🏈 Patriots NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Expert Mock Draft Picks, Team Needs, Best Fits & More
Fresh off a Super Bowl appearance with the youngest roster in the league, the New England Patriots hold the No. 31 pick and are looking to add depth around second-year quarterback Drake Maye after seeing what a championship roster truly looks like firsthand.
As part of our NFL draft predictions for every team, we break down the Patriots' full draft picks, biggest team needs, ideal prospect fits, mock draft projections, and our prediction for which player New England will draft in the first round, which begins tonight at 8 p.m. ET live on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network.
📊 Patriots draft picks 2026
See where the Patriots rank by the Super Bowl odds for every team.
| Round | Pick(s) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 31 |
| 2 | No. 63 |
| 3 | No. 95 |
| 4 | No. 125, 131 |
| 5 | No. 171 |
| 6 | No. 191, 198, 202, 212 |
| 7 | No. 247 |
🆘 Patriots team needs entering draft
We break down every team's projected NFL win totals with our best Over/Under picks by division.
- Team needs: EDGE, DL, TE, OL, WR
- Key additions: Dre'Mont Jones (EDGE), K.J. Britt (LB), Kevin Byard (S)
- Key departures: K'Lavon Chaisson (EDGE, Commanders), Stefon Diggs (WR), Austin Hooper (TE), Alijah Vera-Tucker (OG, from Jets), Vederian Lowe (OT)
The Patriots learned in their Super Bowl loss to Seattle that they're not quite deep enough up front to hang with the NFL's best. Adding Jones helps, but the pass rush still needs another explosive piece after generating just 35 sacks last season, tied for seventh-fewest in the league. Maye is only 24 and the franchise's future, so continuing to build around him is the priority - whether that's a young tight end to complement Hunter Henry, more protection on the offensive line, or additional weapons in the passing game.
🏈 Patriots draft prospect fits
I asked NFL draft expert Rob Paul to pick the Patriots' best prospect fit in a dream scenario, their safest pick, and their best upside pick tonight:
| Pick type | No. 31 pick | Grade | Paul's take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Dream pick | Blake Miller, OT, Clemson | 7.05 | This is an ideal outcome for both the Patriots and Miller, who is one of the safest bets in the class with his length, athleticism, and experience (54 starts at Clemson) - he could eventually take over at right tackle for Morgan Moses |
| 🛡️ Safe pick | Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami | 7.15 | It's hard to gauge how early Mesidor will go because he'll be a 25-year-old rookie, but he also possesses one of the deepest pass rush repertoires in the class, thanks to his active hands |
| 🚀 Upside pick | Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF | 7.05 | If New England wants to add some serious juice to its pass rush, Lawrence would be a good addition with his twitch and explosive first step, and it helps that he plays with a motor Mike Vrabel will love |
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📝 Patriots mock draft consensus picks
I went through the final mock drafts from 10 top experts across the industry and gathered their NFL mock draft consensus picks for the New England Patriots' first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's who they expect New to draft:
| Expert | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (No. 31) |
| Peter Schrager (ESPN) | Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri (No. 31) |
| Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com) | Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State (No. 31) |
| Lance Zierlein (NFL.com) | Peter Woods, DT, Clemson (No. 31) |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M (No. 31) |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State (No. 31) |
| Mike Renner (CBS Sports) | Blake Miller, OT, Clemson (No. 31) |
| Tice & McDonald (Yahoo) | T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson (No. 31) |
| Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated) | Blake Miller, OT, Clemson (No. 31) |
| Rob Paul (Sportsbook Review) | Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami (No. 31) |
🎯 Patriots first position drafted
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New England had just 35 sacks last season and needs to bolster its pass rush, but the offensive line is also a consideration with most of the top tackles potentially off the board by No. 31. The Patriots' pick could come down to whoever is the best available edge rusher or tackle, and the market is strongly in agreement on D-line being the call here.
I broke down the latest NFL draft position odds for all 32 teams ahead of the first round.
🔮 Patriots draft prediction 2026
See Rob Paul's expert NFL mock draft for projections and analysis of all 32 first-round picks.
Paul's pick at No. 31: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
- Pro comparison: Tuli Tuipulotu
- Measurables: 6'3" | 259 lbs | 25 years old | RAS: N/A
With the top seven offensive tackles already off the board, the New England Patriots may need to think about adding in the trenches on the other side of the ball. While Akheem Mesidor is an older prospect, he's ready-made to make an impact as a rookie. His deep pass rush plan and violent hands helped him finish fourth nationally in pressures (67) and third in sacks (12.5). Mike Vrabel will love the energy the Canadian brings to the field, too.
🏈 NFL draft predictions by team
See the live NFL draft odds for the top picks from the best NFL betting sites.
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, I broke down every team's full draft capital, their biggest needs and ideal prospect fits, the latest mock draft consensus from industry experts, and our draft prediction for their first pick this week:
AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots
AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers
AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans
AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders
NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants
NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings
NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints
NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks
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