The New England Patriots entered the 2026 NFL Draft with multiple roster needs and a focus on building around quarterback Drake Maye. This article breaks down all of the Patriots draft picks, including instant grades, player fits, and how this rookie class impacts the team moving forward.
Going into the 2026 draft, the majority of the football world believed this class would be weaker than recent years. That should stop New England fans from getting excited about the Patriots’ draft picks. There is a stark difference between prospect and player. The coaching style, scheme, and team landscape around these rookies significantly impact their development.
New England had some needs even following their Super Bowl appearance and off-season acquisitions like WR Romeo Doubs (Signed a four-year, $70 million contract), S Kevin Byard (Signed a one-year, $9 million contract), Alijah Vera-Tucker (Signed a three-year, $42 million deal with $21 million guaranteed), and Dre’Mont Jones (Signed a three-year, $39.5 million deal that will pay him $14.5 million in Year 1).
The New England Patriots traded picks 31 and 125 to the Bills for pick 28, so Mike Vrabel and company could add Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah. Lomu is 6’6 315 pounds with amazing athleticism. His footwork and ability to get out and impact-block in space will be key, given Drake Maye’s mobility. Strength needs to improve, but that’s why this landing spot and coaching staff should help.
Two things have been pissing me off about his selection: the first is the insinuation that Caleb Lomu is to replace Will Campbell. The LSU product was the 4th player off the board and the first tackle last year in a better class; Lomu was the 28th and 9th offensive lineman off the board.
Morgan Mosses is 35, and the team’s OL depth needed another high-ceiling player. The Pats youth movement in the OL group features Will Campbell, Jarred Wilson, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and now Caleb Lomu. Lastly, ESPN can shove it right up their tailpipe for setting this kid up for viral meme torture. That dancing clip should’ve been scrubbed from existence, let alone played as the featurette when he was drafted.
Draft Grade: A
The Patriots were wheeling and dealing during this draft, moving picks 63, 131, and 202 for pick 55 to add EDGE Gabe Jacas from Illinois. He’s 6’3 “and 260 pounds. When people look at Jacas, they see a full-grown NFL player; he still has some room to add to his frame at only 22 years old. Scouts say all the time that “this guy is a people mover.” Well, Gabe elevates that statement.
His strength is only matched by the violence in his play. Players this young tend to have heavy hands, but a full package of pass-rush moves has already been developed that he can focus on honing at the next level. Jacas’ wrestling background shows when he bends around the corner or out-leverages offensive tackles.
The Illinois product has interesting ties to the Patriots. He has formed his game after the most recent back-to-back sack leader for New England, Matt Judon. Watching his tape with that in mind, it’s clear how similar they look. Gabe Jacas was the 40th-ranked player on my board; the value was clear, and the trade-up makes sense.
Draft Grade: A
For the first time in this draft, the Patriots did not maneuver up or down to make this selection. They decided to stick with TE Eli Rairdon from Notre Dame. Rairdon is a 6’6 “, 245-pound uber-athletic inline prospect who has room to add frame without sacrificing speed. This draft had a decent amount of pass-catching or blocking-specific tight ends, but only a few who can be a plus player in both aspects.
Eli Rairdon has the speed and route-running ability to threaten defenses vertically and along the seam. With Hunter Henry and newly acquired Julian Hill, who both specialize in one aspect of the position, Rairdon should have a role when the offense wants to look more multiple or disguise what they are trying to do.
The Notre Dame product won’t take over Hunter Henry’s job right away, but with Hill primarily a blocker, Rairdon should see some opportunities as the second pass-catching TE for a Drake Maye-led offense.
Draft Grade: B-
New England lost Alex Austin to free agency. They do have Gonzo, Carlton Davis, and Marcus Jones, but after that, the depth is thin, so selecting CB, Karon Prunty, Wake Forest. The 6’2, 192-pound defensive back has impressive length, sharp instincts, and a nose for the football. Prunty gets to join a very talented and knowledgeable secondary group and should be able to develop.
The Patriots have a history of hitting on late-round cornerbacks, obviously at various degrees of success. Still, Karon Prunty’s profile suggests his physical skill set and willingness to get in the scrum and bring down ball carriers. Zak Kur also tends to send pressure with his defensive backs, and Prunty definitely has the speed and aptitude for that kind of work.
The Wake Forest product does have some fluidity concerns and can be fooled by double moves, but has decent enough recovery speed. A rotational role is what’s best suited for him until he develops and gets a feel for NFL action.
Draft Grade: C+
The Patriots need developmental tackle talent like OT Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M. This guy is a mountain of a man, standing at 6’7 330 pounds, and 35 3/4″ arms. He puts in impressive effort to maintain his position against opponents, leveraging his reach to stay competitive with quicker players around the arc. His length is a real asset, keeping defenders at bay.
