If the New England Patriots roster looks the same on April 23 as it does today, I would all but guarantee that Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf uses one of the team’s 11 picks in the NFL Draft on a wide receiver.
Draft analyst Todd McShay believes that this wide receiver class is among the deepest he’s ever seen, and I agree with him.
When looking at your team’s big board, it’s important to understand that the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. While it would be nice to land a first-round talent at wide receiver, in this draft class in particular, the caliber of receiver that will be available on the third day of the draft is far greater than the caliber of edge rusher that will remain on the board. The same could be said for the offensive lineman in a very thin group.
It seems as though the Patriots' front office knows this, as they have been investing major pre-draft resources into the day three projected wide receivers.
The most intriguing receiver prospect on their radar seems to be Ole Miss speedster De’Zhaun Stribling.
Stribling is a 6-foot-2 burner who brought his talents to Ole Miss for his fifth year in 2025.
He recorded a career high in receptions in his one year with the Rebels, but was incredibly productive in all four of his healthy collegiate seasons.
Stribling showed scouts why he was such an effective deep ball threat at the NFL Combine when he ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at 207 pounds.
According to analyst Ryan Fowler, Stribling has a top-30 visit coming up with New England. Stribling is not the first wide receiver New England has met with, and he will not be the last.
The Patriots have picks 95, 125 and 131, any of which could be used on the playmaker.
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