Patriots News 04-26, Meet The Patriots’ 2026 Draft Class
Patriots 2026 Draft Review: Analyzing Each Pick and Its Fit for the Future
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Good morning, and a happy Sunday to all. Here is your Patriots news for 04-26, along with this week’s NFL notes.
The Patriots’ 2026 NFL Draft is complete. They’ve made their picks and will now fill out their undrafted roster. Below we have a breakdown of the Patriots’ picks and a brief rundown on each.
The Patriots suffered from the dreaded “Super Bowl Curse” during the draft, when they were picking at the bottom of every round, and the cupboard was nearly bare, similar to the glory years of Brady/Belichick. This forced them to use their 4th round picks to move up in Rounds 1 and 2.
They used three draft picks to move up and take Round 2, edge rusher Gabe Jacas. The lack of 4th-round picks really hurt their ability to find quality mid-round picks and build depth. More of that below.
This time of year, when looking at the NFL Draft and trying to get a feel for whether it was a good one, is always difficult because until those players get on the field, no one truly knows how it will play out.
But let’s take a look at some of the very best drafts in Patriots’ history. Here are a few that really stand out.
1973 Draft:
Chuck Fairbanks was an outstanding talent evaluator, and his drafts with the Patriots were superb, something they were terrible at in their early years. A look at some of the best players taken that year includes:
John Hannah, G, HOF, is considered one of the best OL of all-time.
Sam “Bam” Cunningham, RB, is still the all-time rushing leader in team history.
Darryl Stingley, WR, whose career was cut short by a horrible, cheap shot.
Ray Hamilton, DT, a 14th-round pick who was the anchor on several teams.
1977 Draft:
Fairbanks had a great draft in 1976, drafting future HOF CB Mike Haynes, S Tim Fox, and C Pete Brock, and had an even better one in 1977.
Raymond Clayborn, CB, is tied in career interceptions with Ty Law (36).
Stanley Morgan, WR, belongs in Canton: 19.4 career avg, 534 catches.
Horace Ivory, RB, 11 rushing TDs in 1978, was part of the RB by committee.
Don Hasselbeck, TE, a big 6’7 target who played nine years in the NFL.
1995 Draft:
Bill Parcells got to pick the groceries in 1995 and had a great draft.
Ty Law, CB, became a Hall of Famer and a key piece of the early NE SB teams.
Ted Johnson, LB, a standout linebacker who played 10 years with the Patriots.
Curtis Martin, RB, Outstanding RB in the Hall of Fame.
Jimmy Hitchcock, CB, Defensive back who played 8 seasons
Dave Wohlabaugh, C, OL who anchored the offensive line for four years in NE.
Bill Belichick had some very good drafts, despite the hoopla about “GM Bill, hurting Coach Bill,” and 2010 was arguably his best. And an FYI for the “Bill couldn’t draft” people: between 2000 and 2024, the Patriots were seventh in the NFL, with a hit rate on their draft picks better than 64 percent. And this was despite always picking at the bottom of each round.
Devin McCourty, CB/S, had an outstanding career with the Patriots
Rob Gronkowski, TE, arguably the best to ever play the position
Jermaine Cunningham, DE, starter for several years on Patriots’ defenses
Brandon Spikes, LB, an absolute thumper inside for several years
Aaron Hernandez, TE, outgained Gronkowski in his rookie year, such a waste.
Zoltan Mesko, P, Don’t mess with the Zoltan, a very good punter
Ted Larsen, OL, played 11 seasons in the NFL
Brandon Deaderick, DL, 7th-round pick, who became a part-time starter
So, how will the 2026 Patriots Draft turn out? We’ll check back on this in the future but we usually get a good feel for each draft in about three years. We’ll see how things shake out.
Eliot Wolf: The Patriots have put Wolf out front during the draft after the Vrabel news broke last week, and he’s done a good job at maneuvering around the draft while explaining the reasoning behind each of the picks.
