2026 Mock Draft Thread

[Clonamery]

I've been thinking about Payton as a late rd pick. Replace Dobbs and bring in a QB with a similar skill set to Maye for far cheaper.
I would like a double dip at TE late instead of a CB (Dixon). Someone like Villari.....etc.
Hooper will be gone, and I don't think Henry's time here goes beyond next season, lets rebuild that TE room with a couple of real receiving threats.

Maybe on Payton. He had 5 years in college at NDSU with only 1 year as a starter. Looks like he was used as a tailback in 23 & 24. I wonder if he was the default QB his 5th year...NDSU always is loaded with skill players. QBs always look good.

 

[manxman2601]

More like him in the first round please.

 

[manxman2601]

Alex Barth has his first mock. I knew I liked him.

Barth's Patriots Mock Draft 1.0: Building on a strong start

Our first New England Patriots Mock Draft of the 2026 NFL Draft. How will the team build on the core that started last year?

985thesportshub.com

TLDR: first four picks are Mesidor (yay!), Haulcy (okay), Louis (yay!), Delp (yay!) Give me Stukes instead of Haulcy and that's a great mock.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Alex Barth has his first mock. I knew I liked him.

Barth's Patriots Mock Draft 1.0: Building on a strong start

Our first New England Patriots Mock Draft of the 2026 NFL Draft. How will the team build on the core that started last year?

985thesportshub.com

TLDR: first four picks are Mesidor (yay!), Haulcy (okay), Louis (yay!), Delp (yay!) Give me Stukes instead of Haulcy and that's a great mock.

If we are going BPA then it works. Not sure what we do about the OL. Drake looked shattered by the season end. Going with FAs is OK with me.

 

[Clonamery]

If we are going BPA then it works. Not sure what we do about the OL. Drake looked shattered by the season end. Going with FAs is OK with me.

You buying?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

You buying?

Sure. I am a bit tight this week. Can I send a check next week?

 

[manxman2601]

Sure. I am a bit tight this week. Can I send a check next week?

The Jerry Jones approach to the salary cap.

 

[stelfans]

Alex Barth has his first mock. I knew I liked him.

Barth's Patriots Mock Draft 1.0: Building on a strong start

Our first New England Patriots Mock Draft of the 2026 NFL Draft. How will the team build on the core that started last year?

985thesportshub.com

TLDR: first four picks are Mesidor (yay!), Haulcy (okay), Louis (yay!), Delp (yay!) Give me Stukes instead of Haulcy and that's a great mock.

I think you are selling Haulcy short. That would be an amazing draft.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Maybe on Payton. He had 5 years in college at NDSU with only 1 year as a starter. Looks like he was used as a tailback in 23 & 24. I wonder if he was the default QB his 5th year...NDSU always is loaded with skill players. QBs always look good.

Good points.
I'm not sure how early Payton will go, 6th earliest?
Even if his game is a work in progress, if he had to play in an emergency those legs will do him well and make it tougher on opposing Ds.
Getting rid of Dobbs is not a major priority, but would he give you a better chanced to win in spot duty....maybe.

 

[manxman2601]

I think you are selling Haulcy short. That would be an amazing draft.

His high missed tackle rate ad the fact that he's more a two man safety robber rather than someone who can play single high is what I'm less keen on with Haulcy. He's an excellent robber though.

 

[Clonamery]

Good points.
I'm not sure how early Payton will go, 6th earliest?
Even if his game is a work in progress, if he had to play in an emergency those legs will do him well and make it tougher on opposing Ds.
Getting rid of Dobbs is not a major priority, but would he give you a better chanced to win in spot duty....maybe.

Welp. You keeping DeVito? Is he better than Dobbs and Payton is your #3?

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Welp. You keeping DeVito? Is he better than Dobbs and Payton is your #3?

I would think Payton would be #3 to start.
When it comes to Dobbs/DeVito, is one clearly better than the other?
Based on the pecking order last year, Dobbs is better, but is he really.
I think it's smart roster management to have a developmental QB as your #3. We know what Dobbs is and Devito has a very low ceiling. I don't see a reason to keep both.

