New England Patriots make a controversial luxury pick at the top, add several hybrid defenders in 7-round NFL mock draft
The latest 7-round 2026 NFL mock draft gives the New England Patriots the final touches toward winning another Super Bowl.
The New England Patriots fell one game short of a Super Bowl victory this past season, but they are a team with a bright future while being led by head coach Mike Vrabel. In order to keep their winning window open, and potentially get over the top, acing the 2026 NFL Draft will be important.
In my latest 7-round 2026 NFL mock draft, the Patriots prioritized putting more offensive weapons around quarterback Drake Maye. From there, adding some diverse talent to the defense was next on the agenda. Both of those wants were accomplished with those 12 overall selections.
Round 1, Pick 31: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
It’s unlikely that Bell will be available to begin the 2026 NFL season, but it’s also possible he could become a big-play weapon down the stretch for quarterback Drake Maye. Some will hate that type of investment into a luxury weapon with not much immediate upside. The talent might just be too good to pass up.
Round 2, Pick 63: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
While Trotter won’t be a great coverage linebacker on the next level, he’s one of the very best run defenders in the class. There might not be a more consistent run fitter, having the patience and physicality to play through contact and sort traffic at a high level.
Round 3, Pick 95: Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
With Hunter Henry aging quickly, it might be wise for the Patriots to begin adding some young talent to the tight end room. While Trigg has some questions to answer off the field, there is no question that he has some special receiving upside on it. His catch radius and explosiveness are a tantalizing combination.
Round 4, Pick 125: VJ Payne, S, Kansas State
At 6-3 and 210 pounds, Payne has the profile to become a tremendous tight end eraser on the NFL level. He also has some underrated range, which should provide some interesting options for a defensive coordinator to explore.
Round 4, Pick 131: Romello Height, EDGE, Texas Tech
Height is never going to be much of an asset against the run due to his lack of size and length. He can, however, get after the quarterback at a high level. Height looks like a designated pass rusher to help on obvious passing downs immediately.
Round 5, Pick 171: Trey Zuhn III, OL, Texas A&M
After playing mostly at left tackle for the Aggies, Zuhn also got some reps at center during this past season. Center could end up being his best position, although the versatility that Zuhn brings to the table is his ultimate sticking point.
Round 6, Pick 191: Eric McAlister, WR, TCU
After beginning his career with Boise State, McAlister has had some big flashes in terms of big plays over the last several seasons. Consistency is still a major issue for McAlister, as is winning through contact. If he can contribute on special teams, he could be worth some developmental time.
Round 6, Pick 198: Nyjalik Kelly, EDGE, UCF
Kelly began his career at Miami, eventually developing into an intriguing pass rush prospect for UCF the last two seasons. He has a unique blend of length and explosiveness, which is worth trying to develop into a more consistent football player.
Round 6, Pick 202: Collin Wright, CB, Stanford
There is nothing flashy about Wright, but he’s a very efficient defensive back. You can depend on him to be in the right spot more often than not, an underrated aspect of trust on the back end of the defense.
Round 6, Pick 212: Travis Burke, OT, Memphis
Burke brings a very intriguing blend of size and length to the table. He’s also solid enough of an athlete to potentially stick as a swing option on the NFL level. This is a very solid later-round dart throw to take.
Round 7, Pick 247: Rene Konga, DT, Louisville
The former Rutgers transfer has had a couple of eye-popping games over the last two seasons, but has also been maddeningly inconsistent. Konga is a really smooth mover from the interior of a defense, possessing some legitimate developmental upside.