The 2026 NFL Draft is just around the corner. Later this week, New England will be on the clock, but who are the Patriots looking to add to their roster? Mock Draft 4.0 aims to answer that question with players that have been connected to the team during the pre-draft process.
The NFL Draft is under 48 hours away.
Before the New England Patriots are officially on the clock, the Patriots Roundtable Podcast is kicking off the draft with one final mock draft.
New England addressed several areas of need in March, but the roster can still add depth at several position groups… and the team will turn to the 2026 NFL Draft to fill those needs. With 11 selections across the three-day event, the Patriots are positioned to add developmental talent at several key positions — ensuring long-term stability and supplemental depth around their ascending young core.
Mock Draft 4.0 is our final run at predicting how New England will look to continue building a contender. This time, we’re focusing on players that have been connected to the Patriots in the lead-up to draft day. From pre-draft Top 30 Visits to college Pro Day trips and everything in between, we’ll be looking at best fits in all seven rounds.
The parameters for Mock Draft 4.0
We’re building on the last two mocks with a few key updates.
- Trades are still on the table. With a healthy stack of Day 3 picks, New England has the flexibility to move around the board if the right player is there.
- We’re drafting more for need than pure best-player-available. The goal is to address the remaining gaps while taking advantage of where the class is deepest.
- We’ll examine the draft class itself. Where is the talent concentrated? Where does the drop-off happen? What does the board look like when pick 31 rolls around?
What we’re trying to learn
Eddie and Tyler will use this mock to answer a few key questions heading into the draft.
1) What must be addressed at pick 31?
The conversation has narrowed to premium positions, with offensive tackle and edge rusher leafing the way. Who will still be left on the board when the Pats are on the clock? Where can New England wait and find talent later in the draft? Each comes with its own timeline and scheme fit. We’ll see how the board falls, and which feels most urgent when the Patriots are on the clock at 31.
2) Where can you let the board come to you?
With only three top-100 picks, New England can’t chase every need early. Some positions — defensive line, tight end, interior offensive line — may offer better value on Day 2 or even Day 3. How does the depth of this class influence those decisions? Will the Patriots look to move up on Day 2 to secure an immediate contributor in the top-100? We’ll examine.
3) How do you use 11 picks to keep building the “middle class” of the roster?
The 2025 class proved how valuable Day 3 capital can be for depth and special-teams contributors. Mock 4.0 will show how the Patriots can use their later selections to add versatile pieces that keep the roster young, cheap, and competitive for years to come.
The point of Mock Draft 4.0
New England has been transparent about their team’s perceived strengths and weaknesses through free agency and in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft. With their pre-draft preparations coming to a close, we know where they’re most likely to target adding talent.
Whether it’s attacking offensive line or defensive line early, adding a long-term contributor at tight end, or a Day 3 developmental piece in the linebacker room, the Patriots will use their 11 picks to move around the board and acquire talent that builds the middle class of the roster around their young foundation.
What position would you like to see New England target in the first round? Where do you think the Patriots can comfortably wait until Day 2 or Day 3?
Join the discussion in the community boards below, or on our Patriots Roundtable Podcast YouTube page — and stay tuned for lots more on New England’s NFL Draft strategy in the days to come on Patriots Roundtable.
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