The Draft is quickly coming upon us and is just two weeks away. The Patriots held their Local Pro Day this week while also completing their “30 Visits” to Gillette. Over the next two weeks, they will be finishing up with last-minute interviews and workouts with players at the players’ facilities, as well as putting the finishing touches on the approximately 200-player Draft Board. The most famous of those last-minute workouts was sending Dante Scarnecchia to work out Colorado’s Nate Solder the day before the draft. Nobody was to know the Patriots were interested in Solder. Eliot Wolf and Ryan Cowden will be fielding and making calls to other GMs, gauging their interest in making hypothetical trades, and establishing what it would take to make those trades if a certain player were available.No Need for Need Draft Mike Vrabel stated at the league meetings this past week that drafting for need is the worst draft strategy of all. Don’t be surprised at anything the Patriots do on Draft Day in 14 days. With that said, the Patriots are not yet in the position to be drafting the Best Player Available. They lack depth, especially at Linebacker, and at nearly every position except Defensive Tackle.This draft was performed with Pro Football Network’s Mock Simulator and a random draft board that I was unfamiliar with. I am biased toward Max Iheanachor, who I think will last until pick 31, because he is not ready to start as a rookie. I also trade up to ensure I get an Edge rusher. I feel those two positions will have big runs on talented players early. There are only 5 Tackles worth taking, and if the Patriots don’t trade up in the 2nd round, they could get shut out of the Edge rusher market.R1 Pick 31 #31 overall Max Iheanachor OT Arizona State I have been on Iheanchor since I first saw him at the East-West Shrine game. He played Soccer and Basketball in High School and is still new to the game, having just started playing 5 years ago in Junior College. He will get a year behind Morgan Moses and learn what it takes to become a Pro. He is just too good a prospect with a high ceiling to pass on him. He ran a 4.91 40 (2), 1.73 10/Split (4), at 6’6”, 321-pounds, with 33 7/8” Arms. His Relative Athletic Score (RAS) was 9.87. His footwork was impeccable in drills, which reflected his Soccer and Basketball skills required by those other sports. He has jumped all the way into the 1st round in the draft rankings. The Miami trade of Jaylen Waddle puts Iheanchor in jeopardy right before the Patriots’ selection, but Iheanchor is not a day-one, plug-and-play starter.TRADE – Patriots trade Picks 2nd #63 and 3rd #95 to Detroit Lions for 2nd #50 and 5th #157.R2 Pick 18 #50 overall Malachi Lawrence EDGE UCFI don’t think Lawrence will last until pick #63, so I trade up to get the player I think will be the best pass rusher in this draft. The Patriots want their EDGE players taller than 6’2” and 250 lbs. Lawrence is 6’ 4’’, 253 lbs, 33 5/8’’ Arm Length, and 9 1/4’’ Hands. He ran a 4.52 40-yard dash (3). He also had a 1.59 10/Split (2), 40” Vertical Jump (2), and 10’10” Broad Jump (2). He is a freak athlete with a 9.9 RAS. These are the Positives NFL Draft Buzz had to say about Lawrence:
Deep rush plan with chops, swipes, rips, and inside counters that keep tackles guessing.
Hands work quickly to disengage and create secondary rush opportunities when initial moves stall.
Natural hip flexibility lets him flatten his angle around the edge without losing speed.
Explosive first step and closing burst create immediate pressure off the snap.
Relentless effort in pursuit; chases quarterbacks out of the pocket and finishes on scrambles.
Good length creates problems for tackles trying to get their hands on him early.
Combine testing confirmed rare explosiveness for the position across every measurable.
R4 Pick 25#125 overall Dallen Bentley TE UtahThe 6’4” 264-pound TE ran a 4.62 40-yard Dash at the Combine. Bentley had to wait his turn to play and broke out in a big way as a Senior. He started 12 of 13 games, caught 48 passes for 620 yards and six touchdowns, ranked seventh among all tight ends nationally in receiving yards, and was named a John Mackey Award semifinalist and All-Big 12 Third Team. This is what NFL Draft Buzz said about Bentley.
Thick, well-built frame at 264 pounds with above-average weight for the position, giving him a natural advantage in absorbing contact through his routes and after the catch.
Outstanding ball security and concentration at the catch point; recorded zero drops on 76 targets in 2025, which is borderline ridiculous reliability for any pass catcher.
