🏈 Patriots NFL Draft Predictions 2026: Mock Draft Picks, Best Prospect Fits, Team Needs & 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 Thursday 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 for Thursday:
| 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 |
📝 Patriots mock draft consensus picks
I went through the latest mock drafts from other top experts across the industry and gathered their predictions for the Patriots' first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Here's who they expect New England to draft at No. 31:
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Mel Kiper (ESPN) | Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami |
| Chad Reuter (NFL.com) | Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt |
| Mike Renner (CBS) | R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma |
| Todd McShay (The Ringer) | Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo |
| Dane Brugler (The Athletic) | Blake Miller, OT, Clemson |
| Charles McDonald (Yahoo) | Blake Miller, OT, Clemson |
The experts are all over the map at No. 31, which makes sense for a team coming off a Super Bowl appearance with growth expected on the current roster. Clemson tackle Blake Miller is the only player to appear twice across the six mocks we surveyed, which aligns with Paul's dream pick and his latest mock draft, too. Two other mocks go edge rusher (Akheem Mesidor and R Mason Thomas), while The Ringer's Todd McShay and NFL.com's Chad Reuter have the Patriots taking Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers, respectively.
🔮 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: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
- Pro comparison: Taylor Decker
- Measurables: 6'7" | 317 lbs | 22 years old | RAS: 9.90
If the New England Patriots are going to get back to winning Super Bowls, they have to continue to build around Drake Maye. Morgan Moses is 35, and Blake Miller makes plenty of sense as his replacement for Mike Vrabel's team. Miller is one of the toughest and most experienced players in the class, with 54 starts at Clemson. He's also an underrated athlete - 90th percentile broad (113") and 87th percentile vert (32") - and checks the box for length with 34 1/4" arms.
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