It's the most wonderful time of the year!
The New England Patriots are putting the finishing touches on their preparation for the 2026 NFL Draft, which means it is time for us to start tossing some predictions out there in hopes to get at least a few right so we can brag about how smart we are over the coming months -- or something like that.
NESN is giving us five tries at getting this thing right, with our stories dropping on March 23, March 30, April 6, April 13, and April 20. I'll set out new rules for each crack at it, with the next edition of our little series coming under these restrictions: make at least three trades and secure more picks in the middle rounds.
Let's go!
2026 NFL Draft (Mock 3.0)
๐จ 2026 MOCK DRAFT 3.0 ๐จ
I've been pretty enamored by the middle tier of this draft class, so this was a test run to see just how many of "my guys" we can get on the #Patriots. pic.twitter.com/LdK5O5mbPk
โ Keagan Stiefel (@KeaganStiefel) April 6, 2026
TRADE! (CIN receives No. 31; NE receives No. 41 and 72)
No. 41: EDGE Gabe Jacas (Illinois)
Jacas isn't going to provide the same kind of juice as Oklahoma's R Mason Thomas or Texas A&M's Cashius Howell -- both of whom were available with the original pick -- but he could end up being just as productive and undoubtedly provides better value.
The Patriots don't need someone who is going to help improve the pass-rush, they need someone who is going to help improve the pass-rush while also playing on early downs. It's a no-brainer if he falls this far...
No. 63: TE Max Klare (Ohio State)
Klare doesn't have the athletic upside as guys like Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq or Notre Dame's Eli Raridon, the floor of can't-miss options like Texas' Jack Endries or Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers, or the versatility of NC State's Justin Joly or Georgia's Oscar Delp, but he's a damn good player!
New England needs the kind of guy who can immediately compete for reps with Julian Hill while also serving as a long-term option to replace Hunter Henry. Klare can do just that, folks.
No. 72: LB Kyle Louis (Pittsburgh)
Louis is a double-dip from our first go 'round, so go check that out to see why we're so enamored by him.
The shark keeps impressing ๐ฆ๐ผ @K_009r
Kyle Louis showed out all week at the @seniorbowl!
More: https://t.co/gTFIOAR9xl pic.twitter.com/PRWPyqqdB4
โ Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) February 9, 2026
No. 95: IOL Jake Slaughter (Florida)
Slaughter's value won't be there given the position he plays, but he has been one of the very best options along the interior offensive line for years now. The Patriots would be wise to add a starting-caliber option to protect themselves from potential injury to Alijah Vera-Tucker or trouble with the position switch from Jared Wilson.
TRADE! (DEN receives No. 131, 191, and 212; NE receives No. 108)
No. 108: RB Emmett Johnson (Nebraska)
Oh?!
Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson are both under contract for the next three seasons, so call me crazy, but there isn't anything to look forward to in that room behind them -- so why not draft someone who could at least be a viable third option while also potentially earning some snaps as the primary backup?
No. 125: OT Markel Bell (Miami)
Bell is someone who could immediately step in and replace right tackle Morgan Moses. I've been higher on drafting his replacement than some others, but doing that would help answer one of the many questions that you are currently facing along the offensive line.
No. 171: EDGE Nadame Tucker (Western Michigan)
Tucker is our first double-dip in this iteration of the series, as we add some more pass-rush help in the form of one of the most productive players in college football. Tucker led the entire country with 21.0 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in 2025, and although he will have to prove that he can stay healthy there is value in adding a proven producer in the fifth round.
Nadame Tucker was named the Vern Smith Leadership Award winner & Defensive Player of the Year after finishing the regular season as the MACโs sack (12.0) and tackles for loss leader (22.0). @WMU_Football | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/N1N5ZTQfbh
โ MACtion (@MACSports) December 4, 2025
TRADE! (DET receives No. 198, 247, and 2027 7th; NE receives No. 181)
No. 181: DL Landon Robinson (Navy)
Robinson's entry on the "2025 Freak's List" kind of explains this selection:
"A three-time Freaks List guy, Robinson, who arrived at the Academy at 240 pounds, is up to 286. Heโs a stud," The Athletic's Bruce Feldman wrote. "Robinson made First-Team All-AAC in 2024 after posting 61 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, seven QB hurries and two forced fumbles. His best game came on the biggest stage when he led Navy to a huge win against arch-rival No. 19 Army, making a career-high 13 tackles that included a forced fumble. He also took a fake punt 29 yards on a fourth-and-5 in the fourth quarter. In his career, heโs had three rushing attempts for a total of 87 yards โ a cool 29-yard per carry average with the runs of 24, 34 and 29 yards. This offseason, he bench pressed 465 pounds (up from 450), squatted 665 (up 15 pounds) and power cleaned 350. He vertical jumps 33 inches and hit 20.13 mph on the GPS."
No. 202: QB Sawyer Robertson (Baylor)
The Patriots will be adding another quarterback, per Mike Vrabel. Robertson had a pre-draft meeting with the club, so this one makes sense.
Summary
The 2026 NFL Draft will be won in the middle rounds, so it makes sense to attack that area by stockpiling picks before drafting positions of need. New England obviously has plenty to address, but you have to play the entire field and not just your board.
How do you think we did? Let me know on X!
More NFL: 2026 NFL Draft Preview: Profiling Most Interesting Players In Class