Each day leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft — April 23-25 — TeamFB7 will break down a different team’s biggest draft need and the best selection to address it. Granted, teams will most often use their first-round pick on the best available player/value and not necessarily always their biggest need, so this isn’t going to compile together into a mock draft in the end. It’s more a breakdown of how each team could best address its most paramount priority if it chooses.
Year 1 of the Mike Vrabel Era in New England could not have gone any better.
After back-to-back 4-13 seasons, Vrabel and second-year quarterback Drake Maye led the Patriots to a 14-3 record, their first AFC East title since Tom Brady left town and, of course, that stunning surge all the way to the Super Bowl before running into the Seahawks.
Year 2 of the Mike Vrabel Era … well, that hasn’t started so hot.
The Patriots weathered to scandals, though. Come summer and the start of training camp, the focus will be on football, how Maye’s throwing shoulder is feeling, how left tackle Will Campbell is going to bounce back from his Super Bowl struggles, etc.
In the meantime, the Pats are still building their roster while hoping to show their stunning breakout last year was just the start of a long window Super Bowl window with Vrabel and Maye in place.
With reports that New England is expected to acquire star wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Eagles after June 1 (the timing for salary cap purposes), that would check the Patriots’ biggest “to-do” box for the offseason.
But let’s look at the team’s other roster needs as the 2026 NFL Draft starts tonight and we wrap up our pre-draft breakdown series.
The Patriots hold the following picks this week: Round 1 (No. 31 overall), 2 (63), 3 (95), 4 (125), 4 (131), 5 (171), 6 (191), 6 (198), 6 (202), 6 (212) and 7 (247).
What Are Biggest Needs For New England Patriots In 2026 NFL Draft?
In looking at positions the Pats might target at the end of the first round, the biggest need is on defense.
Edge Rusher
Interestingly, the Patriots let K’Lavon Chaisson depart in free agency for a 1-year, $11-million deal with the Commanders after he tallied 7.5 sacks in the regular season and 3 more in the playoffs. To replace him, they signed well-traveled seven-year NFL veteran Dre’Mont Jones, who set a career-high last year with 7 sacks between the Titans and Ravens. The tradeoff is probably even, but they gave him a 3-year, $36.5-million contract.
He’ll pair with returning EDGE Harold Landry III (49 tackles, 8.5 sacks), but the depth is thin behind those two.
The second tier of EDGE prospects will be largely picked over by this point, but not entirely. Perhaps Clemson’s T.J. Parker or Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell are still on the board.
Meanwhile, there are two potential moves to make on the offensive side.
Offensive Tackle
New England turned over most of its O-line last offseason and the unit was better — but still not great. Four of those five starters are back in aforementioned left tackle Will Campbell, right tackle Morgan Moses, right guard Michael Onwenu and second-year interior lineman Jared Wilson, who is set to move from left guard to center with the team trading 2025 starter Garrett Bradbury to the Bears. The Patriots signed former Jets first-rounder Alijah Vera-Tucker (3 years, $42 million) to take over at left guard.
So why is this a need? Because Campbell, the No. 4 overall pick in the last draft, struggled mightily on the biggest stage as the Seahawks ran roughshod over the Patriots offensive line in the Super Bowl. And while the Patriots have been adamant he remains their long-term left tackle, at least having the option to consider moving him to the right side (or inside) a year or two down the road would be beneficial. Also, though, right tackle Morgan Moses — in the second year of a three-year contract — was excellent last season, but he’s 35 years old. And the Patriots let top reserve tackle Vederian Lowe go in free agency, so depth is a concern regardless.
Taking an offensive tackle to develop for the future but also have available as needed — perhaps Arizona State’s raw but high-upside prospect Max Iheanachor — would make sense.
Wide Receiver
The Patriots signed (overpaid) free agent Romeo Doubs, giving the former Packers wideout a 4-year, $68-million deal with $39 million guaranteed. Doubs is a mid-tier WR2 who had 55 catches for a career-high 724 yards with 6 TDs last season. If the Pats do indeed get A.J. Brown, they’re set — with the returning cast of complementary pass-catchers Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins and DeMario Douglas back as well.
But drafting a wide receiver could make sense if there’s any doubt the Brown deal gets done, or even just to upgrade the talent in the unit and flip one of those other players to a WR-needy team (hello Miami!). If a prospect like Texas A&M slot weapon and high-upside return specialist KC Concepcion is still on the board, that would be enticing.
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Other positions that could merit consideration in the middle rounds of the draft would be linebacker, tight end and defensive tackle.
Who Should Patriots Select In First Round Of 2026 NFL Draft?
All three options presented above are tempting, but the Patriots have high expectations for 2026 and thus they should prioritize upgrading the most pressing need — and that’s edge rusher.
Howell is the most realistic option to still be on the board and make sense at this draft slot.
The 6-foot-2, 253-pound Howell got the dreaded “short arms” red flag at the NFL Scouting Combine, but that’s why he’s sitting there at the end of the first round. He was a consensus All-American for Texas A&M while racking up 11.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 6 pass deflections last season.
If Concepcion is on the board at No. 31, he’s very, very tempting and would no doubt make an immediate impact in 2026.
But if the Patriots are confident in getting Brown, then they have enough talent at WR to elevate the offense as is.
Howell addresses a bigger need.
