What? Another Mock Draft already? After months of sloth-like behavior I put up two in a matter of days?
Like I had explained with Mock Draft 1.0, my New England Patriots 2026 mock draft was long overdue. With less than a week to the NFL Draft, why not get another mock draft up? It’s not like I haven’t been researching players and running mock drafts since the end of February, and since then I’ve run well over 200 mock drafts for the Patriots.
NFL Free Agency and any player trades (wink-wink A.J. Brown wink-wink) are basically on hold until the post-June 1st league year reset (no compensatory pick penalties in free agency after that date), the draft is front and center right now for adding important pieces to the roster.
Once again, you can tune in to YouTube live on draft night (April 23rd at 7:30PM ET) for the Sports Krunch with DKrom 2026 NFL Draft Livestream. Join us here for instant reaction and analysis of all 32 picks live on Thursday night!
Check out my Patriots Mock Draft 1.0 that went up on Sunday, 4/19.
2025 Draft Recap:
The New England Patriots’ front office and head coach Mike Vrabel hit a grand slam in the 2025 NFL Draft as they positioned the team to take a huge step forward towards contention.
New England added two key starters to the offensive line (Will Campbell and Jared Wilson), a pair of big play offensive weapons (TreVeyon Henderson and Kyle Williams who combined for 13 touchdowns in 2025), and a defensive stalwart in Craig Woodson in the fourth round who played at Pro Bowl level as a rookie. Seventh-round pick tackle Marcus Bryant stayed on the roster as a developmental prospect and could step in as a swing tackle in 2026.
Add in they grabbed a dependable young strong-legged kicker and a long snapper for the special teams unit and this was a spectacular draft. Even the players who did not contribute much, such as Joshua Farmer, Bradyn Swinson and Kobee Minor, made the roster and all have a chance to contribute in 2026 in the defensive rotation or special teams.
(2025 Draft recap courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com)
After the disastrous drafts of the 2020s, the Patriots desperately needed an influx of young talent. Now the pressure is back on Vrabel, and the front office draft braintrust of Eliot Wolf, Ryan Cowden, John Streicher, Matt Groh, Alonzo Highsmith and Director of college scouting Tony Kinkela and his team to duplicate that 2025 draft impact while picking at the bottom of the round instead of near the top of each round.
Team Needs:
High Priority:
Edge Rusher - Perhaps the highest priority as veterans Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones are the starters but a dynamic speed rusher is desperately needed after 2025 fifth-round draft pick Bradyn Swinson showed little last season.
Right Tackle - Morgan Moses is still going strong, but swing tackle Vederian Lowe left in free agency Thayer Munford was not brought back. Right now, 2025 seventh-round draft pick Marcus Bryant is next up at right tackle.
Tight End - Hunter Henry is over 30 and in the last year of his contract. Free agent Julian Hill is a blocker-only. This is a deep class and they should be able to get a pass-catching tight end on day two or early on day three.
Nose Tackle - Not re-signing Khyiris Tonga before free agency began was a strategic mistake as Kansas City swept in and scooped up the run-stuffer at almost twice as much as the contract New England almost had him signed before talks broke down. The run defense was not the same without Tonga on the field. The good news? Some big run stuffers should be around on day three.
Medium Priority:
Safety - Kevin Byard is an upgrade for Jaylinn Hawkins, but on the wrong side of 30, New England needs another young safety to develop to play next to last year’s fourth-round pick Craig Woodson for the foreseeable future.
Cornerback - Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis were a top duo last year, but after Alex Austin flamed out, there is a need for a young cornerback to develop to replace Davis in 2027.
Inside Linebacker - Robert Spillane was one of the best free agent signings of 2025 as he transformed the defense and brought much-needed toughness and tackling prowess. When he was out injured, though, the back-ups were not up to snuff. With Jahlani Tavai gone in free agency, a young player to develop is needed.
Guard - Free agent Alijah Vera-Tucker should be an instant upgrade, but Mike Onwenu is in his last year of his contract and developing a replacement for 2027 is a need.
Low Priority:
Wide Receiver - While free agent Rome Doubs replaces Stefon Diggs and the offense is counting on 2025 third-round draft pick Kyle Williams to step-up in year two, it is possible that none of Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas and Mack Hollins will be back in 2027.
Running Back - Rhamondre Stevenson and 2025 second-round draft pick TreVeyon Henderson are a solid one-two punch, but depth is needed behind them.
Quarterback - Tommy DeVito is the back-up to Drake Maye, but a young, developmental third quarterback is a must.
Mock Draft 2.0:
Like previous years, I use PFSN (Pro Football Network’s NFL Mock Draft Simulator https://www.profootballnetwork.com/mockdraft) as it is the most stable and accurate without the wacky and unrealistic trades that some of the other sites have on their simulators.