Flashes real body control and flexibility, adjusting to off-target throws, going up to high-point the football, and playing bigger than his 6’4″ frame would suggest.
Genuine versatility in his alignment, logging meaningful snaps inline, from the slot, and out wide, with experience in pre-snap motion and H-back looks that give coordinators options.
Solid receiving production across all three levels of the field, with his best work coming on intermediate routes where he finds soft spots in zone coverage and sits down with good timing.
Lower-body strength and contact balance stand out on film; he absorbs hits through his routes without losing his feet and picks up extra yardage with physicality after the catch, forcing ten missed tackles in 2025.
Shows craft in his route running with an effort to sell stems, work in head fakes, and get low at his breaks, giving him more nuance than his build would suggest.
Near-flawless pass protection efficiency in 2025, allowing just one total pressure on 47 pass blocking snaps while also keeping his man clean on the vast majority of his reps.
I particularly like his pass protection efficiency too, something Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper were very bad at doing in 2025.R4 Pick 31 # 131 overall Devon Marshall CB North Carolina State They take the local kid from Boston who played for Catholic Memorial. Marshal is 5’10”, 197-pounds runs a 4.62 40, and doesn’t test well in any of the categories. However, he is always around the ball as evident of his College Football leading 16 Pass Breakups in 2025. He just has a knack for swatting the ball away. Marshall will get handsy at times and will get called for holding and/or Pass Interference, but that is his style to make up for lack of speed.This is what Pro Football Network had to say about Marshall “Devon Marshall was one of the most productive cornerbacks in 2025 and presents as a potential mid-round steal at the CB position in the 2026 NFL Draft. After playing his first two seasons at Villanova and accruing both special teams and defensive experience, Marshall transferred to NC State in 2024. He started five games as a junior, then served as a full-time starter in 2025, racking up two interceptions and an FBS-leading 16 pass deflections.A pesky on-ball playmaker, Marshall’s production earned him an East-West Shrine Bowl invite, where he thrived in 1-on-1s. At around 5’10”, 197 pounds, with under 31″ arms, Marshall is undersized, but he has good mass for his frame, and he’s a reasonably explosive, fluid, and twitched-up mover with enough long speed to contend vertical and crowd WRs in recovery. He can match, redirect, and keep close depth in press-man, and also flashes great spatial reasoning and 2-on-1 awareness in zone.With aggressive attack tendencies, Marshall can improve at keeping discipline against double-moves, his reaction speed can be a tick faster at times, and he can improve his timing with jams in press. And despite his catch-point production, he can improve at getting his head around and tracking passes consistently in trail. But ultimately, Marshall is a good size-adjusted athlete with sticky coverage mobility, size-defying support chops, schematic versatility, and a clear penchant for playmaking.He’s a strong rotational add to any CB room right away, with mid-level starting upside.”R5 Pick 17 #157 overall Jaishawn Barham EDGE Michigan Barham stands 6’4” 240-pounds and runs a 4.64 40-yard dash.This is a player that I know very little about because I have never drafted him in any of the hundreds of Mock Drafts I have done. Started as a True Freshman at Linebacker at Maryland and received Big Ten Honorable mention both years at Maryland before transferring to Michigan. Started at Linebacker in 2024 and was switched by the coaching staff to edge for the majority of his snaps, and he responded with 32 tackles, 10.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, and 21 pressures across 12 games. He earned All-Big Ten honorable mention and was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection at Michigan. Has some difficulty in pass coverage. I like him as a hybrid Linebacker / EDGE.
Elite run defender who ranked second among Power Four edge rushers in run defense grading.
Violent hands at the point of attack; stacks and sheds blocks with authority.
Quick first three steps off the snap create immediate pressure as a rusher.
Good bend and ankle flexibility to flatten around the arc against slower tackles.
Versatility to align at inside linebacker, stand-up OLB, or hand-down edge.
Processes screens and misdirection well; recognizes blocking schemes pre-snap.
Tested with above-average speed for his size at the Combine.
Plays with intensity and aggression on every rep; effort is never a question.
