New England Patriots
Greater than 300 prospects shall be on web site in Indianapolis for the 2026 NFL Draft Mix.
The times of the Patriots coming into the NFL Draft with a top-five decide look like over.
However, even with New England making an inconceivable run to Tremendous Bowl LX this previous season, the Patriots nonetheless have loads of work to do relating to shoring up a roster with a number of obtrusive vacancies throughout the depth chart.
Whereas Eliot Wolf and his workers have the means to improve the roster by way of free company and trades, New England can also improve the group by the 2026 NFL Draft. The Patriots are at present in possession of 11 picks, together with the thirty first total choice within the first spherical.
Wolf famous on Tuesday that the Patriots ought to have a number of alternatives so as to add a blue-chip expertise to their group with this draft class.
“I feel this draft gives a whole lot of completely different depth at various areas, edge [defender] being certainly one of them,” Wolf stated. “I feel it’s a reasonably deep class at that place that’s clearly an space of want for our group, so it matches up properly.”
The 2026 NFL Draft is 2 months away, however Wolf and the remainder of his workers are already assessing a few of the high prospects on this draft class throughout the 2026 NFL Scouting Mix in Indianapolis.
A whole lot of prospects shall be on web site for the Mix, with NFL groups getting a window to grade and assess the subsequent wave of NFL expertise by drills, interviews, and measurements.
Listed here are just a few gamers Patriots followers ought to preserve tabs on, each in Indy and within the months forward earlier than the NFL Draft.
WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
After New England’s offense flatlined throughout the 2025 playoffs, it appears moderately evident that Wolf and Co. have to equip Drake Maye with extra weapons shifting ahead.
Commerce targets like A.J. Brown or free-agent choices like Alec Pierce are very interesting, however New England additionally has the means so as to add some youthful, cheaper choices by the draft — particularly an explosive and versatile participant like KC Concepcion.
He’s not the largest physique at 5-foot-11 and 190 kilos, however Concepcion can line up within the slot or on the skin, and likewise returned a pair of punts for touchdowns this previous season with the Aggies. He’s an explosive athlete, though he has had a difficulty with drops (19 throughout three seasons).
Edge Zion Younger, Missouri
New England wants so as to add extra pass-rushing prowess to its protection, particularly if Okay’Lavon Chaisson indicators elsewhere in free company.
In a draft class chock stuffed with gifted edge gamers, a 6-foot-5 move rusher like Zion Younger may make loads of sense. He recorded 42 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two pressured fumbles in 13 video games for Missouri final season, incomes All-SEC first group honors alongside the way in which.
Younger additionally gained Participant of the Recreation on the Senior Bowl, recovering a fumble and posting a pair of tackles.
NFL Community’s Daniel Jeremiah had Young going to the Patriots at No. 31 overall in his newest mock draft.
“Younger seems like a superb match for Mike Vrabel’s protection,” Jeremiah famous.
TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Tight finish may be one of many extra underrated areas that the Patriots have to improve this offseason.
Past the truth that Austin Hooper shall be a free agent, Hunter Henry is 31 years outdated and noticed his manufacturing dip throughout the postseason. Discovering a youthful pass-catcher (and succesful blocker) at that place might be an avenue New England takes to bolster its offense — with Kenyon Sadiq holding courtroom as top-of-the-line choices on this draft class.
Sadiq led Oregon in each receptions (51) and touchdowns (eight) in 2025, ending with 580 receiving yards on the 12 months.
These numbers might not leap off the web page, however Sadiq is a twitchy athlete with a really excessive ceiling — even touchdown on Dane Brugler’s “College football Freaks List” earlier than the 2025 season resulting from his athleticism and 6-foot-3, 255-pound body.
OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Be it Will Campbell’s struggles at left sort out throughout the playoffs or beginning proper sort out Morgan Moses’ age (turning 35 on March 3), it appears moderately evident that New England will add one other offensive sort out in some unspecified time in the future throughout the ‘26 draft.
If New England is banking on upside, there’s so much to love a couple of prospect like Kadyn Proctor — who additionally landed on Brugler’s “Freaks” checklist resulting from his imposing measurement and athleticism.
“The 6-7, 366-pound Proctor’s physique has 274 kilos of lean muscle mass with 26 % physique fats. His energy numbers are superior,” Brugler wrote of Proctor in August 2025. “This summer time, he squatted 815 kilos, benched 535 and energy cleaned 405.
“Actually, I used to be much more blown away once I came upon he vertical jumped 32 inches and broad jumped 9-3. He’s 366 kilos! That 32-inch vertical is as a lot or greater than 5 of the wideouts who had been at this 12 months’s mix.”
Proctor may see his inventory rise if he stands out throughout a number of assessments in Indy. Even when he is probably not as surefire of a prospect as different sort out prospects resulting from struggles together with his weight and inconsistent play, the upside is clear.
“He has essentially the most upside of any blocker on this draft,” Jeremiah wrote of Proctor in his latest ‘26 Draft prospect rankings.
OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
One other intriguing offensive-line prospect, a participant like Caleb Lomu may maintain some attraction to New England given his excessive ground and talent to kick into the inside as a guard when known as upon.
Lomu spent the final two seasons enjoying at left sort out with the Utes, however began his collegiate profession as a guard. The 6-foot-6 Lomu Lomu allowed simply two sacks and 15 pressures over his two seasons at left sort out.
He might be stable insurance coverage to fit behind Moses in 2026 as New England grooms him to finally take over because the group’s long-term beginning proper sort out.
EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
There are just a few issues over Howell relating to limitations towards the run and whether or not or not he can thrive as a real three-down participant within the NFL ranks. However, Cashius Howell was additionally a heat-seeking missile this previous season with the Aggies.
He led the SEC in each sacks (11.5) and complete pressures with 41.
“He has the burst to knife by to make performs behind the road of scrimmage and he chases with excellent effort on the again facet,” Jeremiah wrote. “I do know he lacks prototypical measurements, however a wise group will set that apart and add an brisk drive off the sting.”
WR Denzel Boston, Washington
If Concepcion is extra of a twitchy, explosive goal who can line up within the inside, the 6-foot-4 Denzel Boston may thrive on the skin as a high deep menace for a QB with a howitzer for an arm in Maye.
Even when Kayshon Boutte thrived as an X wideout this previous 12 months with Maye, Boston can be one other stout improve to New England’s offense, particularly given his stable arms (3.1 % drop proportion) and talent to win 50-50 balls (10 catches on 13 contested targets).
RT Blake Miller, Clemson
If New England is in search of extra of a positive guess as a future substitute at proper sort out for Moses, there’s so much to love about what a prospect like Blake Miller may grow to be in due time.
The beginning proper sort out for the Tigers, he appeared in 54 complete video games with Clemson throughout his collegiate profession. It is probably not a flashy decide, there’s so much to love about Miller’s probabilities of growing into a gradual beginning proper sort out within the coming years.
LB CJ Allen, Georgia
Linebacker isn’t precisely essentially the most urgent want for New England on protection, particularly with Robert Spillane main the way in which and gamers like Christian Elliss elevating their inventory over the course of the 2026 season.
However the late first spherical and second spherical are sometimes the place groups can add impactful linebackers who can set up themselves as franchise fixtures, with CJ Allen holding loads of attraction on a Vrabel-coached group.
He’s not the largest physique at 6-foot-1, however Allen is stout towards the run and might be a Day 1 starter in New England if the Patriots choose him.
“Sources at Georgia rave about his character, management and communication abilities,” Jeremiah wrote. “Allen must be a gradual, dependable drive very early in his professional profession.”
OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
If New England is wanting so as to add a sort out on Day 2 of the draft, there’s so much to love a couple of participant with an imposing 6-foot-7, 325-pound body in Tiernan.
The potential knock towards Tiernan? His measurables might be put below a microscope throughout the Mix, particularly amid issues that his arm size will be below the 33-inch threshold that caused a stir during Will Campbell’s draft process.
He might be an outsized, and efficient, guard on the subsequent degree as nicely.
LB Jake Golday, Cincinnati
One other unflashy choice, Jake Golday tasks as one other plug-and-play choice who might be a drive towards the run on Zak Kuhr’s protection. His sturdy soccer IQ and velocity makes him a participant who might be a flexible asset in New England, particularly after recording 104 tackles and three.5 sacks final season with the Bearcats.
“He does job of utilizing his measurement/size to clog throwing lanes as a zone dropper,” Jeremiah wrote. “Total, Golday lacks ultimate physicality, however his athletic traits present large upside.”
S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
Security would possibly shortly flip right into a high space of want for New England if the Patriots aren’t in a position to retain starter Jaylinn Hawkins in free company.
If New England wants to handle that potential emptiness within the draft, there’s so much to love about Dillon Thieneman, who has been projected all throughout the primary and second rounds of the upcoming draft.
Thieneman’s potential to line up in a wide range of methods and serve a number of roles at Oregon may make him the kind of security that New England values as a long-term fixture subsequent to Craig Woodson.
G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
It stays to be seen if Jared Wilson will stay at left guard after a so-so season at that spot in 2025. If New England strikes Wilson over to heart, Emmanuel Pregnon might be a worthwhile funding as a Day 2 decide who may shortly assert himself as a Day 1 starter at left guard.
New England might need to add extra expertise on their offensive line as an alternative of rolling with Campbell, Pregnon, and Wilson in 2026. However, Pregnon is a sturdy guard who’s a drive within the run recreation and performs with a punishing method.
LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Anthony Hill is an interesting prospect, given his blitzing potential, instincts, and velocity.
Jeremiah tabbed him because the forty second prospect on this draft class, whereas ESPN’s Matt Miller had Hill going at No. 30 overall — simply forward of the Patriots.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein pulled no punches in his draft profile on Hill, itemizing future Corridor of Famer Bobby Wagner as his participant comp.
“Three-down linebacker with the enjoying demeanor and manufacturing of a future Professional Bowler. He posted 31.5 TFLs, 17 sacks and eight pressured fumbles in his three seasons at Texas, making an impression in each part,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s instinctive, athletic and below management, transitioning seamlessly from learn to react to complete. He performs with downhill thump to thwart inside blocks and the velocity to pursue runners from sideline to sideline.”
Once more, linebacker is probably not the highest space of want for New England. However, in the event that they’re in search of an explosive athlete who might be a game-breaker on the subsequent degree, Hill might be value it.
Edge Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Rueben Bain Jr. would possibly draw many of the consideration as a real impression pass-rusher with the Hurricanes, however Akheem Mesidor was additionally a drive lining up for Miami this previous season.
An older prospect (turns 25 in April), Mesidor ought to nonetheless draw loads of consideration from NFL groups resulting from his sturdy stat line (12.5 sacks in 2025) and excessive motor. The 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive finish must be a constant pass-rushing menace on the subsequent degree.
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