The Patriots enter another draft cycle where it's possible that they'll select a wide receiver to add to QB Drake Maye's supporting cast.
Removing the A.J. Brown-of-it-all for a moment, New England is returning the same wide receiver room with Romeo Doubs sliding into a high-volume role left behind by Stefon Diggs. Doubs is a savvy chain-mover whose inside-outside versatility should fit nicely into Josh McDaniels's offense. That said, there are several intriguing first-round and day-two targets for the Patriots.
This draft season, I felt myself gravitating toward more size and speed on the outside, giving Maye a legitimate field-stretcher who could stack outside corners and win Maye's perfectly thrown deep balls at the catch point. Maye's efficiency targeting receivers in that mold, like Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins, was off the charts last season, so why not add a similar receiver? I still have my eye on a few quick-twitch separators, which are usually more my cup of tea, but Maye's comfort level throwing to bigger downfield targets cannot be ignored.
With that in mind, here are my rankings of this year's wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft.
_Note: I base pro comparisons on playing style. When you watch this guy play, who does he remind you of and why? Don't look at them as setting expectations for career production._
**Tier One - The Pipe Dream Who Might be Sliding During the Pre-Draft Process**
_This tier can be easily summed up by this: he's Batman. You can build a passing offense around this player; usually a projected top-20 pick._
1\. Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State (6-2, 203)
_Consensus Rank: 14th, Pro Comparison: Amari Cooper_
Tyson is having a complicated pre-draft process that could see a top-15 talent slide into a realistic range for the Patriots due to nagging injuries throughout his career at Arizona State. Tyson missed games in all four seasons in college, including injuring both hamstrings this past season, which has held him out of the pre-draft process. His durability concerns could give some teams pause, including the Patriots.
That said, Tyson runs routes like a much smaller receiver inside his 6-2, 203-pound frame. He is excellent at setting up corners early in the route and has high-end separation quickness that allows him to uncover. He can also play all over the formation to create mismatches, flashes great ball skills and a willingness to fight off defenders at the catch point, and has elite body control and late hands to adjust to throws off his frame. You wish there was a little more long speed and play strength to his game, but Tyson has WR1 potential.
**Tier Two - Realistic First Round Targets for the Patriots (and 'My Guy' at WR)**
_A tier two receiver could be Batman, but is best cast as a high-end Robin. These are projected first-round or early second-round picks._
2\. Denzel Boston, Washington (6-4, 212)
_Consensus Rank: 30th, Pro Comparison: Courtland Sutton_
Boston skipped the 40-yard dash amidst concerns about his top-end speed. However, the Washington product is a legit man-coverage beater due to his ability to gain favorable body positioning early in his routes and then finish as one of the best hands catchers in this class. Boston only had an 18% career contested target rate, the eighth-lowest among 23 draft-eligible receivers, suggesting he does create separation while posting an impressive 61.1% contested catch rate. He has great body control and strong hands to be thrown open by accurate downfield passers like Maye. Boston is also a double-move artist on stutter-and-go or post-corner, and a mismatch out of bunches/stacks, condensed splits, or as a big slot.