7 winners & losers for the New England Patriots following the 2026 NFL Draft include players in line for a bigger role in 2026
The New England Patriots had a robust draft haul from the 2026 NFL Draft. Whose stock was most affected by their incoming rookie class?
The New England Patriots made a total of nine picks in their strong 2026 NFL Draft class. With that many additions, there were bound to be ripples across the entirety of the roster.
Who came away feeling great from this weekend? Who lost out? Let’s dive in.
Winner: Drake Maye
It feels cliche to put Drake Maye here, but he has to feel more secure following the 2026 NFL Draft. The Patriots added two offensive tackles around him and added a legitimate seam threat at tight end, giving him a weapon I’m sure he’ll be a frequent flyer with. With the rest of New England’s additions (and some more potential ones), I’m sure he’ll be happy after how last season ended.
Losers: Terrell Jennings, Lan Larison, & Elijah Mitchell
New England adding Jam Miller was probably the last thing any of these three wanted to hear. He’ll have the benefit of draft capital behind him when it comes to roster cuts, and his well-rounded game could give him the edge outright in a competition. In a room that projects to be light, these guys will have to snatch a job in the offseason.
Winners: Mack Hollins, Pop Douglas, & Efton Chism III
Despite plenty of speculation, the New England Patriots did not add a wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft. That’s good news for these three, who project to be in the middle of New England’s receiver rotation behind (currently) Romeo Doubs, Kyle Williams, and Kayshon Boutte. A player with significant capital behind them could have cut one or two of the out of the room.
Losers: James Hudson & Marcus Bryant
The Patriots clearly didn’t feel comfortable adding just one tackle in the NFL Draft, choosing to add two. With Will Campbell and Morgan Moses established, that’s four tackles with secure roster spots. One or both of Hudson and Bryant could find themselves on the outs by math alone.
Winner: Dell Pettus
New England didn’t add to their safety room, keeping Pettus’s role and spot on the roster alive. He didn’t see much action on defense last year, but he’s a key special teams cog for the team.
Winner: Cory Durden
There was a lot of pre-draft speculation the team would add a defensive tackle early on in the draft. The Patriots, instead, did not draft a single one, electing to keep their rotation the same. That’s a huge win for Cory Durden, whose role as the nose tackle is almost virtually unopposed.
Losers: Kobee Minor, Marcellas Dial, & Charles Woods
With the selection of Karon Prunty and signing of Kindle Vildor, these three are on the outside looking in when it comes to the cornerback position. The Patriots suddenly have five cornerbacks ahead of this group, making this a tough uphill battle.
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