Good morning, and a Happy Easter Sunday to all. Here is your Patriots news for 04-05, along with NFL notes this week. This shortened off-season has been flying by. The 2026 NFL Draft will be held April 23–25 in Pittsburgh, PA, across Acrisure Stadium and Point State Park, marking the first time the city has hosted the event since 1948. The 91st edition of the draft will feature 257 picks over seven rounds. A notable change for 2026 is the reduction in first-round selection time, from 10 minutes to 8 minutes. With the draft in mind, it is time for Mock Draft 2.0, where we’ll look at what prospects were available and how the draft board plays out. So, a little further below, we’ll break down this mock draft. Interesting goings on in the NFL, especially with the Jets. They fired 12 of Aaron Glenn’s 22 coaches from last year and are starting fresh…again. We’ve seen this movie before, time and again. Frank Reich as the offensive coordinator is an intriguing hire. Glenn hired Brian Duker as the defensive coordinator, but Glenn will make the calls…But what were they thinking about bringing back Geno Smith this season? They could have traded for Kyler Murray and at least have him as a bridge between now and 2027. Color that move very curious indeed. With Buffalo retooling under a new coaching regime and the Dolphins tearing down their offense in a complete rebuild, the Jets are going to be under a microscope in Glenn’s Year 2.I read that Diego Pavia was “a perfect fit” for the Jets. Back at the NFL Scouting Combine, Pavia mentioned that Johnny Manziel was a mentor to him as he navigated the NFL Draft process. Pavia in New York City, with the sports media there, would be a perfect storm. Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:Stephon Gilmore: Five-time Pro Bowl cornerback and 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore officially announced his retirement on April 2, 2026, at age 35, after 13 NFL seasons. A key member of the Patriots’ Super Bowl LIII winning team, the former All-Pro played for six teams (Bills, Patriots, Panthers, Colts, Cowboys, Vikings), totaling 32 interceptions.Gilmore was such a great, soft-spoken guy. Congratulations, and happy retirement. Mike D’Abate and I had a good chuckle on a rainy practice day in Foxborough as post-practice interviews with Gilmore, Amendola, and Bolden were moved under the stadium ramps. My pic w/Gilmore and Mike. Kirk Cousins: Cousins is headed to Las Vegas as the veteran bridge QB for Fernando Mendoza, until he’s ready to assume the mantle as the team’s starter. The Raiders could have done a lot worse in that regard (see the Jets), and with so many holes, there is no need to rush Mendoza into starting. Officially, Cousins’ deal is a five-year, $172 million contract. But according to Adam Schefter, it is really a one-year, fully guaranteed $20 million deal. The deal also includes a club option for two years at $80 million. Patriots Hall Of Fame Nominees: The Patriots released the 2026 nominees for the team’s Hall of Fame. It starts with tight end Rob Gronkowski, fullback Mosi Tatupu, wide receiver Wes Welker, guard Logan Mankins, defensive tackle Julius Adams, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Lawyer Milloy, and kicker Adam Vinatieri. Vinatieri will get his gold jacket later this year as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. All are worthy; younger fans probably aren’t as familiar with Adams and Tatupu, but they were great players back in the day.Mike Dussault: Speaking about the team Hall of Fame, Deuce has been chosen to join the Patriots Hall of Fame Committee. He posted on the team’s website:“I am honored and energized to join the Patriots Hall of Fame committee. Having long admired the franchise’s rich history and the individuals who helped shape it, I consider this opportunity a tremendous privilege, and I look forward to contributing to the committee’s work with enthusiasm, respect, and a deep appreciation for the legacy of the New England Patriots.”Congrats, Mike, now light a fire under the Senior Committee for 2027 and get Russ Francis and Chuck Fairbanks in the friggin’ Hall. (see below…for several years)John Harbaugh: I was one of several guests on an NFL podcast earlier this week, and a question was posed whether Harbaugh was the right coach for the Giants. The feeling here is that Harbaugh will turn the Giants around. He’ll bring the discipline, physicality, and the right culture back to the G-men. 