What are our biggest needs in the 2026 Draft

[manxman2601]

I don't think anything changed much in terms of need although I'd say that CB has increased as a need and I'm willing to say that TE/WR are less of a concern. Still need them but I'd prioritise defence right now which is ironic considering the disparity in FA spending.

Delane's looking pretty good right now. However, I'm with where I think Mayo is. EDGE & Safety are the two prime needs.

 

[mayoclinic]

Lot of time still. But a few early thoughts:

1. OL does not look like a sieve for the first time in years. Something to build on. Assuming Campbell-Wilson will be a fixture on the left side for now. Plenty of room to upgrade the other positions, but urgency not quite as high as in the past.

2. Assuming Vrabel here for the long haul, having deep safeties with range and coverage skills is imperative. Woodson looks like a solid work in progress, need another deep coverage safety.

3. You can never have too many good CBs.

4. Ditto for pass rushers. Keion White needs to step up or be upgraded.

I'm optimistic about the offense. Still needs time to gel, but there is hope.

Defense still a path rusher, a deep safety and an extra CB away.

Faulk-Thieneman likely a fantasy, but still an enticing one.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I don't think anything changed much in terms of need although I'd say that CB has increased as a need and I'm willing to say that TE/WR are less of a concern. Still need them but I'd prioritise defence right now which is ironic considering the disparity in FA spending.

Delane's looking pretty good right now. However, I'm with where I think Mayo is. EDGE & Safety are the two prime needs.

LB is creeping onto the NEEDS board.

 

[manxman2601]

LB is creeping onto the NEEDS board.

It's a great draft for one early but I'm not so sure how deep it goes.

I'm pretty sure Jamien Sherwood was there no 1 LB target in FA so Spillane was second choice. I wonder how wedded they are to a second choice.

 

[Clonamery]

LB is creeping onto the NEEDS board.

It was already there.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Agree.

If Safety means someone who is bigger and can cover the RB swing pass then (R1or 2), LB gets a lot easier.

 

[mayoclinic]

Campbell-Wilson looks like a solid base. Coud stay at LT-LG, but LT-C and even LG-C possible. Gives the Pats a lot of flexibility depending on who is available in the draft or FA.

 

[manxman2601]

As things stand, I like the position we're in. Not because we don't have needs because clearly we do, but I don't see one glaring hole above all others like last year. I think we're perfectly placed to go BPA whether it be:

EDGE
Safety
Linebacker
Interior OL
Cornerback
Maybe RT - We'll have to see what we have in Marcus Bryant*
Maybe TE - I'm prepared to push this another year if it means we can upgrade defensive talent first.
Maybe WR - Ditto although drafting a mid-rounder wouldn't hurt.

* I wouldn't pass on Spencer Fano because of Marcus Bryant but I might the other OTs in the 1st/2nd who aren't in Fano's class.

 

[mayoclinic]

Agree with you that I would lean towards better player over greater need. Can upgrade talent without being desperate to fill a major need.

Would love to get a teue stud in 1st round, whether EDGE, OL, DB, LB, or TE.

 

[Clonamery]

As things stand, I like the position we're in. Not because we don't have needs because clearly we do, but I don't see one glaring hole above all others like last year. I think we're perfectly placed to go BPA whether it be:

EDGE
Safety
Linebacker
Interior OL
Cornerback
Maybe RT - We'll have to see what we have in Marcus Bryant*
Maybe TE - I'm prepared to push this another year if it means we can upgrade defensive talent first.
Maybe WR - Ditto although drafting a mid-rounder wouldn't hurt.

* I wouldn't pass on Spencer Fano because of Marcus Bryant but I might the other OTs in the 1st/2nd who aren't in Fano's class.

Nodded my head right down the list.

I think the TE class is pretty deep to get one on Day 3 that would be better than the TE/FB we have currently. Be nice to get someone that can watch how 2 professionals go about it for a year.

 

[manxman2601]

Watch the Top 50 Stock Watch section of the below video. He's being polite but Dane Brugler does not sound high on the top 10 part of this draft. Talks about Peter Woods and TJ Parker being "slightly above average" and notes their lack of production and Caleb Downs too. He does praise Keldric Faulk and Reuben Bain as well as Arvell Reese and says the top 2 linebackers drafted could be the Ohio State guys. But yeah, he strikes me as singularly unimpressed by the top of this draft so far and I'm with him there.

