The 2026 NFL Draft is just two weeks away, so let’s take another crack at a Patriots seven-round mock draft.
The Patriots’ biggest remaining needs are at edge defender, offensive tackle and tight end, where they need depth and an injection of youth.
The top of the 2026 NFL Draft class is relatively weak, but there’s plenty of depth where the Patriots will be picking 31st overall.
We’re treating this mock draft as if the Patriots are not trading any of this year’s picks for Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. We used NFL Mock Draft Database’s mock draft simulator to put this together.
Round 1, Pick No. 31: EDGE Malachi Lawrence, UCF
The Patriots haven’t ignored the outside linebacker/defensive end position this offseason, but they have lost more players than they’ve gained, signing Dre’Mont Jones but letting K’Lavon Chaisson walk in free agency to the Commanders, while releasing Anfernee Jennings and Jahlani Tavai, who split his time last season between playing on and off of the line of scrimmage.
That leaves the Patriots with Jones, Harold Landry, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson and Jesse Luketa on the edge.
Lawrence, who’s 6-foot-4, 253 pounds, played his entire collegiate career at UCF. He tested extremely well for his size at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.52-second 40-yard dash with a 1.59-second 10-yard split, 40-inch vertical leap and 10-feet, 10-inch broad jump. He accumulated 20 sacks over 39 games during his college career with 28 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and pass defended passes.
He totaled 40 pressures during his senior season while earning an 80.1 PFF grade. Lawrence could enter his rookie season as a situational edge rusher while eventually replacing Landry or Jones as a starter.
Central Florida defensive end Malachi Lawrence, right, sacks Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen during the first half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Round 2, Pick No. 63: OT Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
Looking at the NF Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board, there’s a major dropoff between Tiernan, who’s ranked 65th, and Texas A&M’s Dametrious Crownover, who’s 101st. The Patriots also have some options to fill their need at tackle in the first round with Clemson’s Blake Miller and Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor. They ideally should look to add tackle help in the first three rounds.
Left tackle Will Campbell and right tackle Morgan Moses will start, but the Patriots lack depth and developmental players behind them. Free-agent signing James Hudson and 2025 seventh-round pick Marcus Bryant are currently the top backups. With Moses having turned 35 in March, the Patriots need a right tackle of the future.
Tiernan has prototypical size for a tackle, but his short arms could be a problem in the NFL. He primarily started at left tackle in college but also has experience on the right side.
Round 3, Pick No. 95: TE Oscar Delp, Georgia
Delp didn’t produce a ton at Georgia, catching 70 passes for 854 yards with nine touchdowns in four seasons, but he has the size and athleticism to blossom in the NFL. At 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, he ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash with a 38-inch vertical leap and 10-feet, 5-inch broad jump at his pro day in March.
The Patriots have Hunter Henry and Julian Hill as their top tight ends after letting Austin Hooper walk in free agency. Delp has starting potential with Henry getting up there in years.
Round 4, Pick No. 125: WR Colbie Young, Georgia
If you’re going to draft a wide receiver in the fourth round, you might as well roll the dice on a player with high upside, right?
Young played five years of college football for three different teams (Lackawanna College, Miami and Georgia) and never totaled more than 47 catches, 563 yards or five touchdowns in a single season. But he’s 6-foot-5, 218 pounds and runs a 4.49-second 40-yard dash. The 23-year-old wideout finished his FBS career with 116 receptions for 1,437 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He’s a big-play threat with the size of a prototypical X wide receiver, and his best season came when Patriots personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith was GM at Miami. If Young’s best football is in front of him, then he could be a steal in the fourth round.
Round 4, Pick No. 131: LB Jack Kelly, BYU
The Patriots need to add youth and depth to their linebacking corps, especially after trading Marte Mapu to the Texans. Kelly has good size and athleticism at 6-foot-2, 240 pounds and a 4.57-second 40-yard-dash time.
Kelly was a two-time captain at BYU and flashed impressive versatility with 15 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss and 106 tackles over two seasons with the Cougars.
Round 5, Pick No. 171: OL Keagen Trost, Missouri
An older prospect, Trost started 42 games in seven seasons with four schools (Morgan State, Indiana State, Wake Forest and Missouri). He’ll turn 25 later this month but played some excellent football last season at Missouri, starting at right tackle and allowing just one sack and seven total pressures.
Due to his size (6-foot-5, 311 pounds) and arm length (32 3/8″), Trost projects best as a guard in the NFL. The Patriots need more depth behind starters Alijah Vera-Tucker and Mike Onwenu.
Round 6, Pick No. 191: RB Adam Randall, Clemson
A very unique prospect, Randall converted from wide receiver to running back during the 2024 season. At 6-foot-3, 232 pounds, Randall has nearly Derrick Henry-esque size for the position.
He finished his college career with 172 carries for 858 yards and 10 touchdowns while also catching 84 passes for 787 yards with five scores through the air.
The Patriots could use another dual-threat running back behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.
Clemson running back Adam Randall celebrates after a touchdown against South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
Round 6, Pick No. 198: CB Charles Demmings, Stephen F. Austin
The Patriots would benefit from finding a developmental outside cornerback behind Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III.
Demmings has great size (6-1, 193 pounds) and athleticism (4.41s 40), coming out of a small school.
Round 6, Pick No. 202: TE Will Kacmarek, Ohio State
A classic blocking Y tight end, Kacmarek also has enough athleticism and receiving experience to be useful on passing downs.
Round 6, Pick No. 212: QB Luke Altmyer, Illinois
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said last week at the NFL Annual Meeting that the Patriots would try to find their developmental third QB through the draft. Altmyer is accurate, athletic and showed good decision-making skills at Illinois.
Round 7, Pick No. 224: S Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech
A non-combine invitee, Wisniewski has experience at both safety and linebacker during his time at Texas Tech and North Dakota State.
