Priorities After Round 2

[mgteich]

I agree with this. Edge will have been taken in round 1, thinking an OT taken in rounds 2.. so to your point round 3 feels like a place where TE could be targeted... admittedly I have not followed to much lately of whos available I'll lean on your information for this of possibility at TE with round 3..

I'm not much of a draftnik, but I do know this, the patriots will NOT draft an OT with its second pick.

 

[mgteich]

I'm not sure why so many posters seem to want to go into the next off-season needing a starting RT and a starting RG.

 

[Real fan 02]

If Campbell gets hurt again, we are counting on Bryant and nobody.

Hudson was signed at OT. Is why we need to look at OL in rounds 2..

 

[JoeSixPat]

???

DiVito was claimed after the final cut. We could have draft one of the several QB's available in the 6th, 7th and free agency and then cut him in favor of DiVito.

DiVito was an opportunity to have a 2nd backup to compete with Doubs.

Yes, I'm sure you have a case to make that they should have drafted more rookie QBs behind Maye last year rather than have veterans, or even draft more QBs late in the 2023 draft as well

But last year and the year before were different times as in 2023 Maye was a rookie with no experience and in 2024 Maye was little more than a rookie with 12 games

Hence, I'm not sure the draft strategy in 2023 or 2024 would be to draft more rookie QBs to sit behind Maye

Instead I think the gameplan last year was to sign QBs with actual NFL experience rather than rookie QBs

This year is different - Maye has established himself and I'm pretty sure the team has indicated they're interested in drafting a QB, even brining in someone like Jalen Daniels for a look

Maybe you're right and this is just a rope a dope to make people THINK they're going to draft a QB on Day 3 - and then they go in a different direction, but I think you may be overthinking this

 

[patfanken]

We have FIVE picks in the last 2 rounds and will have already picked 6 guys before that. There is no 'need" involved with those 5 picks. They are just five shots in the dark hoping to hit on one or 2 who becomes a contributor down the road. NONE of those picks are likely to become someone who is even a rotational player next season.

For the first time in many years the Pats are NOT going to be a good team for UDFAs to sign with. Those last 5 picks will fill those roles.

 

[Real fan 02]

I'm not much of a draftnik, but I do know this, the patriots will NOT draft an OT with its second pick.

2026 New England Patriots NFL Mock Draft Tracker

 

[mgteich]

. but I think you may be overthinking this

Fair enough

My point is that there were QB's available in the 6th and 7th who might have had an opportunity to develop a bit in camp and be carried as our #3 QB.

 

[mgteich]

2026 New England Patriots NFL Mock Draft Tracker

Are you suggesting that a G/C being available with the OT's in Round 1 and early Round 2 is a reason why you think that an OT will be available at 63?

As an aside, I think that Rutledge would be a fine pick at 63 if he were available. He might even be worth a trade up.

 

[mgteich]

Hudson was signed at OT. Is why we need to look at OL in rounds 2..

I should have a shortcut to these words.

"the patriots are NOT looking to an OT for their second pick"

 

[JoeSixPat]

Fair enough

My point is that there were QB's available in the 6th and 7th who might have had an opportunity to develop a bit in camp and be carried as our #3 QB.

They could have but instead of adding a rookie they for someone with experience last year

This year is different from last year and I think MUCH more likely they'll draft a QB this year

Then again you could be right and they remain in "we want another veteran" mode and bypass a QB in the draft or as an UDFA

I hear Josh Dobbs is available!

 

[mgteich]

They could have but instead of adding a rookie they for someone with experience last year

This year is different from last year and I think MUCH more likely they'll draft a QB this year

Then again you could be right and they remain in "we want another veteran" mode and bypass a QB in the draft or as an UDFA

I hear Josh Dobbs is available!

From the time of the draft through the time of the final cuts, the team did NOT chose to have to back up Maye. They chose to have Maye and Doubs. They CHOSE to have Doubs as the backup all year. They did NOT have Divito as a backup.

The team chose not to have a backup #3 QB and didn't believe that their coaching staff could coach up those available to be future backups. When DiVIto was available as a claim, they chose to claim him as a possible 2026 backup.

 

[Real fan 02]

I should have a shortcut to these words.

"the patriots are NOT looking to an OT for their second pick"

I'd challenge you to have to unfortunately remember the Cole Strange pick in the first round.... we don't know what they are looking at and what they will do at # 63..

