New England Patriots gift Drake Maye a new passing game weapon, get more versatile on defense in latest 2026 NFL mock draft
Latest 2026 NFL mock draft gifts the New England Patriots a tremendous haul of offensive talent.
The New England Patriots are putting together a tremendous 2025 season so far, their first under head coach Mike Vrabel. This roster certainly has talent, but you can argue that the Patriots are playing a bit over their talent level. There are absolutely some holes that will need to be plugged moving forward to make sure this is a sustainable organization.
The 2026 NFL Draft class will offer the chance for this New England front office to find those answers to reach their potential. In my latest 7-round mock draft at A to Z Sports, continuing to put talent around quarterback Drake Maye is the top priority. From there, it is about building the trenches and upgrading the defense. All of those were accomplished.
Round 1, Pick 29: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
At over 6-1 and 227 pounds, Bell is a physical freak whose game resembles that of current Philadelphia Eagles star AJ Brown. His combination of explosiveness, change of direction, and after-catch ability is extremely rare for his size. Bell could offer a skill set that the Patriots just don’t have on this roster right now.
Round 2, Pick 62: AJ Harris, CB, Penn State
If you love physical press man cornerbacks, then you will like Harris quite a bit. He is physically in the run and screen game, as well as offering some inside-out upside. Harris does have some limitations in terms of long speed, so you will have to play to his strengths accordingly.
Round 3, Pick 93: Anto Saka, EDGE, Northwestern
Saka has a son of explosiveness and length to become a great player, but for whatever reason, he just hasn’t put it together yet. The upside is still very much there. The Patriots will have to be a bit patient with Saka, but working with Mike Vrabel sounds like a great situation.
Round 4, Pick 118: Xavier Scott, CB/S, Illinois
Scott was considered one of the top defensive backs coming into the season, but unfortunately, his final campaign was derailed due to injury. He plays mostly nickel, but also has the versatility to develop into a starting safety. That versatility is a huge selling point for a defense.
Round 4, Pick 130: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
There is plenty of length and foot quickness to love when watching Iheanachor. All of his deficiencies come from technique and core strength, both of which can be improved. He’s a bit developmental, but the payoff long term could be well worth it with Iheanachor.
Round 5, Pick 169: Suntarine Perkins, LB, Ole Miss
Perkins is one of the more unique and odd players in the entire 2026 class. At 6-2 and 220 pounds, Perkins plays both linebacker and off the edge at times. He is an impressive athlete, but he’s going to have to develop on the second level to stick long-term.
Round 6, Pick 201: Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
The Patriots are going to be very familiar with the talented Northeast pass catcher. While Bell isn’t a dynamic athlete, he’s very smooth and has a clear understanding for how to play the position. He has a great knack for getting open, which will help him stick.
Round 6, Pick 211: Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
At this point last season, Chambliss was a little-known D2 superstar quarterback. Now he’s an SEC starting signal caller who is an outstanding athlete. In the right situation, his athleticism and developing passing skills could offer some upside to stick as a backup.
Round 6, Pick 216: Jeremiah Wright, OG, Auburn
The Patriots continue to add size to the trenches. Wright is a huge offensive guard at around 6-5 and 348 pounds, and that weight might be a little generous. While that size creates some limitations, it is still a potential sticking point for Wright with his impressive power.
Round 7, Pick 244: Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech
At around 6-4 and 330 pounds, Hunter is a massive interior presence who is difficult to move off of his spot. His durability needs to be better, and Hunter is never going to be a consistent threat against the pass. That upside against the run could be enough to help him stick.
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