Could be moved back to Linebacker, seeing the need exists after the Marte Mapu trade.R5 Pick 31#171 overall Eli Heidenreich RB/WR NAVYHe is listed as a FB in the NAVY Wing T offense. His position versatility as an emergency RB / Slot Receiver/ Kickoff Returner is what makes him valuable. What he is good at is catching the ball. The former WR turned back ran an incredible 4.44 40 time at the combine. This week at his Pro Day he ran a totally unbelievable 6.55 3-cone drill. Julian Edelman was one of the quickest Patriots ever and he ran a very good 6.65 3-cone drill. Heidenriech finished his career with 109 receptions for 1,994 yards and 16 receiving touchdowns, plus 169 carries for 1,157 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He was selected as Second-Team All-AAC wide receiver. Heidenreich’s RAS was 9.12, 4th highest from the Runningbacks group at the combine.This is what NFL Draft Scout said about Heidenreich: “Tracks the deep ball with outstanding body control, adjusting mid-stride to pull in throws over his shoulder like a natural receiver despite playing the ‘snipe’ position. Averaged over 18 yards per catch across his entire college career, and that number holds up whether you watch the tape against Tulsa or against Notre Dame. Compact, powerful frame plays bigger than his listed size; consistently falls forward on carries and absorbs contact from bigger defenders without going down easily. Genuine dual-threat ability is not a gimmick here. He carried the ball nearly 170 times in college and averaged 6.8 yards per attempt with a decisive, north-south running style. Creates separation on crossing routes with quick feet and an understanding of leverage that belies his limited route tree; defenders struggle to stay attached when he changes direction. Willing and tough as a lead blocker in Navy’s Wing-T scheme, sticking his face into defensive linemen without hesitation despite giving up significant weight in those matchups. Ball security is outstanding: just one fumble across 1,138 offensive snaps over three seasons, and his drop rate stayed remarkably low throughout his career. The intangible makeup is off the charts. A team captain, Naval Academy graduate, and future Marine officer who delivered in the biggest moments, including that fourth-and-goal catch against Army.” Most of his runs were between the Tackles.R6 Pick 10#191 overall Jeremiah Wright OG AuburnWright Stands 6’5” 331-pounds and ran a 5.4 40-yard dash. That will be the last time he runs a 40-yard dash. He is insurance against Mike Onwenu walking away in Free Agency next season. He is built exactly like Onwenu. A torn ACL wiped out his entire 2021 season. He bounced between the defensive and offensive lines again before finally settling on the O-line in 2022, working as a backup left guard with his first start coming at Ole Miss. Through it all, Wright earned his degree in liberal arts in August 2024, made the SEC Academic Honor Roll multiple times, and was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list for his community service.The last two seasons is where Wright made his mark. He locked down the starting right guard spot in 2024 and never let go, stringing together 24 consecutive starts across the 2024 and 2025 campaigns. In his final season, he led Auburn’s offensive line with 33 knockdown blocks, earned a grade of 90 percent or higher in five individual games, and served as a game captain against Missouri and Arkansas. By the time he declared for the 2026 NFL Draft following his sixth year on the Plains, Wright had appeared in 53 games and survived three different coaching staffs. He became a father in July 2025 with the birth of Jeremiah Wright Jr.This is what NFL Draft Buzz listed as his positives:
Absolutely enormous frame at 348 pounds with thick lower half and long arms that allow him to swallow up defenders at the point of attack.
Generates serious pop on first contact; when he gets his hands inside and fires his hips, bodies move backwards whether they want to or not.
Physical, chippy temperament that never turns off. Loves finishing blocks into the turf and will stand over a defender after pancaking him.
Effective on double-team feeds and down blocks where his raw mass and square power let him uproot nose tackles and create push at the line.
Showed real improvement in his pass sets during 2024, keeping a patient base and working inside-out to wall off rushers and lengthen their path.
Possesses the ankle flexibility to drop his hips and set a sudden anchor when bull rushers try to walk him into the quarterback’s lap.
Durable iron man who started every snap across two full seasons despite the physical toll of SEC trench warfare, including a comeback from a torn ACL.
Mature, team-first character with a college degree, community service recognition, and the kind of locker room presence coaches trust to name as a game captain.