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 also interviewed Fred Kirsch from Patriots Unfiltered, and we talked about Forged In Foxborough, the draft, and the team heading into 2026. It was a lot of fun catching up with Fred, including him telling a hilarious Russ Francis story.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. This will be displayed 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. Patriots Mock Draft 2.0 Going For A Tackle Of The Future:1-31, Blake Miller, OT, Clemson2-63, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State3-95, Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia4-125, Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama4-131, De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss5-158, Zane Durant, DT, Penn State5-171, Trade To Panthers For #1586-191, Trade To Panthers for #158 6-198, Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma6,202, Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston6-212, Adam Randall, RB, Clemson7-247, Logan Taylor, G, Boston CollegeFor the purposes of this initial mock draft, only one trade was made, but they’ll probably make several moves.So, let’s take a look at each of the players.1-31, Blake Miller, Tackle, Clemson-This goes against what I just said a week ago: drafting a tackle with #31 when they probably won’t plan on playing him in 2026. I still don’t like it, and probably wouldn’t do this if I were Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf, but for the purposes of discussion, and the 1st round tackle talk won’t die (just like the Brown trade), so the Patriots find their RT of the future, and their swing tackle of 2026.That being said, Miller, if he is there at #31, is a very good one. He has 54 starts at right tackle; he’s been a starter since he was a freshman. He has outstanding lateral quickness and moves very well in space.He’ll need to fill out a bit, but his frame, 6’7, 317 pounds, is NFL-ready. He has some small things to work on, footwork, hand usage and core strength. But with him in the fold, tackle depth went from shaky to rock solid. Oh, and BTW, he has long friggin’ arms. 2-63, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State-Dennis-Sutton blew the athletic score at the NFL Scouting Combine out of the water. He scored among the highest ever for a player of his size, 6’6, 256. His last two seasons have been remarkably similar in terms of production: 8.5 sacks, 42 tackles, and 12.5 TFL. He had the same numbers but 13 TFL in 2024 when playing with Abdul Carter. He didn’t seem to miss him much in 2025.He met with the Patriots at both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine.He looks like his athleticism, which wasn’t a big strength at Penn State, has blossomed now that he’s in an NFL Strength and Conditioning Program.He’s a non-stop motor guy, a three-time Academic All-American, and a beast on the edge. His arrow is pointing upward. 3-95, Oscar Delp, TE, Ohio State-Oscar Delp is a 6’5, 245-pound vertical, seam-busting tight end with explosive speed and three-down upside for an NFL offense. He was underutilized as a pass catcher in Georgia, but he has loads of untapped potential. He didn’t test at the Combine after it was learned that he played last year with a hairline fracture of his foot.He is an excellent athlete with good size for the position. Nice hands and is a reliable pass receiver; he has the speed to threaten vertically down the seams.And he’s a versatile player who can play in-line, in the slot, outside, or in the backfieldNFL.com’s draft analyst Lance Zierlein said:“Delp is a fluid athlete with the forward lean, short-area quickness, and pure speed to beat linebackers on intermediate routes. His soft hands and smooth catch skills show up on the move, though his short arms and inconsistent finish through contact limit his reliability. He has enough toughness and technique to help in the run game as he continues to improve his strength. Delp projects as a Day 3 prospect with three-down potential and untapped upside as a pass catcher.”4-125, Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama-Jefferson is a classic modern-day WILL linebacker whose calling card is his ability to run and cover. At 227 pounds with 4.4 speed, he is built more like a big box safety than a traditional downhill thumper. His coverage improvements over his final season at Alabama were significant.He fits as a subpackage coverage linebacker in the nickel, covering tight ends and running backs, and occasionally blitzing off the edge. His athleticism is outstanding, and he’ll contribute on special teams. He’ll be a role player, but a good one.4-131, De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss-Stribling