New England has ten picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. They have an extra fourth-round draft pick and three extra sixth-round draft picks. While they could conceivably make all ten picks with the need for depth at so many positions on the roster, many expect those extra picks will come in handy if they need to trade-up to nab a player at a position of need.
OK, let’s get this second Mock Draft under way!
Round One (#31 overall): TRADE UP
As the mock draft unfolded, ultra-athletic tight end Kenyon Sadiq dropped out of the top-twenty picks, which was a surprise. However, reaching out to Pittsburgh and the Chargers at #21 and #22 overall gave a dose of reality as to the cost of moving up ten spots in the first round. While I would love to have Sadiq, the Patriots are not one player away and need picks to be able to add depth on both sides of the ball.
That said, when he dropped past #25 overall, the allure was too strong to resist. This is a top-15 talent in this draft, inexplicably tumbling down the board. With Hunter Henry in the last year of his contract and turning 32 years old next year, adding the top tight end in the draft is a no-brainer.
With San Francisco on the clock at #27 overall, I offered them an extra fourth and the lowest of the four sixth-round picks. San Francisco snapped up the extra picks and New England was on the clock.
Trade Details:
New England receives Pick #27 from San Francisco in exchange for Pick #31, their second fourth-round selection at Pick #131 and their fourth sixth-round selection at Pick #212.
Round One (#27 overall):
Edge rushers Keldric Faulk and Akheem Mesidor were long gone, and a run on wide receivers had injured Chris Bell from Louisville at the top with a medical flag. Right tackle Blake Miller and Arizona State tackle Max Iheanachor were both still available, but I was trading up for a top-15 player.
Sadiq is six-foot-three and 241 lbs. And ran a sub 4.40 forty-yard dash at the combine. He had 13 catches last year for over 20 yards as he can run any route and his speed and strength make him a big play weapon. Just 21 years old, there is room to grow and develop as a receiver and blocker. This is the type of offensive weapon who Drake Maye can take to another level in the pros.
PICK: KENYON SADIQ, TE - Oregon
Round Two (#63 overall):
As unrealistic it is for Sadiq to drop outside the top-25, weird things happen on draft day sometimes. In the second round, there are a few intriguing players on the board. I love Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price, but drafting another running back in round two for a consecutive season seems like a bad idea.
Defensive tackle Lee Hunter from Texas Tech is available and would be an ideal space eater to stuff in the middle of the defensive line. The offensive line could use a developmental tackle and short-armed Northwestern tackle Caleb Tiernan would give the Patriots a pair of T-Rexes on the edges blocking for Drake Maye for the future.
However, with a need at edge rusher--particularly a pass rusher who can explode to the quarterback--having Oklahoma speed rusher R. Mason Thomas, who has been storming up mock draft boards, available at #63 overall is a pleasant surprise. A position of need and a twitchy edge rusher seems like a match made in heaven.
There are multiple trade offers popping on my screen as I make the pick that I completely ignore. Need plus value is a beautiful thing to see in a mock draft and although a slight reservation about Thomas being just six-foot-two and 242 lbs. Is alleviated by remembering the highlights of his quickness around the corner and power at the point of attack.
PICK: R. Mason Thomas, EDGE - Oklahoma
Round Three (#95 overall): TRADE UP
Okay, this is getting a bit ridiculous. Into the eighties in round three and Lee Hunter, the Texas Tech defensive tackle is still undrafted. A call to Green Bay at #84 overall nets me their pick in exchange for my two highest of the three remaining sixth-round draft picks.
Trade Details:
New England receives pick #84 from Green Bay in exchange for pick #95 and two sixth-round picks at pick #191 and pick #198
Round Three (#84 overall):
This mock draft is crazy with the talented players inexplicably dropping. Without nose tackle Khyiris Tonga in the lineup last season the Patriots struggled to stop the run. Lee Hunter is a plug-and-play big run-stuffer who is still developing as a pocket pusher.
He can penetrate into the backfield and blow up opposing running backs and can impact on early downs. With the sneaky need and my final top-50 prospect still on the board, a couple of extraneous late picks are well worth the price to move up
PICK: LEE HUNTER, DT - TEXAS TECH
Round Four (#125 overall):
Dallas with a trade offer to move up and fill in some gaps, but I like the board where I am and tell Jerry Jones to take his crazy somewhere else.
Down to just one fourth-round pick and already having picked up an offensive playmaker and two defensive linemen, I turn my attention to the massive tackle sitting right where I hoped he would be for me.
