My Ridiculously Early Start on a 2026 Offseason Plan

[manxman2601]

So here's where I stand.

1. My preference is still to have the pick of the EDGEs at 31 rather than taking one in the second round and getting the leftovers. An EDGE is more likely to influence the team in the short run than a RT.

2. However, I can see the argument for Miller or Iheanachor and I won't be completely disappointed if they're the pick. If they are, then I do hope we trade up from 63 to secure a pass rusher of our choosing, not just twiddling our thumbs as the EDGE run takes guys away from us. Vrabel's workout of Iheanachor does make it feel like he's the pick however. Maybe Vrabel turns out for Jacas' workout?

3. My preference at EDGE is, in order, 1. Mesidor 2. Lawrence or Jacas 3. Parker 4. Young 5. Mason Thomas or Moore. 6. Crawford. I'm not a fan of Cashius Howell or Keldric Faulk.

As for Lawrence v Jacas. I think Jacas is the higher floor guy, Lawrence the higher ceiling, particularly as a pass rusher. Pick your poison.

4. I have no idea how high Travis Burke is now going but he's my backup option if we go edge at 31. Round 3 seems most likely but even that worries me as being potentially too late. It's a risk for sure.

5. As for TE, Delp, Roush, Klein and Raridon have been my go to shortlist but I'm back in on Kacmarek again. He might have jumped everyone other than Delp who I like for his athletic upside.

6. I really hope we get one of Stukes, Wheatley, Bud Clark or Payne.

7. Linebacker is more up in the air. I like Rolder and Jefferson, but who knows?

8. Later day 3 seems ideal for an OG and a backup CB.

9. Haynes King might be my best shot at getting one of 'my guys' picked whether in the late rounds or UDFA. Having said that, Kacmarek feels kind of Vrabel-y too.

10. I really don't feel confident about this draft at all. I have no idea who's going where, both generally but position specifically too. The TE position is a nightmare to figure out. As is EDGE. Does Cashius Howell go top 20 or fall near the bottom of the 2nd. I have no idea.

11. Day 3 super athletic DTs really has been the surprise of this draft for me. I hope we take advantage.

 

[gobesmug]

Question but why the love for getting an edge when we already have Jones, Landry, Ponder who looked good as an UDFA last year, and a board favorite from last year in Swinson?

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Question but why the love for getting an edge when we already have Jones, Landry, Ponder who looked good as an UDFA last year, and a board favorite from last year in Swinson?

Because our pass rush was abysmal last year. Landry’s health is a huge question mark. Nobody knows what the future holds for Swinson.

 

[manxman2601]

Question but why the love for getting an edge when we already have Jones, Landry, Ponder who looked good as an UDFA last year, and a board favorite from last year in Swinson?

Landry is carrying an injury and is probably in his last season, Jones is good but not an out and out pass rusher and Ponder and Swinson are largely unproven although Ponder showed some promise but that's all it is at this point.

 

[Rdforty2]

Question but why the love for getting an edge when we already have Jones, Landry, Ponder who looked good as an UDFA last year, and a board favorite from last year in Swinson?

Can never have too many pass rushers.

Last years unit wasn't anything special. At the end of the year with Lamdry banged up, we needed clear help. They had to get more out of Jennings and Tavai, and both are gone. The fact that they went with them over Swinson tells you Swinson is a complete wild card. If hes your edge5 going into the year and plays his way into the rotation, great. But you cant count on him in the 2 deep.

Jones is the replacement for Chaisson, but hes a little different. He could also kick inside on occasion to free up more edge reps for the group.

I'm more in the pure speed off the edge camp at the moment, so i lean Lawrence and Howell early. But I absolutely would not have an issue with Parker, Mesidor, or Jacas whatsoever.

 

[mayoclinic]

I am somewhat in-between on the importance of drafting EDGE.

