The New England Patriots addressed the offensive line, edge rusher, and tight end spots on Days 1 and 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, but the front office must now turn their attention towards finding high-upside prospects at areas of need in the later rounds.
Impressively athletic defensive tackle Rene Konga, out of Louisville, may fit that bill perfectly, as the franchise is likely considering the addition of some younger depth to this position group following the departure of Khyiris Tonga in free agency.
The upside for the Patriots in selecting Rene Konga
A projected sixth-round pick (of which the Patriots currently hold three at 191, 198, and 212 overall), Konga stands 6'3" and 298 lbs, with testing numbers during the pre-draft process that were eye-popping.
He ran a 4.78 40-yard dash at his pro day, which was faster than all but one defensive tackle prospect who ran it at the NFL Combine, and the Relative Athletic Score of 9.78 out of a possible 10.00 that he received ranked 50th out of 2,270 players at his position from 1987 to 2026.
Last season, Konga garnered All-ACC second-team honors while totaling 29 tackles, five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and six pass deflections across 12 games played. Through the 2024 and 2025 campaigns, he amassed 40 quarterback pressures and had a 26.1% true pass rush win rate.
New England reportedly held a virtual meeting with Konga as it continues to assess his possible fit on the roster.
What experts are saying about Konga's pro outlook
Scouts have given Konga props for his first-step quickness when challenging gaps, the burst he displays to squeeze rushing lanes, and his explosive athletic potential.
However, they also note that he is currently a bit undersized for the pro level, will need to add more muscle mass to hold up consistently against double teams, and that the athletic gifts he's shown have never translated into a high on-field sack total during college.
While the Patriots already have one of the league's better starting defensive tackle units in Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, taking a late-round flier on Konga would still be worthwhile. New England has both time to wait on his development and excellent defensive minds on their coaching staff who can hopefully turn him into a productive situational rusher over the coming years.
Add us as a preferred source on Google