NFL Mock Draft 5.0: One Last Attempt At Projecting Patriots' 2026 Class originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots are putting the finishing touches on their preparation for the 2026 NFL Draft, which means it is time for us to start tossing some predictions out there in hopes to get at least a few right so we can brag about how smart we are over the coming months -- or something like that.
NESN gave us five tries at getting this thing right, with our stories dropping on March 23, March 30, April 6, April 13, and April 20. I'll set out new rules for each crack at it, with the final edition of our series coming under these restrictions: try to get the thing right.
🚨 2026 MOCK DRAFT 5.0 🚨I've fooled around a bit, but this is the one. The #Patriots look like they're going to take this approach to the 2026 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/coe5lsFLtt
TRADE! (ARI receives No. 31; NE receives No. 34, 104 and 183)
No. 34: OT Max Iheanachor (Arizona State)Iheanachor straddles the line between that of a first-round pick and a second-round pick, with positional value doing the majority of the heavy lifting.
The Patriots likely wouldn’t risk trading back, especially if they consider the need at offensive tackle big enough to address it with an early-round pick, but the board sat nicely and it was obvious that we wouldn’t get spurned trying to finagle things. Iheanachor’s addition alongside some added draft capital helped influence our next few moves.
TRADE! (GB receives No. 63, 131, and 191; NE receives No. 52)
No. 52: EDGE Gabe Jacas (Illinois)“We could complement our room with some speed. I think that’s evident.”
New England executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf pointed in a different direction with his words last week, but the guys who could have added that element (UCF's Malachi Lawrence, Oklahoma's R Mason Thomas, Texas A&M's Cashius Howell) were all off the board by our second pick, so we pivoted and took the best available pass-rusher left. If they aren't comfortable with the current options, this guy could help pick up the slack on early downs, as well.
No. 95: WR De'Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss)Stribling is the pick at wide receiver. I've now tripled down, so it would be a tough look if they pass him up in the third round.
STRIBLING STUMBLIN' INTO THE END ZONE 🫨@Dezhaunthegreat x #HottyToddypic.twitter.com/CPK6SpAVTE
TRADE! (GB receives No. 104; NE receives No. 120 and 131)
No. 120: LB Keyshaun Elliott (Arizona State)Elliott has met with the organization on three separate occasions, so it's rather difficult seeing him end up anywhere else. Pittsburgh's Kyle Louis and LSU's Harold Perkins Jr. are options earlier, but if they want to wait a bit, this seems like the obvious choice.
No. 125: TE Eli Raridon (Notre Dame)Raridon is quite literally one of the best athletes (4.62 forty-yard dash at 245 pounds) in the entire draft, and has an elite trait (blocking) that will make him useful early in his career. New England needs to develop someone behind Hunter Henry, and there are no better options in the fourth round.
No. 131: S VJ Payne (Kansas State)Payne projects as the exact kind of player who would be better off for sitting and learning during the first couple of years of his career -- say, behind a guy like Kevin Byard.
No. 171: IOL Anez Cooper (Miami)The Patriots need another body behind Mike Onwenu (entering the final year of his deal), Jared Wilson (making a position change after an up-and-down rookie season), and Alijah Vera-Tucker (has missed more games than he has played in the last three seasons).
No. 183: RB Kaelon Black (Indiana)RB3. It's a need and they've met with this young man.
Kaelon Black's 25-yard scamper extends the Hoosier lead!📺: ESPN#CFBPlayoff x #NeverDaunted x #RoseBowlpic.twitter.com/g6JF9WDgXI
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) January 1, 2026