A fan favorite of many Patriots fans will be at the NFL Draft to call upon one of the next young players to don the team's uniform.
The New England Patriots have called upon two-time Super Bowl-winning wide receiver Deion Branch to help them select who will become the newest member of the franchise in 2026.
No, Branch won't be in the war room on draft night with Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel but rather on the stage calling out the pick on night two for the second and third rounds for the team.
The move to have Branch participate in the draft process aligns with the NFL's "Legends" initiative. Branch is set to announce the 63rd overall pick on night two, as well as a 95th pick that same night on April 24th.
The draft will kick off on April 23rd and run through the 25th, with the final four rounds selected on the final day.
Deion Branch is widely considered one of the key factors in shaping the Patriots' first half of their dynasty. Branch was selected 65th overall in the second round in 2002 by the Patriots. Branch had two stints as a Patriot. He won two Super Bowls with the team and was awarded Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl XXXIX. In that game, Branch tied a Super Bowl record with 11 catches for 133 yards.
Branch appeared in 89 regular-season games and 14 playoff games. In his time as a Patriot, Branch caught 384 passes for 5,149 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was a key target in the early days of Tom Brady's career.
Outside of his run with the Patriots, Branch also played for the Seattle Seahawks and had a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts. He officially retired from the NFL in 2014. He finished his NFL career having compiled 518 receptions for 6,644 yards and 39 touchdowns.
Branch is now a wide receivers coach at Louisville, where he spent two years of his collegiate career. Back in 2022, Branch got some reps as a head coach, serving as the interim head coach in the Fenway Bowl.
As the NFL Draft approaches, many wonder what day two will hold in store for the Patriots. Many feel an edge rusher, lineman, or tight end is in the cards. Either way, it will be Deion Branch to announce it.
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