The 2026 NFL Draft is officially one week away.
We took a fourth crack at guessing what the Patriots will do next week in our latest seven-round mock draft.
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 Dane Brugler’s 2026 NFL Draft Guide to help us put this together.
Round 1, Pick No. 31: EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
A unanimous All-American in 2025, Howell fills the Patriots’ biggest need on the edge, where they lack a high-end pass rusher and depth behind starters Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones.
Howell led the SEC with 11 sacks and is similarly built as Landry at 6-foot-3, 253 pounds.
Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said Monday the Patriots want to add speed on the edge. Howell ran a 4.59-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Round 2, Pick No. 63: WR Ted Hurst, Georgia State
We’re having fun with this mock draft.
Hurst is a 6-foot-4, 202-pound wide receiver who dominated small-school competition, catching 187 passes for 2,992 yards with 25 touchdowns in four seasons split between Valdosta State and Georgia State.
He’s an impressive athlete, running a 4.42-second 40-yard dash with an 11-feet, 3-inch broad jump and displayed the skills to be a big-play threat in college.
Out of any of the wide receivers expected to be taken outside of the first round, Hurst, 21, probably has the highest upside.
Round 3, Pick No. 95: OT Markel Bell, Miami
A mountain of a human being at 6-foot-9, 346 pounds, Bell has elite size for a future right tackle. And the Patriots will eventually have a need there since Morgan Moses is 35 years old.
Length is not an issue for Bell, who has 36 3/8-inch arms. He didn’t allow a sack in 2025 as a senior and could wind up being a steal at the end of Day 2 of the draft.
Miami offensive lineman Markel Bell, left, during the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game against Mississippi, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Round 4, Pick No. 125: TE Eli Raridon, Notre Dame
The rare tight end prospect with size (6-6, 245 pounds), speed (4.62-second 40-yard dash), production (32 catches for 482 yards in 2025) and blocking skills, Raridon is a mid-round prospect because he tore the same ACL in 2021, while still in high school, and 2022.
The Patriots need to develop a tight end behind Hunter Henry and Julian Hill.
Round 4, Pick No. 131: CB Tacario Davis, Washington
Davis, who transferred from Arizona, has elite size and athleticism at 6-foot-4, 194 pounds. He ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash and has the size and speed to keep up with the league’s best X receivers.
He used his height and long limbs to break up 27 passes in three seasons as a starter.
The Patriots could use a high-upside developmental cornerback behind starters Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III.
Round 5, Pick No. 171: LB Harold Perkins, LSU
Undersized at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Perkins ascended early at LSU as a freshman All-American who led the team in sacks. He dealt with injuries later in his career but still displays sideline-to-sideline speed and sure-tackling. The Patriots don’t mind a lighter linebacker like Perkins, and he’d enter the fray as their most athletic linebacker.
Round 6, Pick No. 191: RB Roman Hemby, Indiana
The Patriots should be looking for more competition for the third running back spot behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. Hemby has good size at 6-feet, 208 pounds, ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash and has a versatile skill set as a ball-carrier and pass-catcher.
Hemby would compete with Lan Larison, Elijah Mitchell and Terrell Jennings for the role.
Round 6, Pick No. 198: OL Carver Willis, Washington
A left tackle at Kansas State and Washington, Willis could need to move inside to guard at the NFL level due to his 32.5-inch arms. He’s a good athlete who finishes his blocks and can move in space.
The Patriots need more depth at guard behind starters Alijah Vera-Tucker and Mike Onwenu and top backup Ben Brown.
Round 6, Pick No. 202: QB Jalon Daniels, Kansas
One of the most athletic quarterbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft, Daniels can fill the developmental third quarterback role behind Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito.
Daniels rushed for 23 career touchdowns while completing 61.5% of his passes for 9,282 yards with 67 passing touchdowns and 31 interceptions in 49 games with 45 starts at Kansas.
Round 6, Pick No. 212: DT Gary Smith III, UCLA
Smith, who’s on the older side at 24 years old, has the size and run-stuffing abilities to potentially replace Khyiris Tonga on the Patriots’ defensive line.
He won’t be as disruptive as a pass rusher, but Smith can eat up space with his 6-foot-1, 323-pound frame.
Round 7, Pick No. 224: CB Lorenzo Styles, Jr., Ohio State
Styles is the older brother of projected top-5 pick, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. He spent one season as a starter, playing the slot in Matt Patricia’s defense, and broke up three passes.
A converted wide receiver, Styles, at 6-foot-1, 194 pounds with a 4.27-second 40-yard dash, seemingly has untapped potential as an outside cornerback, safety or special-teams ace.
