest."
The Patriots continue to trade down this time with the Steelers and send picks No. 131, 198, and 247 for picks No. 135 and 174 this year.
With pick No. 135 in the fourth round acquired from the Steelers, the Patriots select Chris McClellan, defensive tackle, Missouri
Having lost defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga foolishly in free agency and traded Keion White last season for a sixth-round pick, the Patriots need to add to the interior defensive line. They do so in the fourth round, selecting Chris McClellan from Missouri.
The 6'4", 313-pound McClellan had a solid season for Mizzou with 48 total stops, eight tackles for loss, an impressive six sacks, and two passes defended. He also ran a solid 5.05 forty-yard dash at the Combine.
NFL.com projects him as an NFL backup.
"Two-year starter who is solidly proportional with adequate length...His first step is average and his pass rush isn’t overly explosive, but McClellan can pry open edges with strong hands. He plows through to collapse pockets once his foot is in the door and projects as a backup nose tackle in an even-front defense."
With pick No. 140 in the fourth round acquired from the Jets, the Patriots select Jaeden Roberts, offensive guard, Alabama
The Patriots need to add to their thin offensive line and did so by drafting Gennings Dunker in the second round. They further add to this thin unit by selecting Alabama's 6'5", 333-pound massive mauler, guard Jaeden Roberts.
NFL.com sees Roberts as a guard-only option and that should suit the Patriots just fine.
"Roberts is a powerful guard-only prospect with elite body composition but technique that falls below the NFL mark. He has legendary weight-room strength that will flash on tape, but he struggles to play under control and cleanly fit blocks...His pass protection can be improved with better patience and posture, but the mental busts could be a problem. Roberts’ traits give him a chance."
With pick No. 171 in the fifth round, the Patriots select Kendal Daniels, linebacker, Oklahoma
The Patriots released inside linebacker Jahlani Tavai and let Jack Gibbens walk in free agency. They need depth at the inside linebacker position, and they select the 6'5", 242-pound Oklahoma Sooner, Kendal Daniels, in the fifth round.
Daniels is a linebacker with modest stats in 2025. He had 53 total strops, nine tackles for loss, three passes defended, and a fumble recovery. He had no sacks in 2025, though in 2024 at Oklahoma State, he notched 5.5 sacks, so the potential is there.
NFL.com cites his great length as an attribute.
"Safety-turned-linebacker with outstanding length and athleticism but lagging behind in instincts/fundamentals...His quickness makes him a menace in the gaps and he has good pursuit speed, but he must improve his tackling technique. He’s proficient in zone and man coverages, and he can be used to blitz or spy the quarterback."
With pick No. 174 in the fifth round, acquired in the Steelers' trade, the Patriots select Nick Barrett, defensive tackle, South Carolina
The Patriots' defensive line has been thinned out with the departures of Khyiris Tonga and, earlier, Keion White. In the fifth round, the Patriots doubled up on defensive tackles and drafted Nick Barrett of South Carolina.
The 6'3'', 312-pound Barrett had 42 total stops with six tackles for loss, a pass defended, a fumble recovery for a touchdown, and two sacks in 2025.
NFL.com cites his power as a key asset.
"Barrett isn’t overly explosive and athletic, but it’s hard to ignore his “slow power” and the way he helped clog the drain as a run-stuffer in 2025. He’s well-built with room to add even more mass...The production won’t pop and he won’t add much as a rusher, but Barrett can add depth as a rotational nose tackle for teams looking for more congestion in the middle."
With pick No. 191 in the sixth round, the Patriots select Diego Pounds, offensive tackle from Ole Miss.
A glaring omission by the Patriots in this draft has been the offensive tackle position. While their top pick, Gennings Dunker, can play there, he's likely projected ultimately to guard. Regardless, he'll probably be tasked with being the swing tackle to start his NFL career.
To help fill the void, the Patriots select Ole Miss's massive, 6'6", 325-pound offensive tackle Diego Pounds.
NFL.com notes his pass-blocking is his forte, an attribute Drake Maye will appreciate.
"Pounds is a high-cut, smooth-limbed tackle...His run blocking is behind his pass blocking and it’s likely to stay that way. He needs to develop a more consistent pass set to deal with edge speed, but his length and grip strength can effectively end the rush when his timing is right. Pounds’ deficiencies create a lower floor, but he could find work as a swing tackle."
With pick No. 197 in the sixth round acquired from the Falcons, the Patriots select Sam Roush, tight end, Stanford.
Tight end was not too publicized, but it was an obvious need for the Patriots after they let Austin Hooper leave in free agency. They signed blocking tight end Julian Hill to help out. Earlier in this draft, they spent big in the second round to land Georgia tight end, Oscar Delp, as the heir-apparent to Hunter Henry.
Here, they doubled up on tight end depth and drafted the 6'6", 267-pound tight end Sam Roush from Stanford. He caught 49 passes for 545 yards and two touchdowns in 2025.
NFL.com likes his potential as a "Y" tight end.
"In a draft landscape full of pass-catching tight ends, Roush stands out as one of the few plug-and-play “Y” tight ends (in-line blocking TE) available. He can make cut-off blocks in zone and combo blocks in gap schemes. He holds his own in pass protection, too... While his catch production might draw questions, his size, toughness and pro-ready blocking profile could push him into Day 2 consideration."
With pick No. 212 in the seventh round, the Patriots complete their monster draft by selecting running back Adam Randall from Clemson.
The Patriots drafted running back Kaytron Allen from Penn State earlier, but competition for positions is still needed. They add to the mix with Adam Randall from Clemson. The 6'3", 232-pound Randall ran a 4.5 forty at the combine.
A converted wide receiver, he ran for 814 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Tigers in 2025. He also caught 36 passes for another 254 yards and three more scores. He'll be a dual-threat handful for any NFL defense.
"Randall, a former wide receiver, is new to his position, but his blend of size, top-end speed and pass-catching ability make him an intriguing prospect. He's an upright long-strider with surprising one-cut quickness and home-run potential...His receiving skills create mismatches against man coverage and allow for alignment versatility...RBs with his size, speed and route skill are rare. He offers value as a developmental option with RB2 upside in a zone-heavy scheme."
The Patriots' hope for another run to the Super Bowl next season will mostly hinge on how well their 2026 draft works out. They filled most of the holes and largely plugged the gaps in their roster. Now it will be on the players to see who makes the grade and who doesn't when the camps begin.