He moves with confidence and light-foot work for a man of his size, showcasing great control. With a robust build that absorbs contact well, he’s a challenging opponent to push around. Overall, his physicality and skill can potentially make him a standout player in the future. Crownover was my 12th overall OT on my board and figured he would be an early-day-three pick.
Draft Grade: A+
For years, New England’s linebackers were unable to play horizontally. They struggled to get sideline-to-sideline, so they finally added Robert Spilane, but he isn’t young, and the element he gave the defense last year must continue. Not every pick works out, and obviously, the later rounds have more variance, but drafting LB Namdi Obiazor from TCU seems like a prudent move.
Obiazor has elite traits and solid tape at an above-average level of competition. If the two drafts the public has seen of this regime indicate that they want to bet on size and traits in the late rounds, and allow the coaching staff to help them build themselves up. He’s the exact kind of tone-setting linebacker New England loves, and don’t be shocked when he’s popping on special teams early and forcing his way onto the field by sheer violence.
Draft Grade: B
The Patriots QB room, with Josh Dobbs released, consisted of Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito. Playing a 17-game schedule and playoffs with only two guys at that position is foolish. Drafting QB Behren Morton, Texas Tech, in the seventh round makes a lot of sense. If he can shine in preseason action, hopefully, he doesn’t play much in the regular season, but if he plays well in those starts, we could end up with a comp pick or a trade candidate.
When Morton is protected well, he has a much stronger arm than anticipated and can make most of the throws asked of him, but when he gets hands in his face so far, it’s been a struggle. Let’s see how he grows, even as an older prospect. QBs can age well.
Draft Grade: C
The Patriots had a thin roster last year in a few different positions, and running back was one of them. Drafting RB Jam Miller from Alabama makes sense in the late rounds. Stevenson and Henderson need to stay fresh, and the former Crimson Tide member can eat some punishment in between the tackles.
Miller is solidly built with good mass for his position and has a slight wiggle that helps him evade defenders in tight spaces. He shows some short-area burst when finding a lane. He accelerates as he progresses and can challenge defenders to a footrace down the sideline. Jam keeps his legs driving through contact, making him a tough runner. He has fumbled only once in his career and has considerable experience on special teams.
Nice jump cuts with the ability to make the first defender miss. Picks up speed as he goes and will give defenders a footrace down the sideline. Keeps his feet driving through contact; tough runner. Fumbled only once in his career. Good amount of special-teams work so that he can be the team’s new kickoff returner.
Draft Grade: B
The Quintayvious Hutchins pick to the New England Patriots is the definition of a “you either get it or you don’t” move. This dude plays like every snap insulted his family—nonstop motor, violent hands, and crazy bend. He’s not walking in as some polished, blue-chip pass rusher, but that’s not the point—this is a culture pick, a “earn your role or get out” kind of guy.
This is where New England has always found their grinders, the dudes nobody hypes that end up sticking around because they refuse to die on a rep. Hutchins is gonna have to make his money on special teams and rotational snaps early, but if you’re telling me that effort, leadership, edge nastiness combo isn’t gonna pop in camp, you’re lying to yourself. This feels like the kind of pick fans ignore in April and are screaming about in November when he blocks a punt or blows up a third down.
Draft Grade B-
Some obvious winners of this draft would be Drake Maye, given the team’s devotion to protecting him and adding more weapons for him. Gonzo has more leverage in contract talks since the only DB they added was in the 5th round; they are going to need him. The drafting of Gabe Jacas takes some of the pressure off the Patriots’ first signing of the offseason in Dre’Mont Jones.
This has very little to do with the football field and so much to do with the ESPN video graphic and the insinuation that this is to try to replace Will Campbell or kick him inside to guard. Other than that, there aren’t many players losing a roster spot or a ton of playing time with this class coming in. We are all aware of the ass-whooping our coach has been taking for the last couple of weeks —no denying it—time to move on.
If you want more league-wide draft winners and losers, click here.
This feels like the depth draft where the front office has added talent that can develop behind the older players we have or were brought in by the Vrabel regime. Lomu and Rairdon Crownover may not get much play this year, but that could be the future of the right side of the offensive line. If either Onwenu or Moses gets hurt, they can step in and have a similar level of talent.
Eli Rairdon and Jam Miller could be massive pieces for this Drake Maye era. Gabe Jacas might have been the best player they drafted, but this is the time of year when everyone has hope and fever for the future, so we will see how it plays out. This draft gets a full grade of B+.
The New England Patriots draft picks in 2026 weren’t about flash—they were about building a tougher, deeper roster around Drake Maye, and this rookie class might end up hitting way harder than people expect.
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