The New England Patriots have the opportunity to further build their team through the draft in 2026, but they already have one of the best young cores in the NFL. On offense, Drake Maye, TreVeyon Henderson, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, Will Campbell, and Jared Wilson are all 23 or younger.
Defensively, Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Joshua Farmer, Christian Gonzalez, and Craig Woodson are all 26 or younger. The active roster has 13 rookies, 14 including Campbell, who is currently on IR.
The Patriots own 12 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and while navigating the board is a given, I'd still expect them to select their fair share of players. One way they could navigate the board is by moving up in the first round to snag a player whose stock has fallen dramatically compared to a year ago: Tennessee's Jermod McCoy.
Widely considered a top-five talent by draft experts, McCoy's health is a major concern. The Volunteer missed the entirety of the 2025 season with an ACL tear, putting his top-of-the-draft potential in jeopardy.
In a recent mock draft, ESPN's Field Yates has McCoy selected by the Eagles, 21st overall. If he truly is to slip so far down the board, the Patriots would be wise to jump at the opportunity.
Jermod McCoy could offer incredible value for the Patriots in the first round
By some, McCoy is still thought of as a likely top pick in the draft, while others believe he'll slide down boards. Yates writes, "Some scouts believe he is a top-10 prospect, while others are dubious he will even go in the first round without any tape this season."
The fact that he has a chance to be a first-round pick while missing all of 2025 is a testament to just how elite his 2024 was. He ended the season with an 87.0 PFF grade, allowing a 50% completion rate and a 53.6 passer rating. He had four interceptions while allowing only two touchdowns.
It was his first season with the Vols after spending his freshman year with the Oregon State Beavers.
The Patriots have struggled to find depth at cornerback. Christian Gonzalez is a star, and Marcus Jones is an elite slot cornerback. Carlton Davis has come on in a major way during the second half of the year, but he'll turn 30 next season.
Regardless of their status, New England's CB4 isn't playoff-caliber. Alex Austin has played 16% of defensive snaps this year, while Charles Woods is close to 10% on the season. Austin has the team's worst PFF grade (42.2), while Woods has played just 100 defensive snaps in his two-year career.
McCoy would be a major upgrade to their defense without a doubt. He'd offer immediate depth and be the long-term successor to Davis, making an elite long-term tandem on the outside with Gonzalez.
If the Patriots were to want to have a shot at the SEC standout, they'd likely need to move some of their 12 draft picks to get in range. To move up to pick No. 18 from their current 30th pick, for example, they'd need to send their second-round pick (currently No. 62), according to the draft value chart.
While giving up a second-round pick is a steep price, getting in range for a top talent like McCoy would be worth it in the event he slides down draft boards. If the Patriots have the opportunity to make a luxury pick, they should jump at the chance.