When speaking about 2nd-round pick Gabe Jacas (pronounced ACK-Ess), Wolf’s comments were spot on and reflected what drew the team to him.
“Jacas’ play style is what we’re all about,” Wolf said. “Toughness, determination, grit. He plays a ton of snaps, he really plays hard, he’s super physical … The coaches were ecstatic when we were able to acquire him.”
Deion Branch: It was announced this week that former Patriots WR and Super Bowl Champion Deion Branch would announce the Patriots’ Day 2 pick in accordance with the NFL’s Legends initiative.
Branch tweaked the crowd in Pittsburgh, who booed him and the Patriots loudly. Branch, however, didn’t back down and said, “I expected nothing less from Pittsburgh.”
Patriots No Huddle Podcast: Derek, Mike, and I conducted our latest NFL Draft podcast on our new platform right off the PatsFans.com website. You can always check out our podcasts on our YouTube channel. We’ll have a post-Draft Recap later today at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Please check it out. And be sure to like, share, and leave us a review.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position.
We will continue to display this in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t even in the team’s HOF.
The Patriots had several holes to fill and many needs across the board to continue the success they enjoyed a year ago. The Patriots entered the draft with 11 total picks: # 31, 63, 95, 125, 131, 171, 191, 198, 202, 212, 247.
The biggest needs were edge, a right tackle of the future, swing tackle, wide receiver, tight end, linebacker, secondary, and defensive line depth, and a third running back.
The first round of the draft was the typical frenzy of teams making moves, and per usual, there were a few surprises. The Rams taking QB Ty Simpson at #13 was certainly a surprise, but they identified a future need (not 2026, or perhaps even 2027) and took a quarterback that they can take time to develop.
The reason I mention that is that the Patriots did the same thing with tackle. Their two starters are set for 2026, but they needed a swing tackle this year and a right tackle for the future, whom they can develop. Check, and check.
Let’s break down the newest Patriots’ draft picks.
TRADE — The Patriots Trade Picks #31 and #125 To Buffalo For Pick #28
Round 1, #28, Caleb Lomu, T, Utah:
The Patriots packaged picks #31 and #125 and shipped them to the Bills to move up to #28 to select the 21-year-old Lomu.
Eliot Wolf said the Patriots were surprised that Lomu was still on the board late in Round 1, and that’s why they moved up to get him. “I’m really excited about this player. He’s young, he’s experienced, he’s athletic, he’s a great kid. Frankly, I was a little surprised he was still available, which is why we decided to move up a bit. We’re excited to add him.”
Wolf added that the Patriots feel he has the athletic ability, talent, strength, and upside to play anywhere on the line. “Yeah, I mean, Will [Campbell]’s the left tackle. And as I said, Caleb has some versatility. So, we feel like some of the pro day workouts that he did were on the right side, and we were comfortable with that. But again, he’s very athletic, so I don’t think either side will be a problem for him.
Lomu possesses above-average lateral quickness and good balance. He stays square to pass rushers and is patient against counter moves, while processing things quickly. He’s durable, with 24 straight starts at LT and allowed no sacks in 2025.
But he needs to get stronger in the NFL strength and conditioning program. And he’s not overly aggressive in the run game
While I like the player, I didn’t love the pick. The Patriots felt there was a big drop-off in talent at tackle after Lomu, and they wanted to build for the future. But they spent their first-round pick on a player that they don’t expect to play in 2026. And they drafted for need, which they said they didn’t want to do. However, he does have an intriguing upside.
TRADE — The Patriots Trade Picks #63, #131, To LA And #202 For Pick #55
Round 2, Pick #55, Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois
The Patriots moved up again in Round 2, with edge rushers going off the board; they packaged three picks to move up eight spots for Jacas. In the two trade-up moves, they used both of their 4th-round draft picks, leaving them with none.
He’s a big, 6’3, 260-pound physical, violent edge rusher with a wrestling background, who is uber-aggressive with a relentless non-stop motor. He was voted a team captain in 2025. Lance Zeirlein of NFL.com compared him to Matthew Judon.
