The 2026 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away, and the Patriots hold 11 selections, including the 31st overall pick, in the event.
Let’s answer your burning questions about the draft and more in this week’s Patriots mailbag.
@CoreyMaddo: What if any are the chances we’re obtaining AJ Brown and if we do so would it be our first this year or next due to when he’s available for trade? I know I’m asking a lot lol.
I believe there is still a chance the Patriots will acquire Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown via trade, though I would personally be surprised if a deal came together before the 2026 NFL Draft. I feel like that kind of deal is much more likely to get done after June 1, when the Eagles can better spread out Brown’s remaining dead cap.
If that kind of deal would require a first-round pick, and if the trade is done after June 1, then it would likely be a 2027 selection.
Personally, I’d rather trade the 31st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft than deal a first-rounder in 2027. The 2027 draft class is expected to be stronger, and the Patriots will likely be picking earlier than 31st overall.
But if the Eagles don’t want to deal him until after June 1, then there’s not much that the Patriots can do about it.
@frizzaud: Who would be your surprise pick at 31? And who is your run up the card guy at 31 if they are there?
Surprise pick is tough, because you can make a case for the Patriots selecting a player at nearly any position in the first round outside of quarterback, running back, center and specialist.
The Patriots have a need for a top-echelon wide receiver. Tight end Hunter Henry is getting up there in years. Right tackle Morgan Moses is 35 years old, and right guard Mike Onwenu is entering the last year of his contract. The Patriots need a third outside linebacker, inside linebacker is a need, safety Kevin Byard is on a one-year deal and defensive tackle Christian Barmore and cornerback Carlton Davis III are easier to part with after this season.
So, what would surprise me? Nothing outside of a quarterback, running back or center. But I could understand fans being upset if it’s anything other than a wide receiver, edge defender or offensive tackle, since those are, in my opinion, the three biggest needs.
I would consider running the draft card up for Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson or Miami edge defender Akheem Mesidor. I like a lot of the Patriots’ options at No. 31, though, including Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston, Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller, Clemson edge defender T.J. Parker, Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor and UCF edge defender Malachi Lawrence.
Troy offensive lineman Elijah Prather, right, blocks Clemson defensive end T.J. Parker, left, during an NCAA football game between Clemson and Troy, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Troy offensive lineman Elijah Prather, right, blocks Clemson defensive end T.J. Parker, left, during an NCAA football game between Clemson and Troy, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
@TeamCrazyMatt: Some league reporters/analysts have been projecting interior defensive line to the Pats in Round 1 (McDonald, Banks). Do you think internally that the team views IDL as such a high need; if not, do you think the Patriots might still add a player there with a selection?
I don’t personally view defensive tackle as being among the Patriots’ top needs, since they’ve invested heavily, contractually, in Barmore and Milton Williams. Outside of Williams and Barmore, the team could use additional depth there, however.
They could certainly get by with Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory, Leonard Taylor III and Jeremiah Pharms, but losing Khyiris Tonga in the middle hurts.
So, yeah, I believe a selection is warranted, if not needed, at defensive tackle.
@ted_mcgregor: Name a position(s) group you expect the Pats will draft higher and lower than expected.
I could see them taking a safety earlier than expected and maybe a wide receiver lower than expected.
@StarMorgan73966: Do you believe we are likely to trade back?
I wouldn’t say it’s likely, because you always have to find a trade partner.
If Alabama QB Ty Simpson is still available at No. 31 overall, then maybe a team would be willing to trade up to come get him.
@MidessaMan: Would you agree that this draft will feature more false expectations than any other in recent memory? It appears that outside of a handful the remaining talent has serious flaws – they could go 1, could go 3.
I personally view this as being an exceptionally weak draft class. A quarterback is going to go No. 1 overall, but Fernando Mendoza isn’t a prospect on the level of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye. And then it appears that two off-ball linebackers (Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles), a running back (Jeremiyah Love) and a safety (Caleb Downs), all low-value positions, will be taken in the top 10.
I think there’s decent depth at offensive tackle and edge defender where the Patriots are drafting at 31st overall, but there’s a strong possibility that we look at this draft class a few years down the line and see few high-impact players.
@Thecolours: I don’t get the kc concepcion hype for the Patriots. If you watch his highlights compared to Kyle Williams college highlights, Kyle’s is more impressive and he put up better numbers.
I don’t necessarily disagree. If the Patriots are going to add a wide receiver high in the draft, my focus would be on bigger outside wide receivers.
The team already has enough players with KC Concepcion’s body type (6-feet, 196 pounds).
@reallyrlreviews: How deep is the draft at the LB positions the Patriots need to address?
It’s more loaded at edge defender (outside linebacker) than inside linebacker.
Just looking at Dane Brugler’s draft guide for The Athletic, he has 16 edge defenders ranked in the Top 100 and only eight off-ball linebackers.
@TheMotleyOne: What rounds are the sweet spot to draft an impactful TE?
Assuming the Patriots will miss on Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq in the first round, then I view Rounds 2-4 as the sweet spot. Brugler has 13 tight ends ranked in those areas.
I like some of the third- and fourth-round options like Georgia’s Oscar Delp, Stanford’s Sam Roush, Ohio State’s Will Kacmarek, Notre Dame’s Eli Raridon, Michigan’s Marlin Klein, Texas’s Jack Endries and Utah’s Dallen Bentley.