I. The case for EDGE being not quite as critical

Manx has gone so far as to state " if that's [Landry, Jones, Ponder, Swinson] all we have to start with, our season's probably over before it starts."

I disagree with that, and think it borders on Chicken Little. The sky will not fall. It's close to what we had last year, and our pass rush did not cost us the SB. I'm hopeful Jones will be an upgrade from Chaisson/White, and that Ponder and Swinson will improve. One may even make a 2nd year leap. Manx was pounding the table for Swinson last year. Lance Zeirlein gave Swinson a 6.31 "will eventually get a plus starter" grade, and a top-100 grade from Dane Brugler.

I think the Pats may have info about the EDGE group that we don't, including Landry's recovery, and the development of Ponder and Swinson. They chose not to go after the high cost pass rushers (I wanted Odeh, but not at $25M/year AAV), including Trey Hendrickson. They signed Jones day 1 of FA, suggesting they had targeted him all along, and there are rumors they would have made a run at trading for him last year at the trade deadline, but the Titans' owner wouldn't trade with the Pats out of spite.

Finally, there are many ways to manufacture pressure. The Pats are strong on the DL, and Milt Williams can be moved out to EDGE at times.

II. The importance of EDGE

All that said, EDGE is very important, and a major need. I want a dominant DL, and that requires a stronger EDGE group than what we currently have. In terms of importance/value, EDGE is my number 2 priority after OL.

But not at the expense of reaching. I'm fine taking Akheem Mesidor at 31, but I think he has about a 90% probability of going earlier. I could live with Keldric Faulk if that's who the team picks, but I think he will go earlier, and he probably wouldn't be my preference.

I don't think the other guys are 1st round values. I think the EDGE class is deep, and we can get a solid one day 2. There is no guarantee even the top ones will get immediate difference makers.

My preference is OT 1 / EDGE 2, as long as the values are there. Never reach. I would hate to pass up a Stukes / Golday / Rodriguez / Bell kind of opportunity at 63 for someone at EDGE graded much lower.

One final note: Jake Golday is one of my highest graded players in this draft. Like Arvell Reese, I think he can be used as both an off-ball LB and an EDGE. That gives him much more 3 down versatility than guys like Howell or Thomas. He has a 9.85 RAS (probably > 9.9 if you use his pro day 3C) including 4.62 speed, a 1.59 10-split, and a 6.84 3C. Those are elite. He started at DL. I would consider home very highly athletic 63 if ge lasts, as he would address 2 major needs - LB and EDGE rusher.

 

[manxman2601]

Manx has gone so far as to state " if that's [Landry, Jones, Ponder, Swinson] all we have to start with, our season's probably over before it starts."

I disagree with that, and think it borders on Chicken Little. The sky will not fall. . Manx was pounding the table for Swinson last year.

Wow!

I think we're done debating this issue.

 

[mayoclinic]

Patriots will exercise Christian Gonzalez's fifth-year option but working for a long-term deal

The Patriots will exercise the fifth-year option on Christian Gonzalez's contract, according to coach Mike Vrabel, but the team is negotiating a long-term extension for the cornerback.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[mayoclinic]

Here's an interesting situation to keep an eye on:

2026 NFL Draft: 3 NFL players with the most to gain or lose

The 2026 NFL Draft will have a significant impact on current NFL players, pushing some out of starting roles.

www.pff.com

One of the players listed is none other than Miami OL Jonah Savaiinaea, who the Pats were rumored to be strongly considering at 38, before Miami traded up to take him at 37.

Savaiinaea played on the right side his entire college career. A natural RG, Arizona moved him to RT, not ideal for his footwork. Miami aggravated the problem by moving him to the left side, where his struggles made Jared Wilson look like the second coming of John Hannah.



Savaiinaea is very athletic for a RG, with a 4.95 40, 1.72 10-split, and 4.66 SS at 6'5" 324#.

