MORSE: What Will the Patriots Do in the Draft?
Patriots' Draft Strategy: Balancing Needs, Best Available Talent, and the 2026/27 Roster Picture
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What will the Patriots do when it comes to the Draft this week? Will it be Best Player Available, or will they draft for need? Mike Vrabel has made it clear that this draft isn’t a “Need for Need” draft. I somewhat disagree with the philosophy of drafting the best Player Available because this team does not have the depth yet to employ that philosophy.
The team post Free Agency has just replaced players they have lost to Free Agency. They may be better than they were before Free Agency, but that depends on the play from the veterans they have signed and the health of many of their veterans.
Morgan Moses will be 35 years old and played every game last season. It is not reasonable to expect Moses, with a history of injuries, to be able to play an entire season at his advanced age.
Carlton Davis also played every game last season, the 1st time he has played every game in his 8-year career.
Robert Spillane was injured last season and missed 4 games. He turns 31 late in the season.
Alijah Vera-Tucker was a major upgrade at Left Guard in Free Agency, if he can stay healthy. He has missed all of 3 of the last 4 seasons with injuries. Can he be counted on?
Harold Landry was not the same player after his knee injury in week six. He is working diligently to rehab his knee. His contract is guaranteed at $16M for this season and cutting him would have been foolish.
Kayshon Boutte is a free agent after this season.(PHOTO: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
The Patriots have several players that are playing in their Contract Year. This means they will be Unrestricted Free Agents after the 2026 season and questionable if they will be extended or offered a new contract.
WR Kayshon Boutte
WR Demario Douglas
WR Mack Hollins
TE Hunter Henry
S Kevin Byard
OG Michael Onwenu
LB Christian Elliss
OT Morgan Moses
These players are candidates to be cut after the 2026 season because they don’t have any guaranteed money in the final year of their contracts.
CB Carlton Davis
DT Christian Barmore
EDGE Harold Landry
EDGE – This is one of the best drafts in recent history if you need an EDGE player. However, there are no Superstar EDGE players, as each one has some warts or deficiencies. I expect a run on EDGE players through the 2nd round.
Tight End – This may be the largest class of quality TEs I have seen. The Patriots may think about double-dipping at this position. One note, many TEs coming out of colleges are glorified receivers and can’t or aren’t asked to block inline. Those who can do both are at a premium.
Wide Receiver – The receiver class is pretty deep, but again no sure-fire superstars. I am going to assume the Patriots have a deal in place with Philadelphia for AJ Brown (after June 1st). Therefore, I don’t see WR as a high priority.
Offensive Line – There are quite a few Right Tackles and several Guards and Centers. Just so happens that the Patriots are in need of both. There will be quality Right Tackles that will end up as UDFAs.
Safety – A deep draft for Safeties in which several players from Day Three of the draft will make a big impact and be starters in the league.
Linebacker – a few top players, but then a drop-off until Day Three. There is quality deep into the draft.
Running back – This is one of the worst running back classes I can remember
Quarterback – There is only one 1st round QB, and if it were any other year, he might not be a 1st rounder. Some teams may reach for a QB late in the 1st round, or trade back into the later part of the 1st round to take a QB and get the 5th year option on him. The Patriots might be willing to drop down into the high 2nd round and pick up another Draft pick.
Left Tackle – There is no depth in this position. Get one early or risk getting shut out.
Defensive Tackles – There are some road-grading nose tackles, but the depth of the overall position is weak.
On Edge Players – “We could complement our room with some speed, I think that’s evident.” The Patriots like big, fast EDGE players that can hold the edge and rush the passer. They like them 6’3” 255 pounds. Not many of the EDGE players match that description. Some will be better run stuffers and others strictly pass rushers. In Dane Brugler’s top 100 players, the EDGE position had 16 players within the Top 100.
On Linebackers – “Yeah, I think it’s solid,” said Wolf. “I think there’s a lot of players that you could justify using a day 3 pickup.” The Patriots lost Jack Gibbens to Free Agency and released Jahlani Tavai and Marte Mapu. That’s at least three open spots.
Offensive Line – “I think I think it’s a pretty strong draft on the offensive and defensive line.” I tend to disagree with him a bit. Right Tackles, Guards and Centers there are some quality players. Left Tackle not so much.
Quarterback – They will be adding a third (or 4th camp arm) either through the draft, veteran Free Agent or UDFAs after the draft.
For Wolf, however, drafting this year could be more about 2027 than the 2026 season. I don’t see many rookies getting significant playing time like the team did last season. They will sit and learn unless there is a significant injury.
Looking at the draft and comparing it to what the Patriots needs are, I would rank these as my team priorities. This doesn’t mean the team will select players in these positions nor in this order.
EDGE
Right Tackle
Linebacker
Tight End
Offensive Guard
Cornerback
Safety
Punter
Runningback
Swing Tackle
Quarterback
Max Klare TE Ohio State
Keyron Crawford EDGE Auburn
I believe each is trying to hide their inadequate testing numbers. Neither performed at the Combine, and Klare didn’t run at the Ohio State Pro Days. Mike Vrabel has a line into Ohio State, having coached there and being a revered alumnus. He is close to the coaching staff and he would know if Klare is trying to hide something. Could Klare be purposely hiding data and info from scouts to get him drafted by the team he wants to play for?
Crawford has conflicting measurements being reported from his Pro Day. NFL Draft Buzz reported that Crawford ran a 4.8 40, which is pretty bad for an EDGE rusher. This number wasn’t readily available, as I think Crawford is trying to hide this number from the scouts.
Derrick Moore didn’t work out because of a Hamstring injury. Mike Vravel hates soft tissue injuries, and this injury has lingered. This may bump Moore off the Patriots board.
KC Concepcion WR Texas A&M – I don’t care what anyone thinks of him as a prospect, but you have to cheer for him as a human being. He wrote a letter to all 32 NFL GMs and talked about his stuttering problem that he has had since a child. He published this letter in the NFL Players Tribune. He went on to explain his trouble growing up and being picked on, etc. If you have a chance to read it, I think you’ll be in his cheering section no matter which team drafts him.
I will also add that he is the most confident player I have seen in this year’s draft. He thinks he is the best player at his position and that nobody will outwork him. A Letter to NFL GMs by KC Concepcion | The Players’ Tribune
Great news for Patriots fans as Christian Gonzalez was at the first day of offseason workouts. This indicates that Gonzalez and the Patriots are working towards an extension and that talks must be heading in the right direction. Gonzalez has indicated that he wants to be a Team Captain, and his presence at the first workouts is a strong indication of his leadership.
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