The Patriots go into the 2026 NFL Draft with 11 picks and will not make their first selection until No. 31, a setup that leaves them room to move but also pressure to hit on a first-round player who can help quickly. At the combine, several prospects met with New England and discussed Mike Vrabel, giving the team an early look at how its board may take shape.
Among the defenders linked to the Patriots was Missouri edge rusher Zion Young, who posted 16½ tackles for loss and 6½ sacks last season and described himself as “pretty smooth.” Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, who had 11½ sacks, said he knew Vrabel was “a very good coach, a very intentional coach,” and added, “He knows what he wants. I’d be blessed to be able to be drafted by them.” Akheem Mesidor, who had 12½ sacks last season and turned 25 earlier this month, put it this way: “You can call me a seasoned rookie,” and, “I think I’m coming in more mature.”
The Patriots’ need at the line of scrimmage is easy to understand. They signed Dre’Mont Jones in free agency, but they also lost K’Lavon Chaisson and Anfernee Jennings, and Khyiris Tonga departed in free agency as well. That makes the first round feel like a fork in the road: edge rusher or offensive lineman, depending on how the board falls.
On the offensive line, Clemson tackle Blake Miller brought size at 6-foot-6 and 317 pounds and backed it up with 54 starts at right tackle, while Arizona State lineman Max Iheanachor measured 6-foot-6 and 321 pounds and did not allow a single sack last season. Iheanachor also worked with Vrabel during Arizona State’s Pro Day, another sign the coach is already putting fingerprints on the process.
The Patriots’ draft buildup has also touched other corners of the roster picture. A separate mock draft projection had New England moving up for Denzel Boston, and a different report connected the team to Romeo Doubs after the Diggs exit, underscoring how many moving pieces still sit around the club. But with the 31st pick in hand and a stack of 11 selections to work through, the clearest next step is the first one: whether New England chooses to fortify the edge, protect the quarterback, or keep both options alive until draft night.