Also, Todd McShay calls Arvell Reese "the next great one" in the context of Ohio State linebackers.

 

[The Gr8est]

Watch the Top 50 Stock Watch section of the below video. He's being polite but Dane Brugler does not sound high on the top 10 part of this draft. Talks about Peter Woods and TJ Parker being "slightly above average" and notes their lack of production and Caleb Downs too. He does praise Keldric Faulk and Reuben Bain as well as Arvell Reese and says the top 2 linebackers drafted could be the Ohio State guys. But yeah, he strikes me as singularly unimpressed by the top of this draft so far and I'm with him there.

Also, Todd McShay calls Arvell Reese "the next great one" in the context of Ohio State linebackers.

We aren’t expecting the Pats to pick really high.

I hope the team 2026 draft is as deep as 2025 was.

 

[manxman2601]

We aren’t expecting the Pats to pick really high.

I hope the team 2026 draft is as deep as 2025 was.

I'll feel better about our chances after the Steelers game. One win against possibly the worst team in the league doesn't convince me yet. There were things I like (the DL, Maye and the OL) but I want to see them do well against a better team.

 

[dliverey44]

I'll feel better about our chances after the Steelers game. One win against possibly the worst team in the league doesn't convince me yet. There were things I like (the DL, Maye and the OL) but I want to see them do well against a better team.

I am cautiously optimistic about this team and also want to see them do it against better teams, but our next 2 opponents are not even mid tier (I feel like they are in the same tier as us).

I am not sure when Gonzo will be back, but it occurred to me today that he missed all of training camp. Even if he practices this week, he will need ramp up time to get into football shape. We might not see him until Buffalo and I am alright with that.

 

[manxman2601]

I am cautiously optimistic about this team and also want to see them do it against better teams, but our next 2 opponents are not even mid tier (I feel like they are in the same tier as us).

I am not sure when Gonzo will be back, but it occurred to me today that he missed all of training camp. Even if he practices this week, he will need ramp up time to get into football shape. We might not see him until Buffalo and I am alright with that.

I was just looking at a potential playoff picture and I realised that we actually have a genuine chance. The AFC West have three teams clearly better than us but if we can prove that we can beat the Steelers you do start to wonder who might rival us for that 3rd playoff team. Raiders, Jags and Texans feel like the most likely possibilities. Hardly a murderers row.

It's obviously far too early to make those kind of prognostications but I admit to thinking there was no chance previously. However if we can prove the improvements shown against the Dolphins happened because we are genuinely improving rather than it being a case of "it's the Dolphins. Duh!", then it starts to become more realistic.

The Steelers game is a big one just because it gives us a better idea of where we actually are.

 

[manxman2601]

If we're picking in the mid first range, I am really warming up to Mansoor Delane. Imagine being able to put Gonzo on Brock Bowers all game and not lose much guarding the outside WR.

Arvell Reese is flying up my board too.

 

[mayoclinic]

Definitely yes on Delane.

Not sure Reese will come out, but definitely in the mix if he does. Joe Deleone compares him to a taller Javon Walker.



Reese, Sonny Styles, Anthony Hill and CJ Allen could be the best LB group in some time.

 

[mayoclinic]

IF Reese continues on his current trajectory, and IF he comes out - 2 very big "ifs" - he could potentially move into my Tier 1 group.

 

[manxman2601]

IF Reese continues on his current trajectory, and IF he comes out - 2 very big "ifs" - he could potentially move into my Tier 1 group.

Agreed. Particularly if they use him more as a pass rusher. I don’t know how long his arms are but at 6-4, 243, he could be a hybrid Edge/Lb.

Edit: 32.75 apparently so not ideal for the edge. NM.

 

[mayoclinic]

Not awful. Jalon Walker had 32" arms. Sonny Styles is 33 1/4". We could have another arm-length debate on how important 1/2" is.

Waiting to see what Josh Farmer and Keion White show this season. But a Jalon Walker-like chess piece could add a lot to these defense.