He has a fantastic attitude and had a great visit with the Patriots. He was positively influenced by his interaction with LB coach Mike Smith. Jacas was described by his teammates as a “workaholic” and finished his college career # 2 in school history in sacks (27) and # 9 in tackles for loss (35.5).
However, he’s not going to win with speed on the edge, and he’s stiff, without a lot of bend to his game. And despite his size and physicality, he’s only so-so with setting the edge in the running game, as per Dane Brugler in “The Beast”.
He adds depth on the edge behind Harold Landry and DreMont Jones as a rotational pass rusher, along with Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson, and Jesse Luketa. He has the potential to be a three-down player. He’s a very good player, but is he the “right” player?
Landry and Jones are also big, physical guys who win with power and relentless motors. An edge rusher with speed can make the difference between multiple pressures and getting home with sacks.
Round 3, Pick #95, Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame
The Patriots stayed put at pick #95, as they were burning through their depth picks in the middle of the draft. With tight ends disappearing off the board, much like the edge rushers earlier, they took who was there and will try to develop him.
Raridon is a big tight end (6’6, 250) who could still fill out his frame a bit. Injuries were a concern early in his college career (two torn ACLs), but he has upside. Eric Galko, Director of Football Ops – The Shrine Bowl, called Raridon one of the most complete tight ends in the class.
Rairidon has large hands, an enormous catch radius, and has good speed (4.62 in the 40). He had decent production with 32 catches, for 482 yards, but 0 TDs in 2025, with three concentration drops.
He’s a decent, willing blocker, and can play the traditional “Y-Tight End”, the flex or “move” tight end, or operate from the slot. Like Henry, he should be a “QB-friendly” target due to his size, catch radius, and athleticism.
He needs to add some size and strength to his large frame. And it will take time for him to develop, as he’s very inexperienced, with only one year of starts (18 total).
With Hunter Henry in the final year of his contract, the Patriots needed to get younger and more athletic at the position. Raridon will be given the opportunity to assume the mantle of Henry’s production.
The Patriots moved up twice in Day 2 and checked the block for positions that they identified as needing an influx of talent. Those moves left them bereft of selections until Pick #171 in Round 5.
Round 5, Pick #171, Karon Prunty, CB, Wake Forest
Prunty has good size at 6’1, 190 pounds, and tested well at his Pro Day, running a 4.45 40-yard dash, and a decent time in the three-cone drill. The Patriots obviously felt better about Prunty than most pro teams and analysts.
Dane Brugler had him as his 57th-rated corner, and it seems there were other, younger, and better corners to be had. But the Patriots had him in for a Top 30 visit and must have liked what they saw.
“I feel like I impressed them a lot just with my football knowledge, and my IQ, and just seeing if I can retain information and everything like that,” Prunty said. “I feel like I did a good job at everything as well. I feel like the meetings and everything went good. I was confident after I left New England and everything, and now we’re here.”
TRADE — The Patriots Trade Pick #191 To Jacksonville For Picks #196/245
Round 6, Pick # 196, Dametrious Crownover, T, Texas A&M
This one was a head scratcher. The Patriots decided to double-dip at tackle, which depth-wise is fine, but Crownover’s selection is puzzling.
He’s a very big (6’7, 319 pounds, with 35 & ⅜ inch arms) right tackle who, if he sticks, projects to be the swing tackle of the future. There are just too many red flags here to feel really good about this selection.
His pass protection got worse each year he started, not better, and the 2025 tape is a clear step backward from the solid work he put on film the year prior, per NFL Draft Buzz. He allowed 27 total pressures, including 23 hurries in 2025. He was flagged 11 times in 2025, after just three in 2024.
We’ll see what the Patriots can do with him developmentally moving forward. But with BC’s Logan Taylor taken just a half-dozen picks later…this one seems like a big whiff.
