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NE
New England Patriots
Draft Needs
| Priority | Position | Level | Target Round | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | DT | HIGH | Round 2 | Interior pass rush needs bolstering to complement edge improvement |
| 1 | OL | CRITICAL | Round 2 | Drake Maye sacked 6 times in Super Bowl; center Garrett Bradbury traded to CHI; offensive line is top draft priority |
| 2 | EDGE | CRITICAL | Round 1 | Patriots ranked 19th in pass rush win rate; edge rusher co-top priority heading into draft |
| 3 | WR | HIGH | Round 2 | Stefon Diggs released; signed Romeo Doubs as replacement but elite talent behind Maye remains thin |
| 5 | TE | MEDIUM | Round 3 | TE depth and starter quality identified as positional need; supporting cast around Maye still being built |
| 6 | S | LOW | Round 4 | Signed Kevin Byard short-term but long-term starter at safety still needed |
Draft Strategy
Balanced Approach
This team takes a balanced approach, weighing both player value and team needs. They will take the best player available when the value is clear, but will also factor in positional need when players are similarly rated.
Team Info
New England
City
Patriots
Nickname
AFC
Conference
East
Division
2026 Draft Picks
11
Total Picks
1
Round 1
3
Top 3 Rounds
0
Compensatory
| Round | Pick | Overall | Type | Original Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rd 1 | 31 | #31 | OWN | - |
| Rd 2 | 63 | #63 | OWN | - |
| Rd 3 | 95 | #95 | OWN | - |
| Rd 4 | 125 | #125 | TRADE | CHI |
| Rd 4 | 131 | #131 | OWN | - |
| Rd 5 | 171 | #171 | OWN | - |
| Rd 6 | 191 | #191 | TRADE | KC |
| Rd 6 | 198 | #198 | TRADE | MIN |
| Rd 6 | 202 | #202 | TRADE | PIT |
| Rd 6 | 212 | #212 | OWN | - |
| Rd 7 | 247 | #247 | OWN | - |
Needs Summary
4
DT
HIGH
1
OL
CRITICAL
2
EDGE
CRITICAL
3
WR
HIGH
5
TE
MEDIUM
6
S
LOW
2026 Offseason Moves
+ Additions
Alijah Vera-Tucker
OG
FREE AGENCY
from NYJ
$14.0M/yr
3yr
Braxton Jones
OT
FREE AGENCY
$10.0M/yr
1yr
Dre'Mont Jones
DT
FREE AGENCY
from BAL
$13.2M/yr
3yr
Julian Hill
TE
FREE AGENCY
Terms not reported
Kevin Byard
S
FREE AGENCY
$9.0M/yr
1yr
Reggie Gilliam
FB
FREE AGENCY
from BUF
$4.0M/yr
3yr
Romeo Doubs
WR
FREE AGENCY
from GB
$17.5M/yr
4yr
− Losses
Austin Hooper
TE
FREE AGENCY
Unrestricted free agent
Garrett Bradbury
C
TRADE
to CHI
Traded to Bears; received 2027 5th-round pick
Jaylinn Hawkins
S
FREE AGENCY
to BAL
UFA; signed with Ravens
Khyiris Tonga
DT
FREE AGENCY
to KC
UFA; signed with Chiefs 3yr/$21M
K'Lavon Chaisson
DE
FREE AGENCY
Unrestricted free agent
Stefon Diggs
WR
RELEASE
Released after 1 season; base salary rose to $20.6M in 2026; net savings ~$15.8M
Vederian Lowe
OT
FREE AGENCY
Unrestricted free agent