I think he's a poor fit on the left side, but could be a dominant RG, with the ability to back up RT in a pinch.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10135833-jonah-savaiinaea-nfl-draft-2025-scouting-report-for-arizona-iol

The Dolphins reportedly plan to keep Savaiinaea at LG:



If he continues to struggle on the left side, I'd seriously consider exploring a trade, which should not cost a ton, and would allow the Pats to focus on other areas. He could just be a bust, but if the cost were a day 3 pick it would be worth a gamble. He's only 23, and this time a year ago the Pats were very bullish on him.



An OL of Campbell - AVT - Wilson - Savaiinaea - Iheanachor/Miller for 2027 could potentially be pretty nice.

Something to keep an eye on.

Dolphins GM sends clear message to Jonah Savaiinaea that he can't afford to ignore

The Miami Dolphins believed in Jonah Savaiinaea enough to trade up for him in last year's draft. Now, he may not even be a starter in 2026.

phinphanatic.com

 

[pazrul72]

If only the draft followed Teets's board:

*** Trade 31 to Arizona for 34 and 104.
34. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia (40)
*** Trade 63 and 104 to Philadelphia for 68 and 98
68. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech (72)
95. Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn St. (97)
98. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt (99)
125. De'Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss (133)
131. VJ Payne, S, Kansas St. (141)
171. Ephesians Prysock, CB, Washington (185)
191. Adam Randall, RB, Clemson (196)
198. Rene Konga, DT, Louisville (200) or Jordan Van den Berg, DT, Georgia Tech (214)
204. Eli Heidenreich, slot WR, Navy (230)
212. Micah Morris, IOL, Georgia (232)
247. Jeff Caldwell, WR, Cincinnati (253)

UDFA:
Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech (265)
Noah Thomas, WR, Georgia (279)
George Gumbs, EDGE, Florida (286)
Dan Villari, TE, Syracuse (306)

I know they are in the throw a dart at the board and pray section of the draft but 4 WRs?!? Did patsfans2 hack your account? Otherwise that looks like a beautiful picture perfect draft

 

[manxman2601]

Everyone locking in Peter Woods in their mocks at 37.

 

[mayoclinic]

Except that Woods could easily go 25 to Chicago.

Kayden McDonald sounds like a better replacement option. Might require a trade up to around 31.

 

[manxman2601]

Would you? Pick 31?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Would you? Pick 31?

Trade Barmore and a 1st round pick for Lawrence and Thibodeaux. Our DL is then complete.

 

[mayoclinic]

Trade Barmore and a 4th for Lawrence. Giants get an immediate starting caliber player at DT.

Williams-Lawrence would rival Carter-Davisas an inside duo.

 

[manxman2601]

Do people think we'd carry 4 TEs and a FB? I'm thinking about a double dip at TE (Delp and Kacmarek) which would give Henry - Hill - Delp - Kacmarek and Gilliam. Too much?

Delp becomes Henry's long term replacement and Kacmarek gives us an extra blocker in 3 TE sets.

 

[Clonamery]

Do people think we'd carry 4 TEs and a FB? I'm thinking about a double dip at TE (Delp and Kacmarek) which would give Henry - Hill - Delp - Kacmarek and Gilliam. Too much?

Delp becomes Henry's long term replacement and Kacmarek gives us an extra blocker in 3 TE sets.

I don't think we can do a 4th round value on Kacmarek, but a 6th, yeah.

 

[manxman2601]

I don't think we can do a 4th round value on Kacmarek, but a 6th, yeah.

Jackson Hawes went for a 4th I think. Too much?

 

[mayoclinic]

I think a double dip at TE is not out of the question. Roush/Delp at 95, with a 6th round guy, complementary to whoevercus taken earlier. There are so many good ones, someone will slip.

 

[Clonamery]

Jackson Hawes went for a 4th I think. Too much?

Draft would really need to fall our way. No trade ups. OT/EDGE secured. I like Kacmarek a lot.