Eliot Wolf provides a peek behind the curtain into New England Patriots’ thought process in first round of 2026 NFL Draft
The New England Patriots will have to wait awhile for their first-round pick, but their approach to their pick is a smart one.
The New England Patriots won’t make their pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft until No. 31 overall. By the time their pick rolls around, plenty of talent will have already come off the board.
However, the Patriots have been in this position plenty of times before, and their experience is already showing in how they are approaching the pick.
Eliot Wolf: Patriots won’t draft for need in 2026 NFL Draft
The New England Patriots have done a great job of shoring up their roster through free agency. However, there are still a few positions of concern they should no doubt be considering adding to in the 2026 NFL Draft.
However, according to de-facto Patriots’ general manager Eliot Wolf, the Patriots won’t be taking a needs-based approach to the draft. The focus, instead, will simply be focusing on the best player available approach.
I think it’s easy to look at a piece of paper or a depth chart right now and just kind of see what our needs are right this second…This is a long-term commitment..so I like to look at it more along the lines of what don’t we need? Because there’s a lot less of that when you look at it that way. What can we eliminate from consideration? You just have to make sure you’re going to pick a good football player at any point.
Eliot Wolf
This is a smart approach for the Patriots to consider. They have been linked to a right tackle to be the long-term replacement for Morgan Moses. However, locking in one for No. 31 could be disaster if they get sniped at the position ahead of time. Instead, what about a pass rusher like Cashius Howell or R Mason Thomas, even after adding Dre’Mont Jones?
How about a cornerback like Chris Johnson or Colton Hood? Carlton Davis is hitting the wrong side of 30 and only has guaranteed money through the 2026 season. The Patriots don’t have depth there behind him and Christian Gonzalez, and that would turn their secondary into a real strength.
The strength of the draft really kicks in right about where the Patriots pick. With so many options and plenty of talent still on the board, it’s best to keep all of their options open when it comes to their pick.
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