Miami’s Markel Bell stands six-foot-nine and weighs in at 346 lbs. There are no short arms here as he ate up defenders and did not allow a sack all season. He is a developmental prospect only starting for less than two seasons at Miami, but his size, surprising athleticism and power make him an ideal chunk of clay for offensive line coach Doug Marrone to develop for the 2027 season at right tackle.
PICK: MARKEL BELL, OT - Miami
Round Four (#131 overall): TRADED
Round Five (#171 overall):
At this point of the mock draft, I’ve hit on all four of my biggest needs for the Patriots in the 2026 NFL Draft and am looking for a developmental player or someone inexplicably dropping.
New England looks set at cornerback with an impressive trio of starters in budding superstar Christian Gonzalez, veteran Carlton Davis and slot cornerback Marcus Jones, but behind them there is very little depth. In addition, Davis is in the last year of guaranteed money in 2026.
Georgia’s Daylen Everette is a solid starter who played primarily on the right side. A highly rated recruit out of high school, he was All-SEC for two seasons but had underwhelming stats last year after being everywhere making impact plays in 2024.
He has decent length and ran a sub 4.40 forty yard dash at the combine, so there is plenty of speed. Getting a solid backup cornerback to develop as a future starter is just what you’re looking for in the fifth round of a draft.
PICK: DAYLEN EVERETTE, CB - GEORGIA
Round Six (#191 overall): TRADED
Round Six (#198 overall): TRADED
Round Six (#202 overall)
Going back to the University of Miami and staying in the secondary, Jakobe Thomas is a playmaking safety who had 3.5 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles, 11 passes defended and five interceptions and was named Fiesta Bowl MVP.
Capable of being a special teams demon in a worst-case scenario. He can get out of control and miss tackles going full-bore and he does not have great speed, which is likely what is pushing him down the draft boards (he ran a 4.57 forty-yard dash at the Miami pro day).
Despite his warts, he is a potential fit in the secondary.
PICK: JAKOBE THOMAS, S - MIAMI
Round Six (#212 overall): TRADED
Round Seven (#247 overall):
This was not a deep draft at linebacker as other than the trio of Sonny Styles, Jacob Rodriguez and CJ Allen, there were a lot of day three rated linebackers. With the lack of impact inside linebackers lately in the last few years, more teams are in need at the position.
New England has solid starters in Robert Spillane and Christian Ellis with special teams ace K.J. Britt brought in to replace Jahlani Tavai, there is a definite need for depth at linebacker (even though I am a HUGE Chad Muma fan and was stoked he was signed to the practice squad/futures contract last year).
Red Murdock is a small school linebacker who is strong and a sure tackler who was excellent at forcing fumbles. He has question marks in coverage with a lack of ideal speed. Tough as nails, he played through torn ligaments in his ankle and had surgery after the season.
Physical and tough--that sounds like a Mike Vrabel guy to me.
PICK: RED MURDOCK, LB - BUFFALO
RESULTS/FINAL THOUGHTS:
27. Kenyon Sadiq, TE - Oregon
63. R Mason Thomas, EDGE - Oklahoma
84. Lee Hunter, DT - Texas Tech
125. Markel Bell, OT - Miami (FL)
171. Daylen Everette, CB - Georgia
202. Jakobe Thomas, S - Miami (FL)
247. Red Murdock, LB - Buffalo
After a pair of trade-ups, I only ended up with seven selections in the draft (one in each round). However, my top four positions of need were met with the top four picks (just not in the order I would have expected).
I will be blunt, there is almost zero chance that Kenyon Sadiq will be available at pick #27 on Thursday night, as I doubt he gets past Tampa Bay at #15 as the absolute furthest he could fall (the Rams at #13, Baltimore at #14 and Tampa Bay at #15 are all in the conversation as they could use a play-making tight end). I could see him going as high as Washington at #7 overall if Tennessee or New York grab running back Jeremiah Love.
R Mason Thomas usually goes higher in mock drafts, but in this mock Gabe Jacas from Illinois and Cashius Howell from Texas A&M both went ahead of him, which was surprising to me.
The Lee Hunter free-fall was odd to me as well, as the mid-third round for a second-round graded defensive tackle was excellent value despite having to give up picks to move up.
The rest of the picks are projects, although Thomas and Murdock should contribute on special teams immediately. Everette could be in the mix as an injury replacement during the 2026 season, but Bell needs time in the weight room and hard coaching from Doug Marrone (in addition to being attached to veteran Morgan Moses throughout training camp).
The wide receiver position was clearly overdrafted in this mock draft (which does seem realistic, actually). I was definitely influenced by the Adam Schefter report of A.J. Brown of New England “likely” to acquire A.J. Brown after June 1st and moved wide receiver to the low priority with running back and quarterback.
Comments