TRADE — The Patriots Trade #198 To Minn. For Pick #234 And 2027 6th
Round 6, Pick #212, Namdi Obiazor, LB, TCU
The Patriots finally addressed linebacker in this year’s draft with a 6th-rounder. Obiazor is an older prospect, with good length 6’2 ¾, but is very light at 229 pounds. Which seems like he’s going to be a core special teamer.
He was productive, recording 80+ tackles in three straight years. He tested well, with a solid 9.14 RAS, though he doesn’t move well laterally.
It will be interesting to see how they feel Obiazor will fit the defense.
Round 7, Pick #234, Behren Morton, QB, Texas Tech
Morton was another one of the Patriots’ picks who they had in for a predraft visit. He is known for his leadership and toughness, which led his team to the College Football Playoff in 2025.
Last year, he completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,780 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions, adding 44 yards on scrambles.
Morton is a developmental 3rd QB, camp arm who may or may not make the team. While his processing is a tad slow, if he plays well enough this summer, he could find his way to the practice squad.
Round 7, Pick #245, Jam Miller, RB, Alabama
Miller is a fast, slightly undersized (5’10, 209-pound) running back from Alabama. He ran a nice 4.42 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
Miller has some injury concerns and missed the beginning of the 2025 season due to a collarbone injury. Despite that, he still led the Crimson Tide in rushing, although his yards per carry dropped from 4.6 in 2024 to 3.9 in 2025.
His way to the roster seems to be a STs contributor, at least initially. Lance Zierlein wrote, “Miller has pro-caliber size, but while some runners get what is blocked, Miller didn’t always take what was there for him,” Zierlein said.
“He’s a segmented runner with adequate power but lacks the vision, burst, and decisiveness to rip through creases inside. He’s a hard runner and can get tough yards after contact here and there. He’s not talented enough as a blocker or pass-catcher to play on third downs, so starring on special teams might be required to become an NFL backup.”
Round 7, Pick #247, Quintayvious Hutchins, Edge, Boston College
Hutchins is an undersized edge rusher, 6’3, 233, who was a captain for Bill O’Brien’s Eagles last season. He played in 10 games in 2025 and chipped in with 35 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and an interception.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote that Hutchins has a shot at sticking in the pros.
“He’s undersized but stronger than his measureables might suggest … He should compete for a backup role as a stand-up edge and become a plus contributor on special teams.”
The Patriots and Mike Vrabel got a chance to work him out during BC’s Pro Day, so the team feels like he could contribute.
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That’s the Patriots’ draft class. As the undrafted free agents (UDFA) begin to filter in, we’ll keep everyone in the loop. As for this class, the Patriots checked the block on every position of need that they had identified. So, in that aspect, they improved their depth across the board, definitely.
The big question is whether they drafted difference-makers this year. And we won’t know the answer to that until they get on the field, when the heavy lifting starts.
But unlike a year ago, this draft does not feel anywhere near the homerun that the one last year did. Call it the “Super Bowl Curse” of picking late in the rounds, but it seems like they let some quality players slip through their grasp and hitched their wagon to lesser players.
However, the draft is a very inexact science. Come September, we may be judging this one very differently.
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“Somebody asked me what success looks like, and I said, ‘Yeah, you can judge it by wins and losses during the season, but success for me in the offseason is going to be that the players believe in what we’re doing, and they believe in the message, they believe in the teaching, and they believe in the connections that we’re making.’” — Mike Vrabel
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
Listen to our PatsFans.com Patriots No Huddle podcasts on Apple and YouTube as Derek Havens, Mike D’Abate, and I discuss the latest Patriots news and game analysis.
The Patriots' first two picks in the 2026 NFL Draft were Caleb Lomu, T, Utah (Round 1, #28) and Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois (Round 2, #55). They traded up for both selections.
Eliot Wolf said the Patriots were surprised Lomu was still on the board late in Round 1. They felt there was a big drop-off in talent at tackle after him and wanted to build for the future.
Gabe Jacas is a 6'3, 260-pound physical edge rusher from Illinois with a relentless motor. He was a team captain and finished his college career #2 in school history in sacks (27).
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