Welcome to another edition of the Boston Sports Journalexclusive draft coverage, as we cont you down to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, scheduled for April 23-25.
Last week, we highlighted some of the prospects who drew interest from the New England Patriots during the NFL Scouting Combine on both offense and defense. This week, we bring you up to date on some of the prospects that New England has met with throughout the draft process and provide a snippet on what each player brings to the next level.
Before we do, a relevant draft note, as the NFL announced compensatory picks this week for the upcoming draft. While the Patriots did not receive any additional selections, the full draft order is now complete and we officially know where New England will be picking with all of their selections. They are as follows:
1st round, 31st overall
2nd round, 63rd overall
3rd round, 95th overall
4th round, 125th overall (Bears, via Chiefs 2025 draft day trade)
4th round, 131st overall
5th round, 171st overall
6th round, 191st overall (Chiefs, via Joshua Uche trade)
6th round, 198th overall (Vikings through Texans and 49ers, via Keion White trade)
6th round, 202nd overall (Steelers, via Kyle Dugger trade)
6th round, 212th overall
7th round, 247th overall
With 11 total selections, New England will have a tremendous opportunity to strengthen their roster, especially on the backend, with eight picks on the final day of the draft. As Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf alluded to during his combine interview, if you do the homework, smart NFL teams are able to find contributors at all stages of the selection process.
"I feel like, if you're doing your job, you're going to be able to find players, you know, rounds one through seven, that that can help your team," Wolf stated. "Obviously, you know, there's varying levels of that but we still feel like we have enough team needs where we're going to be able to get good players that are going to help our team moving forward."
The organization is well into their war room meetings, as they attempt to stack their big board. Our outline below features potential Patriots targets projected at all three days of the draft. Let's get to know some of the players they have cozied up with thus far ...
OFFENSE
As we begin our look at the offense, New England was active during free agency this past week, which could alter their draft plans somewhat, but there are still plenty of holes that need to be filled. The Patriots' backfield isn’t expected to add many reinforcements in terms of the quarterback and running back positions. However, they did manage to ink fullback Reggie Gilliam (formerly of the Bills), which should help stabilize a more efficient ground attack and provide a boost on special teams. It also creates a void for their division rival.
During the NFL Combine, Wolf noted how he likes running backs who waste little time hitting the hole and can get upfield in a hurry. One player who would fit that description is Florida International workhorse Kejon Owens, who met with the Patriots during the Senior Bowl. A compact runner with excellent vision and breakaway speed, Owens flashes quick cutback ability to get upfield in a jiffy, averaging an impressive 6.3 yards per carry this past season. While he exploded for 1,334 rushing yards in 2025, the Miami native has just 452 career touches, so there is plenty of tread left on the tires to fill a rotational spot. A fringe candidate to be drafted, New England could look to add Owens after the draft as an undrafted free agent.
New England wasted little time finding a replacement at wideout for Stefon Diggs, whom the organization decided to cut ties with, signing Romeo Doubs (formerly of the Packers). A dependable target, Doubs is expected to assume the WR1 role, but that doesn't mean the team is done adding to the depth to the unit.
During the all-star circuit, New England made sure to check in on some of the top wideouts at several events, including the Senior Bowl, where they met with local product Lewis Bond of Boston College. The speedster projects as a slot target at the next level, consistently creating separation due to his quick movements and sudden burst. Eagles head coach Bill O’Brien has compared Bond to John Metchie III(Jets), whom he coached during his time with the Texans. A combine snub, Bond will work out at his pro day on March 23, with the Patriots expected to be well represented.
New England was also on-site for the East-West Shrine Bowl, and one target they identified for a formal meeting included Emmanuel Hendersonof Kansas. More suited as a slot receiver, Henderson does his damage in the short game, extending screen plays and getting creative after the catch. He provides additional value on special teams as a return man and also fits the late Day 3 category. A former five-star recruit who never materialized during his time at Alabama, this is a potential late bloomer who could blossom in the pros.
Another player team brass was sure to get one-on-one time with was Camden Brown, who was arguably the best wideout during the week of Hula Bowl practices. A towering presence at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Brown is a prototypical boundary wideout who can climb the ladder vertically and thrives in contested catch situations. After being buried on the depth chart at Auburn, the Louisiana native transferred to Georgia Southern this past season and became the first player in school history to surpass the 1,000-yard barrier, while leading the FBS with 14 touchdowns and earning Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year honors.
It’s becoming more apparent that New England will be adding to their tight end corps and will likely come via the draft. Based on their list of formal meetings, it would appear that they could be targeting the middle-to-late rounds to address this need. The Patriots were active gathering intel at the Senior Bowl, meeting with a trifecta of tight ends in attendance. There should still be adequate depth remaining at that stage but keep in mind that once you arrive to the final day of the draft, all players come with their own warts.
Falling short of the prototypical size dimensions would be DJ Rogers of TCU, who offers flexibility to the offense, having lined up at tight end, H-back and fullback during his time with the Horned Frogs. Rogers is a well-rounded prospect capable of holding his own as an inline blocker, but can also take a bite out of the defense with his ability to gain yards after the catch, as he is a force to bring down. His strength as a blocker and soft hands would surely fit in well with the offensive scheme of Josh McDaniels.