R6 Pick 17 #198 overall Wydett Williams S MississippiWydett Williams is a potential Day 3 gem in the 2026 NFL Draft, with a strong production profile. He began his career at Delta State, where he played two seasons before transferring to UL Monroe in 2024. In one year with the Warhawks, Williams amassed 99 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack, three interceptions, and four pass breakups.Along the way, he earned the interest of Ole Miss, and in one year with the Rebels, he made similar headway. In 2025, Williams accrued 73 tackles, three INTs, and 10 PBUs, and took home the third-highest PFSN Safety Impact score among all FBS safeties, with an elite figure of 93.4, as well as a forced incompletion percentage of 23.4%. At 6’1 3/8″ and 200 pounds, with near-32″ arms, Williams has good size, but also visible athletic confinements.While he has an above-average athletic floor, Williams isn’t overly explosive, nor does he have great long speed. He’s quick, twitched-up, and swift to coil and recover hip alignments, and he has good baseline fluidity, but the chief elevator of Williams’ game isn’t his athleticism, but his elite processing profile. Williams’ reaction speed and urgency aid in maximizing his play pace in both phases.In coverage, he’s elite at managing space between route concepts in two-high, and has the reactive athleticism and in-the-moment adaptability to maintain hip leverage and proper positioning. Meanwhile, in support, while he can be inconsistent converting as a tackler, he’s fast-to-trigger, angle-sound, and tenacious engaging blocks. Williams’ measured athletic limitations likely confine him to a pure split-field safety role, without nickel versatility.But in his role, Williams has immediate rotational appeal and could become a quality starter in a scheme that adheres to his best qualitiesR6 Pick 21 #202 overall Owen Heinecke LB OklahomaHeinecke got screwed by the NCAA when they denied him his last year of eligibility because he played 3 Lacrosse games at Ohio State as a freshman. The 6’2”, 227-pound backer ran a 4.62 40-yard dash. He was good enough to get an invite to the NFL Draft Combine.Heinecke spent 2023 and 2024 on special teams and reserve linebacker duty across 26 games before earning a starting role over the final five of 2025. Once on the field, production came fast: 74 tackles, 12.0 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, four pass breakups, and a forced fumble. Heinecke received All-SEC 2nd Team honors in 2025 despite starting just 5 games.This is what NFL Draft Buzz said about Heinecke:
Spools up fast in pursuit and tops 20 MPH tracking ball carriers sideline to sideline.
Sack-fumble at Tennessee showed his ability to time the snap and win clean off the edge.
Avoids blockers with lateral quickness rather than trying to power through them.
Converts tackles for loss at a high rate when pointed downhill in gap-shoot assignments.
Lacrosse footwork translates to fluid movement in short-area changes of direction.
Explodes through contact with hip pop and wrap technique on his best reps.
Four-phase special teams value is obvious on tape; runs through blockers on coverage units.
Plays with a nasty streak that forces opponents to account for him every snap
Heinecke is a player that was just coming into his own, as a walk-on to eventual starter, and the arrow is pointing upwards for him. He will be an immediate contributor on Special Teams. His lack of starts and not getting playing time until his final season is why Heinecke is available so late in the draft.Heinecke has sued the NCAA for denying him his final year of eligibility and the hearing is scheduled for April 16th. Oklahoma Spring Game is April 18th and the NFL Draft is on the 23rd.R6 Pick 31#212overall Bryce Boettcher LB OregonThe 6’1” 233-pound Linebacker runs 4.68 40-yard dash. He is a terrific athlete playing on the Oregon baseball team and was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2024. He has yet to play in minor league baseball. This may drop him in the draft with the uncertainty if he will play football or baseball. Boettcher is a converted Safety and his good pass coverage skills were on full display at the Senior Bowl. In the game itself he was the leading tackler with 10 Tackles. He also won the Burlsworth Trophy as the nation’s top walk-on player. If you haven’t seen the movie “Greater”, I recommend that you do. It’s about Brandon Burlsworth who the award is named after.Boettcher chose football over the minors and became Oregon’s defensive leader. He posted 94 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, and 2.0 sacks in 2024. He followed that up with a terrific year in 2025, tallying 104 tackles and another interception while again receiving second-team All Big-Ten conference recognition. Across those two seasons, Oregon went 26-3 with Boettcher calling the defense.
Good coverage instincts for a linebacker; tightens throwing windows in zone and tracks the ball well downfield.
Baseball background gives him natural ball-tracking skills and soft hands when contesting passes.
Consistent tackler who wraps up and brings his feet; missed tackle rate stayed around 9-10% as a full-time starter.
Communicates well pre-snap and owns the green dot role; gets teammates aligned and sorted before the ball is snapped.
Moves fluidly laterally and can mirror running backs in the hole before committing.
