2026 Draft Tracker: Patriots Trend Toward Trenches and ST on Day 3

Tracking and analyzing each of the Patriots’ picks during the 2026 NFL draft.

Positions of Need

Role Player/Future Starter

• Edge Defender
• Offensive Tackle
• Tight End
• Nose Tackle

Rotational Depth/Camp Competition

• Linebacker
• Running Back
• Wide Receiver
• Punter

Developmental Depth/Backup Only

• Cornerback
• Safety
• Guard
• Quarterback

Draft Pick Tracker

Trade: NE sends #31, #125 (KC) to BUF for #28

Round 1, #28 (BUF): OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

Age: 21 – Height: 6’6″ – Weight: 313 lbs – Consensus Rank: 28th

The Patriots make a surprising splash with their first pick, trading up with the rival Bills to secure more long-term protection for Drake Maye. Lomu isn’t the mauling road-grader New England historically targets at right tackle, but he’s young, experienced, durable, and an excellent athlete. Like 2025 picks Will Campbell and Marcus Bryant, Lomu has the ability to recover from quick losses and stay alive in protection. He also shows impressive awareness to shut down stunts. In the ground game, Lomu should be a plus when crossing face on outside zone or pulling on gap schemes. As a rookie, he projects as Morgan Moses‘ protégé, the top swing tackle, and a jumbo tight end in run situations.

Grade: A

Trade: NE sends #63, #131, #202 (PIT) to LAC for #55

Round 2, #55 (LAC): ED Gabe Jacas, Illinois

Age: – 21 – Height: 6’4″ – Weight: 260 lbs – Consensus Rank: 50th

New England gets aggressive for a second straight pick to grab another trench player at a great value. Jacas was one of the best Patriots fits in this draft as a tough, violent, and relentless presence off the edge. He excels at converting speed to power–a must in New England’s defense–but complements that with the hands and athleticism to win around the edge. Jacas was also a team captain, played in 50 straight college games, and learned under Illinois Skill Development Coordinator and former Patriots Director of Skill Development Joe Kim. Harold Landry’s status coming off a knee injury will likely affect Jacas’s rookie snap count, but the Illinois product projects as the top edge defender off the bench, particularly in passing situations, with true starter potential down the road.

Grade: A

Round 3, #95: TE Eli Raridon, Notre Dame

Age: 22 – Height: 6’6″ – Weight: 245 lbs – Consensus Rank: 126

The Patriots continue their impressive stretch of value adds, hopping on the third-round tight-end run to add Hunter Henry’s successor. Raridon has the potential to be one of the steals of this draft class, bringing dynamic receiving ability and blocking potential that could make him a versatile weapon early on. Teams may have been scared off by a pair of ACL tears he suffered in late 2021 and 2022, but he played every game for the Fighting Irish over the past two seasons and was a core piece of their offense. As a rookie, Raridon will likely be a rotational receiving threat and move blocker in year one before becoming a starting “Y” in his second or third season.

Grade: A

Round 5, #171: CB Karon Prunty, Wake Forest

Age: – Unknown – Height:  6’2″ – Weight: 190 lbs – Consensus Rank: 512

This pick was admittedly a head-scratcher. The late rounds are prime territory for dart throws, but scouting reports on Prunty aren’t available on any major draft sites, and multi-time transfers can be considered a red flag. That said, a dive into the stats and Prunty’s interview with reporters brings clarity to his selection. Much like Craig Woodson last season, Prunty brings experience, versatility, ball skills, and blitzing ability to a spot that lacked developmental depth. He’s also spent time on special teams as a gunner, jammer, and kick coverage safety. Prunty projects as competition for the top depth cornerback spot in year one, where he’d have to make a living as a core special teamer. He has the potential to compete for a starting job next season, with the aging Carlton Davis III being a potential cap casualty. 

Grade: C-

Trade: NE sends #191 (KC) to JAX for #196, #245

Round 6, #196 (via JAX): OT Damerious Crownover, Texas A&M

Age: 24 –  Height:  6’7″ – Weight: 319 lbs – Consensus Rank: 124

Adding a second right tackle might seem excessive given the selection of Lomu on Thursday, but there’s no such thing as too much tackle depth, and Crownover is a steal in the sixth round. The former Aggie is built like a more traditional Patriots right tackle with a massive build and long, powerful arms, and he uses those traits to plow through defenders on downhill schemes. Unlike New England’s other tackles, Crownover lacks high-end athleticism and recovery ability, and he drew a whopping 11 penalties in 2025, including four holds. If he can reign in his more erratic tendencies, play with lower pads, and prove his worth on the left side, Crownover has the potential to become a quality swing tackle early on and a potential fringe starter near the end of his rookie deal.

Grade: A

Trade: NE sends #198 (SF) to MIN for #234, Future Round 6

Round 6, #212: LB Namdi Obiazor, TCU

Age: 24 –  Height: 6’3″  – Weight: 299 lbs – Consensus Rank: 297

The Patriots fill their developmental need at linebacker with an athletic weakside linebacker who boasts intriguing upside and special teams ability. Obiazor brings size, competitiveness, and sound tackling ability, and he has enough athleticism to compete in coverage or chase down ball-carriers. He was also a productive blitzer, adding to his potential value on third downs. Obiazor will have to cut his teeth on special teams, where he has experience on punt and punt coverage teams, but improved recognition could see him succeed 2027 free agent Christian Elliss as a rotational linebacker.

Grade: B

Round 6, #234 (MIN): QB Behren Morton

Age: 24 –  Height: 6’2″ – Weight: 221 lbs – Consensus Rank: 293

The Patriots needed a quarterback to develop behind Drake Maye and top backup Tommy DeVito, and Morton brings several traits that OC Josh McDaniels values in quarterbacks. He’s tough, comfortable working the pocket, throws with touch to all three levels, and offers enough mobility to extend plays or move the chains. Morton also played through significant injury during his career and was a two-time captain. Morton’s arm is fairly average (at least on his college tape), and he’s got work to do from a mechanics and recognition perspective, but he has quality backup potential within the next two seasons.

Grade: C+

Round 7, #245 (JAX): RB Jam Miller, Alabama

Age: 22 –  Height:  5’10” – Weight: 209 lbs – Consensus Rank: 248

The Patriots needed some physicality and special teams upside in their running back room, and they got it in Miller. The former Crimson Tide is a downhill runner who protects the football and finishes through contact, and he was a core special teamer his first two seasons at Alabama. He was also lauded as one of the team’s best workers in The Beast. Miller was inconsistent as a receiver and blocker in college, and he might need time to adjust to NFL speed, but the running back can earn an early role by standing out in the third phase. If he rounds out his game, Miller has the potential to be a quality rotational back.

Grade: C-

Round 7, #247: ED Quintayvious Hutchins, Boston College

Age: 23 –  Height:  6’3″ – Weight: 233 lbs – Consensus Rank: 250

Hutchins doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher at this stage, despite his smaller physique, but he’s another solid special-teams dart throw. The converted tight end was Boston College’s best special teamer as an underclassman, and he was voted a captain in 2025. If Hutchins contributes on defense early on, it will likely be as a rotational pass rusher on line games.

Grade: C+