A bit on the raw side, New England also met with John Michael Gyllenborgof Wyoming down in Mobile. Blending an excellent combination of size, speed and strength, Gyllenborg flashes in spurts with tremendous athletic prowess but is still learning the nuances of route running, while needing to enhance his blocking skill-set. His best football is likely still ahead of him but Gyllenborg may take some time to develop until he’s ready to be a reliable contributor.
One last notable meeting was with Dan Villari of Syracuse. Originally committed to Jim Harbaugh at Michigan as a quarterback, Villari transferred to the Orange and made the position switch to tight end, enjoying a career year in 2025. Again, while the upside is appealing, Villari might not make the immediate impact needed, but would be a strong practice squad candidate to add as a potential undrafted free agent.
The offensive line is currently undergoing a makeover with the team making a splash in signing guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (formerly of the Jets). With 'AVT' expected to slide into the left guard spot, that officially paves the way for Jared Wilson to move back to his more natural center position in place of Garrett Bradbury, who was dealt to the Bears for a 2027 fifth round draft pick. However, that shouldn't prevent New England from seeking to add more depth.
With the pro day circuit entering full throttle, the front office has divvied up its scouts across the nation in an attempt to uncover some hidden gems. Sometimes good things come to those who wait. Introducing Jake Popeof Illinois State, whom New England met with at pro day last week. A seven-year senior who spent three seasons at Kentucky without seeing the field, Pope then got injured during his first year with the Redbirds. However, he bounced back to become a starter at both left and right tackle, guiding the school to the FCS Championship this past season. A projected undrafted free agent, Pope possesses swingman upside as a potential backup cog.
Team evaluators were also on location at the Memphis pro day, where they met with mammoth offensive tackle Travis Burke. Measuring in at 6-foot-9 and 325 pounds, Burke owns outstanding length but does come with some athletic limitations. He is primarily viewed more as a run blocking specialist, while he struggles against speed-rushers and would fit strictly as a pure tackle. However, Burke received plenty of interest at his workout and is another name to remember during the post-draft signing frenzy.
One player who spent most of his collegiate career playing tackle but is likely to kick inside in the pros is Kage Caseyof Boise State, who also met with the team during the Senior Bowl. A true road-grader, Casey ran into some struggles in Mobile, as he was taken advantage of by faster, quicker defenders. He would kick inside later in the week during practices, where he fared much better and would seem to project as a guard in the NFL, with the experience to step in at tackle in case of an emergency.
The interior of the offensive line has received plenty of attention from team brass, especially at the center position. New England could still look to add some reinforcements from this year’s draft pool but based on the players they met with, it might be addressed in the late rounds, or after the draft.
Several players attempting to make the conversion from tackle to center have drawn the Patriots' curiosity, including Delby Lemieux of Dartmouth. Another combine snub, Lemieux made the most of his opportunity at the Senior Bowl, looking like a seasoned pro at his new position. He demonstrated the footwork and mirror skills necessary to survive at the next level, with the athleticism to climb into the second level and be an effective pull-blocker. Lemieux figures to be a potential rookie camp invite should he not land with a team in the draft.
Also making the switch from the outside to the middle is Brian Parkerof Duke, who recognized that his short arms would prevent him from achieving his NFL aspirations. He entered the East-West Shrine Bowl on a mission to prove to scouts that he can man the center spot due to his cerebral savvy and fundamentally sound technique that he employs. Based on his week of practice in Frisco, Parker would appear to have the makeup of a next-level starter.
Other targets on the Patriots' radar include prospects expected to be available following the conclusion of the draft, as only about a half dozen are usually selected annually. New England has had formal visits with Peter Nygra of Louisville at the East-West Shrine Bowl, as well as Connor Tollison of Missouri and Nick Dawkins of Penn State during the American Bowl in Florida this past January.
DEFENSE
The interior of the defensive line is an area that the Patriots could look to address. One of the most impressive players in Mobile was Rayshaun Bennyof Michigan. A run-stuffing menace for the Wolverines, Benny brings excellent size, length and power, along with a relentless motor. New England met formally with Benny, who went on to take home Senior Bowl Defensive MVP honors.
At the East-West Shrine Bowl, they sat down with Landon Robinsonof Navy, an undersized bowling ball of a defensive tackle at 5-foot-11, 293 pounds. The military academy prospect won virtually all of his one-on-one reps down in Frisco and carried that momentum into his pro day last week, registering a swift 4.87 forty-yard dash, with 32” vertical jump and 30 bench press reps of 225 pounds. While there are clearly physical limitations, Robinson projects as a valuable Day 3 commodity.
Locking up eight-year veteran Dre'Mont Jones was a huge free agent acquisition, as it helps offset the loss of free agent K'Lavon Chaisson, who signed with the Commanders. However, don't look for New England to rest on its laurels. The edge rusher position had been well-documented as a priority need entering the offseason, as head coach Mike Vrabel spent quite a bit of time addressing the concern during his podium presser in Indy.