Willing to shoot gaps and play downhill when he reads run; not hesitant despite his size.
Five-phase special teams contributor with the effort and awareness to fill multiple coverage and return units.
Competitive makeup stands out on film; walk-on chip still shows in how hard he plays through the whistle.
I have seen Boettcher go as high as the 4th round, and he may be dropping because he has the option of playing Baseball. If the Patriots can get him late, they just might have hit a home run with his selection.R7 Pick 31 #247 overall Uar Bernard ATH International Pathways Program (Nigeria)Bernard has never played a real game of American Football. But at pick #247, it’s worth the gamble to take a shot in the dark on a freak athlete that could possibly turn into an above-average NFL player. Bernard came to the US through the International Pathways Program from Nigeria, where he was seen playing basketball. He has been training in Florida since December with the IPP group, running drills and learning techniques to play in the league. Bruce Feldman, who generates the “Freaks List” of college athletes, wrote this about Bernard for The Athletic: “Jordan Luallen trained some of the most freakish athletes at the 2026 NFL combine: A 245-pound edge rusher who vertical-jumped 41 inches, a jumbo wide receiver who ran a 4.3 40, and a 293-pound defensive tackle who ran 4.8. But Luallen told The Athletic he’s never seen an athlete like the one he’s been training for the past 10 weeks for this year’s NFL draft.”Feldman went on to say, “Uar Bernard (pronounced “ooh-are”) measured in earlier this week at the NFL’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) showcase at 6-4 1/2, 306 pounds with 11-inch hands and almost 36-inch arms. Other people who have spent their lifetimes in football say Bernard looks like a Marvel creation. Bernard’s body fat: 6 percent. He vertical-jumped 39 inches and broad-jumped 10-10, which was 14 inches more than any other defensive tackle did at this year’s combine. His 40-yard dash: 4.63.” Bernard reminded me of former Patriot and Steeler James Harrison, except much bigger. It’s their last pick in the draft and they have already taken 10 players, take a shot, it just might pay off.UDFAs AvailableThere are plenty of UDFAs that didn’t get selected to choose from. I will be of interest in any QBs (Haines King, Joe Fagnano). Take two UDFA QBs, and let them fight it out for the 3rd QB role, and the other ends up on the PS. OT Riley Mahlman, LB Shad Banks, P Jack Stonehouse, or Brett Thorson, Georgia; TE Jaren Vanak, Oklahoma, or Jack Velling. OC/OG Delby Lemieux from Dartmouth and OT Ryan Mosesso from UMass are two local products. I particularly like Vanak, especially if we only draft 1 TE.Vanak is close to getting that last draft spot. His position versatility is tremendous, like Taysom Hill of New Orleans. Vanak was a linebacker and had 106 career Tackles before switching to TE. The 6’2” 237-pound TE/LB ran a 4.52 40-yard dash. I believe he also took some snaps under center last year. If nothing else, he is a special-teams demon who can fill in at two positions and possibly save a roster spot.Comings and Goings Mike Reiss reported Tuesday that the Patriots were releasing LB Marte Mapu. In fact, they traded Mapu to the Houston Texans for a swap of draft picks in the 2027 Draft. The Patriots end their 2027 7th round pick and Mapu for the Texans’ 6th round selection. The former 3rd round (76) selection in the 2023 Draft saw his participation drop significantly this season to just 12% of the defensive snaps. This was another of Bill Belichick’s surprise reaches, as hardly anyone had heard of Mapu out of Sacramento State before the Senior Bowl. Do you think the Patriots need to add linebacker depth to the team in the draft now?Local Pro DayNFL Teams are allowed to bring in local talent who grew up in the area. Topping that list was Devon Marshall, CB, NC State. He grew up in Boston and played for Catholic Memorial. Marshall is expected to get drafted at the start of Day 3 by the Patriots. Other invites of note are Central Connecticut State QB Brady Olson; Brown WR Ty Pezza; Nichols WR Jack Morvan; Michigan C Greg Crippen; UMass OT Ryan Mosesso; Iowa CB Shahid Barros; and Brown CB Elias Archie. Last year, attendees Jack Conley (Boston College) and Cole Birdow (Merrimack) were signed as undrafted free agents, while inviting edge rusher Hector Johnson (Endicott) to the rookie minicamp.
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About Mark MorseMerrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.View all posts by Mark Morse
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