is a good-sized wide receiver at 6’2, 207. He’s made the rounds from Washington State, Oklahoma State, to Ole Miss. He finished as the team’s second-leading receiver with 55 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns across 15 games, including two College Football Playoff games where he produced a combined 199 receiving yards. He’s a legitimate deep threat on the outside.He’s shown constant improvement, and his best football seems to be in front of him. He possesses legitimate 4.36 speed and will get his nose dirty in run blocking.5-158, Zane Durant, DT, Penn State-Lance Zierlein wrote about Durant: “Twitchy 3-technique with rare short-area quickness. Durant’s disruptive potential is maximized in slanting/twisting schemes, where he can use his lateral quickness to beat zone blocks, slip into gaps, and track down screens. His rush moves need to be sharpened and refined to give him the best chance of becoming a rotational, sub-package 3-technique in a gaming front. He’s undersized but an intriguing later-round developmental pick.His tape never matched his athleticism testing, but in the right fit as a subpackage interior rusher, he could find a home in Foxborough.6-198, Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Oklahoma-Spears-Jennings is a slot/nickel safety with rare athleticism and speed for a safety. He’s 6’2, 207, and plays with a mean streak in run support. He ran a 4.32 in the 40, and that will show up on STs.He projects as a backup slot/nickel safety who can bring the lumber, but is a developmental guy defensively. He’ll have to earn a roster spot on special teams first. 6-202, Tanner Koziol, TE, Houston-Koziol has outstanding length at 6’6, 247, and was very productive in his senior season at Houston with 74 catches, 727 yards, and six touchdowns.He’s a slot or a move tight end who doesn’t offer much in the blocking department, but his length, catch radius, and soft hands make him a really good developmental pass-receiving tight end.6-212, Adam Randall, RB, Clemson-Clemson’s Adam Randall is a 6’3, 232-pound running back who transitioned from wide receiver. Randall is viewed as a high-upside developmental prospect with rare size-speed traits for his new position.The Patriots already had Randall in for a Top 30 visit. He recorded a 4.50 time in the 40, and a 37-inch vertical leap at the 2026 Scouting Combine. He has experience as a kickoff returner, averaging 23.7 yards per return.In 2025, he rushed for 814 yards and 10 TDs while catching 36 passes for 254 yards and three more scores. Generated over 500 yards after contact in 2025, showing the ability to churn through traffic and drag tacklers for extra yardage on a consistent basis.He is an ultra-high-character player, voted a permanent team captain; however, his pass protection is an area in dire need of improvement. With Lan Larison coming off of IR this season, Randal could compete for that 3rd running back slot on the team.7-247, Logan Taylor, Guard, Boston College-Taylor makes the short drive from Chestnut Hill and Bill O’Brien’s offense to work with Mike Vrabel and the Patriots. Taylor is uber-versatile and has played every offensive line position except center. He projects as a guard in the NFL but could play RT in a pinch. He’s got good size at 6’7, 314, and is a four-year starter and projects to be a valuable backup offensive lineman who’ll answer the call wherever the team needs him. _______________“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 VrabelFollow 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.
ð Questions Answered in This ArticleWhere will the 2026 NFL Draft be held?The 2026 NFL Draft will be held April 23–25 in Pittsburgh, PA, across Acrisure Stadium and Point State Park. It marks the first time the city has hosted the event since 1948.Who was the Patriots' first-round pick in Mock Draft 2.0?In Mock Draft 2.0, the Patriots' first-round pick at 1-31 was Blake Miller, an offensive tackle from Clemson. He is envisioned as the team's right tackle of the future and swing tackle for 2026.Which notable NFL player announced his retirement on April 2, 2026?Five-time Pro Bowl cornerback and 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore officially announced his retirement on April 2, 2026, at age 35, after 13 NFL seasons. He was a key member of the Patriots' Super Bowl LIII winning team.Like this article?Support Steve and buy him a coffee.
About Steve BalestrieriA former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)View all posts by Steve Balestrieri
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