Based on their player interviews, the edge rusher spot absolutely remains in play at pick No.31. In fact, R Mason Thomasof Oklahoma is one of the team’s official 30' visits. A handful of premier pass-rushers measured in with short arms at the combine, including Thomas, who came in with 31 ⅝-inch arms, standing in at 6-foot-2, also less than ideal. The lack of size has called into question whether Thomas can withstand the rigors of a 17-plus game schedule. However, he displays explosive burst and incredible bend off the edge, proving to be one of the most capable sack artists in this year’s class. It may be a bit of a reach for round one, as Thomas projects as a stand-up linebacker, but he should not be entirely ruled out either.
At the Senior Bowl, New England met with two other potential first-round candidates in TJ Parker of Clemson and Dani Dennis-Sutton of Penn State. The pair fits the mold of a prototypical hand-in-the-dirt, 4-3 defensive end. For Parker, who measured in at nearly 6-foot-4, 263 pounds and 33 2/8-inch arms, he appeared to be one of the most polished players in Mobile and went on to have an excellent combine last month. It’s very likely that Parker has played his way into the top half of the first round and would likely be out of reach for the Patriots, unless they traded up.
Meanwhile, Dennis-Sutton owns one of the more imposing frames amongst the edge class, standing in at nearly 6-foot-6 and 256 pounds, along with 33.5” arms. His motor can run hot and cold, one of the biggest critiques of his overall game this past year was the lack of consistency. However, the Nittany Lions defender can be a problem when he wants to and follows in the Penn State long lineage of churning out high-quality pass-rushers. A dark horse candidate for round one, Dennis-Sutton could be the best available edge prospect remaining if an early run on pass-rushers occurs.
New England hasn’t done extensive work on the linebacker class, although they do have a scheduled official '30 visit' with Khalil Jacobsof Missouri. Not invited to the combine or any all-star games, Jacobs is viewed as a hybrid backer, able to play off-ball or on-ball, flashing some pass-rush savvy in situational matchups. The Tigers' pro day workout is scheduled for March 20th, with the Patriots expected to be in attendance.
One other intriguing under-the-radar player is Shad Banks Jr.of UTSA, whom the team met with at the Hula Bowl. The 5-foot-11, 233-pound linebacker excelled in one-on-ones, demonstrating fluid movement agility and elite speed. It should not have come as too much of a surprise, as Banks is a former two-time Junior Olympic national triple jump champion. This is one name to remember when we arrive to the latter portion of the draft weekend, as Banks could be a true diamond in the rough.
The cornerback position figures to be addressed at some point during the draft, but if their formal visits tell us anything, it’s likely to be on the final day. New England was sure to make the rounds on some of the possibilities, including Andre Fullerof Toledo, whom they met with during the East-West Shrine Bowl. A lengthy press-man corner with blazing speed and active hands, Fuller displays great anticipatory skills, able to jump routes and break up passes frequently. However, there is some hip stiffness to his game, and he can tend to struggle against some of the twitchy wideouts. After a strong showing both in Mobile and at Indianapolis, Fuller is expected to land somewhere early on Day 3 of the draft.
At the American Bowl, team brass met with a quad-fecta of cornerbacks, including Al’Zillion Hamilton of Fresno State, Rashad Battle of Pittsburgh, Elijah Culp of James Madison and Michael Dansbyof Arizona. Of the bunch, Battle would be the outlier, standing at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, but he remains very raw in his overall skill-set and may need to convert to safety. The others would likely factor as slot corners due to their size. All four of these prospects are on the fringe of being drafted, an indication that New England could look to bring in multiple undrafted free agent cornerbacks following the draft to increase camp competition.
New England also met with a few safeties, including Jalen Stromanof Notre Dame, who was not invited to the combine but did meet with the team at the Senior Bowl. In fact, a strong performance during the American Bowl earned him the call-up to Mobile. An instinctive defender who specializes in stuffing the run, Stroman does offer some position flexibility to play linebacker.
At the Hula Bowl, scouts also met with Gavin Gibson of North Carolina. Another versatile player with experience at cornerback and safety, Gibson played every position in the secondary this past year for Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick. Add this name to the list of players that New England could seek to sign following the draft, as Gibson projects as a nickelback with great special teams value.
SPECIAL TEAMS
While New England has not had any formal visits with any punters known to date, they have met with a few specialists, such as Kansas kicker Laith Merjan and BYU long snapper Garrison Grimes. With a career 88% field goal accuracy, Merjan connected on 30-of-34 kicks over the past two seasons, nailing 12-of-13 kicks from 40-49 yards and going 2-of-3 from beyond 50-yards.
[Note From The Author]: Your passion, enthusiasm and feedback are greatly appreciated. Moving forward, I will do a better job of keeping up with the comments section. In order to do so, we will open it up to an NFL Draft Mailbag. Please feel free to comment below with any draft-related questions and I will answer them next week, right here. For year-round coverage of the NFL Draft be sure to follow @NFLDraftBible.