 

[JoeSixPat]

From the time of the draft through the time of the final cuts, the team did NOT chose to have to back up Maye. They chose to have Maye and Doubs. They CHOSE to have Doubs as the backup all year. They did NOT have Divito as a backup.

The team chose not to have a backup #3 QB and didn't believe that their coaching staff could coach up those available to be future backups. When DiVIto was available as a claim, they chose to claim him as a possible 2026 backup.

Mike Reiss acknowledges your insight and expertise but respectfully disagrees:

Developmental QBs: One trickle-down effect of the Patriots releasing veteran quarterback Joshua Dobbs last week is that they now are more likely to draft a signal-caller -- or sign one as a priority undrafted free agent -- and rely on the proven expertise of McDaniels and quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant to develop him.

Patriots notebook: What to expect from newest WR Romeo Doubs

Here are 10 things from around the Patriots and the NFL this week.

www.espn.com

 

[mgteich]

I'd challenge you to have to unfortunately remember the Cole Strange pick in the first round.... we don't know what they are looking at and what they will do at # 63..

OK, I'll be more clear,


It would be among the hugest surprises and mistakes that Vrabel has done in his career if he drafted an OT with his second pick.

Yes, the patriots have reached 2 rounds for a player before. No OT is worth that and Vrabel is not prone to such mistakes.

 

[JoeSixPat]

OK, I'll be more clear,


It would be among the hugest surprises and mistakes that Vrabel has done in his career if he drafted an OT with his second pick.

Yes, the patriots have reached 2 rounds for a player before. No OT is worth that and Vrabel is not prone to such mistakes.

I'm also in the camp of preferring #31 go for a quality OL with the ability to back up a few positions and be the RT of the future.

Statistically there's greater value at that position at #31 more than others in general (as Logan Mankins reminds us) - but it does come down to whether someone they love at one of their other priority positions drops to 31

For that matter the hit rates for OL in the first two rounds are BOTH great - so I'm not sure why it would be so unlikely to see a pick used for that position in the 2nd.

But overall if someone is pulling for another edge player, WR, or TE, the hit rate on the earlier rounds is no where near as good (and is actually decent later) as it is on OL, but if they love someone on D who falls to them, there's no reason to think they can't pick up a good lineman in the 2nd.

Heck, our starting Center was a 3rd round pick!

NFL Draft 2026 By Position: Hit Rates And Draft Value

NFL Draft 2026 guide breaking down historical hit rates and positional value by round, from quarterbacks to Day 2 sleepers.

rg.org

 

[Real fan 02]

OK, I'll be more clear,


It would be among the hugest surprises and mistakes that Vrabel has done in his career if he drafted an OT with his second pick.

Yes, the patriots have reached 2 rounds for a player before. No OT is worth that and Vrabel is not prone to such mistakes.

Noted. I admit I have not out to much energy into looking at available OTs I've been so fixated on edge rightfully so...

So would you say 4th or 5th rounds OTs are targeted... they did address the depth with signing Hudson.

 

[mgteich]

Noted. I admit I have not out to much energy into looking at available OTs I've been so fixated on edge rightfully so...

So would you say 4th or 5th rounds OTs are targeted... they did address the depth with signing Hudson.

We will look at OT's in the 4th and beyond. Much depends on how they feel about Bryant. If Bryant isn't part of the future, then a late OT is a must.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

OL. We really need the help.

 

[Real fan 02]

OK, I'll be more clear,


It would be among the hugest surprises and mistakes that Vrabel has done in his career if he drafted an OT with his second pick.

Yes, the patriots have reached 2 rounds for a player before. No OT is worth that and Vrabel is not prone to such mistakes.

Very well. Is why I'll remain convinced edge is what they are targeting early. Unless they move around. We took an OT with the first pick last season. Edge is a high priority as well. If the team had a game to play tomorrow your 5 starting OL

Is:

LT Campbell, LG Vera-Tucker, C Wilson, RG Ownenu, RT Moses

We can't say the same for the starting edge defenders?

Dre Jones & (Landry *) ? Ponder?

 

[rkarp1]

if you put any stock in "grades", there are 7 OT's that could be considered at #31, and then a significant drop off.
realistically, all 7 could be gone by #31. taking an OT at #31 or #63 is most likely a massive reach.
drafty capitol at #31 or $ 63 is most likely a 4 or 3 year commit to a player.
Pats need to select players that will contribute over the course of that contract.