What are our biggest needs in the 2026 Draft

[manxman2601]

Imagine:

- 1st round Rueben Bain/Keldric Faulk, 2nd round Conwor Lew or Kenyon Sadiq
- 1st round Spencer Fano, 2nd round Harold Perkins or Dillon Thieneman

I love Fano but option 1 would definitely be my choice. Those are four of my favourite picks for the first round, never mind the first and second. I agree though that people will rise and fall so it's not impossible although I think it'll need a less than stellar season by us ie picking in the 37-42 range.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'm with you, I listed option 1 first for a reason.

 

[mayoclinic]

An OL of:

LT Campbell - LG Wilson - OC Lew - OG Onwenu - RT Moses

would be a far cry from 2024. Getting 2 years out of Moses not obvious, FA still an option to address RT.

A DL with Bain/Faulk/Parker added to Williams, Barmore, White, Landry, and Chaisson would be pretty overpowering.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

An OL of:

LT Campbell - LG Wilson - OC Lew - OG Onwenu - RT Moses

would be a far cry from 2024. Getting 2 years out of Moses not obvious, FA still an option to address RT.

A DL with Bain/Faulk/Parker added to Williams, Barmore, White, Landry, and Chaisson would be pretty overpowering.

While that does look like a potentially good OL, it reminds me that Onwenu has $17.5m in new money coming in 2026. I think we need to put RG on the potential need list, as I would be shocked if the Pats pay him that much unless he’s playing at an All-Pro level.

 

[Zuma]

BPA out of TE, RT and IOL for the 1st 2-3 rounds

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Tough to say ahead of time. Too many unknowns. Does Vrabel need a 0 tech for this defense? Are the linebackers sufficient? Can Gonzales and Davis prove healthy? Do the young receivers develop? Does Campbell shore up his weaknesses and stay at tackle? Personally, I think he'd be an all pro guard, but he's still likely to be an above average tackle. I hope.

Currently, I'd look for OT (either), TE, DT, WR, safety, and LB. The season may make that list look silly. Or maybe I'll seem prescient. Who knows. All of this hinges on Maye continuing to develop. If he flounders, we're back to square one.

 

[mayoclinic]

All of this hinges on Maye continuing to develop. If he flounders, we're back to square one.

That would be a very tough scenario. Painful to even contemplate.

Drake Maye was my favorite QB prosect since Andrew Luck (who was my comp). High character and work ethic. Gotta believe he can make the leap. Josh Allen took till year 3.

 

[manxman2601]

Tough to say ahead of time. Too many unknowns. Does Vrabel need a 0 tech for this defense? Are the linebackers sufficient? Can Gonzales and Davis prove healthy? Do the young receivers develop? Does Campbell shore up his weaknesses and stay at tackle? Personally, I think he'd be an all pro guard, but he's still likely to be an above average tackle. I hope.

Currently, I'd look for OT (either), TE, DT, WR, safety, and LB. The season may make that list look silly. Or maybe I'll seem prescient. Who knows. All of this hinges on Maye continuing to develop. If he flounders, we're back to square one.

I'm curious what your minimum expectations are for Maye that wouldn't constitute "flounders"? Can you put numbers to it or is it a case of 'it feels right'?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I'm curious what your minimum expectations are for Maye that wouldn't constitute "flounders"? Can you put numbers to it or is it a case of 'it feels right'?

@WaterfallJumper has a better perspective than me. But I will comment anyway



PFF has Drake graded at 40th out of 75 QBs. So how about a PFF grade in the Top 20?

3000 yards and 25 TDs?

 

[captain stone]

As of today, the players I would hope for in the 1st round if the Pats were picking:

- Top 10: S Caleb Downs, DT Peter Woods

- Top 15: Downs, Woods; EDGE Rueben Bain, EDGE Keldric Faulk, EDGE TJ Parker, OT Spencer Fanu

- Top 20: Downs, Woods, Bain, Faulkner, Parker, Fanu; OT Francis Mauigoa

Other Possibles: OT Isaiah Worlds, EDGE Mattayo Uiagaleilei

Aside from S Caleb Downs, it's all OL or DL for me.

Would somebody like Caleb Downs complement/co-exist with somebody like Craig Woodson in the deep end?

 

[captain stone]

While that does look like a potentially good OL, it reminds me that Onwenu has $17.5m in new money coming in 2026. I think we need to put RG on the potential need list, as I would be shocked if the Pats pay him that much unless he’s playing at an All-Pro level.

Dude won't be here by next season unless he agrees to "re-structure" (i.e.: DRASTICALLY REDUCE) his contract. Didn't deserve it then, doesn't deserve it now, and sure as **** won't deserve it a year from now either.

 

[Clonamery]

@WaterfallJumper has a better perspective than me. But I will comment anyway



PFF has Drake graded at 40th out of 75 QBs. So how about a PFF grade in the Top 20?

3000 yards and 25 TDs?

That's fair.

 

[manxman2601]

@WaterfallJumper has a better perspective than me. But I will comment anyway



PFF has Drake graded at 40th out of 75 QBs. So how about a PFF grade in the Top 20?

3000 yards and 25 TDs?

That sounds reasonable although I'd be looking for a few more yards like 3500. That plus 25 TDs and single figure INTs would put him on a par with Jayden Daniels last year.

 

[manxman2601]

Would somebody like Caleb Downs complement/co-exist with somebody like Craig Woodson in the deep end?

In a cover 4 scheme, yes. Downs can play anywhere as a safety whether in the slot, in the back half or in the box. In a cover 1 or 3 scheme, Thieneman might be the better option.

 

[Clonamery]

That sounds reasonable although I'd be looking for a few more yards like 3500. That plus 25 TDs and single figure INTs would put him on a par with Jayden Daniels last year.

I'd settle for the lower numbers with better care of the ball. Plus, we'll be running more with a purpose.

 

[manxman2601]

I'd settle for the lower numbers with better care of the ball. Plus, we'll be running more with a purpose.

I don't disagree although at some stage, Maye needs to show he's a franchise level QB who can take us to the next level. Whether that happens this year or next, it can't be left too long.

 

[Clonamery]

I don't disagree although at some stage, Maye needs to show he's a franchise level QB who can take us to the next level. Whether that happens this year or next, it can't be left too long.

True. There's been more emphasis by management to put him in front of the players as leader not just the poster boy for the media.

 

[Brotherblues]

Early feels for next year:

R1 Edge
R2 RT
R3 IOL

Could switch a pick to WR if someone they really like falls to them.

 

[manxman2601]

Do the Pats go WR in the first round? Jordyn Tyson is becoming a very popular mock draft pick for us right now and I can see an argument where, if we're picking mid-first, he could be the BPA. My only doubt is that we went offense with the first 3 picks this year so I wonder whether defense ends up being the pick next.

 

[mayoclinic]

Hell no.