 

[mayoclinic]

Daniel Jeremiah 2nd mock:

Daniel Jeremiah 2026 NFL mock draft 2.0: Giants one of six teams to pick WR; Chiefs go RB

In his second mock of the 2026 NFL Draft, Daniel Jeremiah forecasts the Giants to kick off a receiver run that goes six deep in the first 32 picks. Check out the full Round 1 projection.

www.nfl.com

He has the Pats taking Zion Young at 31.

Of note:

2. David Bailey
13. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
18. Dillon Thieneman
20. Akheem Mesidor
23. Blake Miller
24. Monroe Freeling
27. Lee Hunter
28. Caleb Lomu

No Caleb Banks or Max Iheanachor.

In that scenario I would take Caleb Banks, then try to trade up for Max Iheanachor.

 

[manxman2601]

Daniel Jeremiah 2nd mock:

Daniel Jeremiah 2026 NFL mock draft 2.0: Giants one of six teams to pick WR; Chiefs go RB

In his second mock of the 2026 NFL Draft, Daniel Jeremiah forecasts the Giants to kick off a receiver run that goes six deep in the first 32 picks. Check out the full Round 1 projection.

www.nfl.com

He has the Pats taking Zion Young at 31.

Of note:

2. David Bailey
13. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
18. Dillon Thieneman
20. Akheem Mesidor
23. Blake Miller
24. Monroe Freeling
25. Lee Hunter
28. Caleb Lomu

No Caleb Banks or Max Iheanachor.

In that scenario I would take Caleb Banks, then try to trade up for Max Iheanachor.

Big climbs for McNeil-Warren and Thieneman.

 

[mayoclinic]

Yeah, those really jumped out. Downs at 10 plus those two at 13 and 18 would be thd highest safety class in ages.

I can live with it, if it pushes some OTs and EDGE down to us.

 

[manxman2601]

Daniel Jeremiah 2nd mock:

Daniel Jeremiah 2026 NFL mock draft 2.0: Giants one of six teams to pick WR; Chiefs go RB

In his second mock of the 2026 NFL Draft, Daniel Jeremiah forecasts the Giants to kick off a receiver run that goes six deep in the first 32 picks. Check out the full Round 1 projection.

www.nfl.com

He has the Pats taking Zion Young at 31.

Of note:

2. David Bailey
13. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
18. Dillon Thieneman
20. Akheem Mesidor
23. Blake Miller
24. Monroe Freeling
27. Lee Hunter
28. Caleb Lomu

No Caleb Banks or Max Iheanachor.

In that scenario I would take Caleb Banks, then try to trade up for Max Iheanachor.

Provided the character checks out, I do think Young is a good Vrabel match play style wise opposite Chaisson. There’s be no complaints about effort from our edges and Young has that crucial violent, aggressive edge that the Pats coaches want.

 

[mayoclinic]

I agree, but the character issues concern me, and there are other players I like better.

 

[dliverey44]

I have become a Gabe Jacas supporter. He does a lot of things very well but I would not say elite at anything. One thing that resonates with me is that he has improved every year in on field production and refining his skills

 

[mayoclinic]

Josh Edwards mock from CBS Sports:

2026 NFL mock draft: Cowboys go all-in on defense with top-10 trade as Jets, Steelers pass on QBs

Jerry Jones swings big in an effort to fix what was a putrid Dallas defense in 2025.

www.cbssports.com

The pick at 31 is what I would personally do, even though Akheem Mesidor, TJ Parker, Lee Hunter, Zion Young and Blake Miller are all still on the board.

 

[dliverey44]

I am firmly in the draft for team need over blindly taking BPA. I am super curious how the staff feels about Ponder, Swinson, M Bryant and others because I feel like that could shape the draft along with FA.

The BPA argument is very frustrating unless the player is head and shoulders above the player they are replacing, but if thats the case isn't it a team need? So in my mind I would go into the draft with a list of team weaknesses that should be addressed and you address the weaker aspect with a similarly graded player.

Hypothetical scenario: I have graded my IDL room as an 84 and my OT room as a 78. At my pick I have the choice between my graded 88 IDLman or my graded 83 OT then I am going with the OT despite the IDL being BPA.

I would ask someone in the draft BPA camp to explain your rational because I do not get it. There are several other factors involved such as positional value that should be used when deciding on weaknesses for instance IDC if a punter is graded at 100 and my P room is graded at 65, that 100 punter still isn't getting drafted above the 5th round.

If you would like me to expound on my view let me know.