The New England Patriots wrapped up the 2026 NFL Draft despite the controversy surrounding head coach Mike Vrabel, and now it’s time to hand out grades to see how they did. The team wildly overachieved in 2025, making the Super Bowl despite going 4-13 one season earlier. Since then, the team added some interesting weapons in free agency, but ultimately needed a strong draft to build on their previous season.
New England Patriots 2026 NFL Draft Grades: A Pick-By-Pick Breakdown
First Round (28th Overall): Caleb Lomu – OT
The New England Patriots did not expect Caleb Lomu to be on the board this late, so they aggressively traded up to select the Utah product. While some may think this selection spells the end of Will Campbell’s tenure at tackle, it’s far more likely that Lomu becomes the eventual heir to Morgan Moses. Moses had a great year in 2025, but he’s entering his age-35 season and openly contemplated retirement earlier in the offseason. Tackle is arguably the most important non-quarterback position in football, and selecting Lomu now gives New England depth for 2026 and a long-term answer at right tackle for 2027 and beyond.
Patriots Draft Grade: A-
Second Round (55th Overall): Gabe Jacas – ED
Once again, the Patriots saw a player they liked and aggressively moved up to get him. Trading up isn’t normally the optimal move, but the team entered the draft with eight Day 3 selections, so they could afford to do this. New England reportedly parted ways with K’Lavion Chaisson because he wasn’t good enough against the run, and Gabe Jacas should fix this. Jacas is a fundamentally sound player who may not have elite athletic traits but is a solid weapon against the run and the pass. He probably doesn’t have any All-Pro selections in his future, but he should be a solid starter for years to come.
Patriots Draft Grade: A-
Third Round (94th Overall): Eli Raridon – TE
After selecting two relatively safe prospects, the New England Patriots reached for the stars with this selection. Eli Raridon boasts fantastic physical traits and has some starting experience during his time with Notre Dame. If he works out, he’ll be one of the league’s top tight ends. However, that’s a big ‘if,’ as the Notre Dame product is unpolished and will need time to develop. Fortunately, Hunter Henry is still going strong, so Raridon doesn’t need to be ready to start in Week 1. Quite frankly, this is the exact type of player you should be selecting late in the third round. New England needed to find Henry’s eventual heir, and now they have him.
Patriots Draft Grade: A
Fifth Round (171st Overall): Karon Prunty – CB
All the “safe” prospects are gone by this point in the draft, so the Patriots rightfully stopped caring about team needs and instead focused on getting the best player on the board. Karon Prunty is the type of player you expect to get near the end of the fifth round, as the Wake Forest product boasts decent athleticism and could turn into a solid depth piece with the right coaching. In the short term, he’ll probably earn a living on special teams.
Patriots Draft Grade: B
Sixth Round (196th Overall): Dametrious Crownover – OT
Dametrious Crownover is an absolute monster of a man. Weighing in at 6′-7″ and 319 pounds, the Texas A&M product has the strength to go up against NFL-caliber pass rushers, but might not have the footspeed to handle speedier edge rushers. This may force him to be a guard down the line, but the Patriots can take their time figuring out what to do with him. New England’s offensive line is in reasonably good shape, and Crowover can make a solid living as a reserve tackle and (potentially) guard. You can’t have too many reliable offensive linemen, and Crownover’s size makes him an intriguing Day 3 selection.
Patriots Draft Grade: A-
Sixth Round (212nd Overall): Namdi Obiazor – LB
It’s not a New England Patriots draft if the team doesn’t walk away with a Day 3 linebacker. Obiazor probably would have been a fourth-round pick had he been draft eligible in 1995, as he’s a solid fixture against the run as an old-school linebacker. However, he doesn’t do much of anything in coverage or as a pass rusher, and there’s only so much a player like him can do in today’s NFL. Look for the TCU product to fight for a depth linebacker spot and contribute on special teams.
Patriots Draft Grade: B-
Seventh Round (234th Overall): Behren Morton – QB
Believe it or not, most Day 3 quarterbacks do not turn into Tom Brady. Behren Morton is a multi-year starter who reportedly gained plenty of respect as a locker room leader, but he lacks the phsyical traits to become anything more than a low-end backup in the NFL. Still, he should earn a spot on the practice squad and could be the team’s long-term backup if offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels develops him properly. If nothing else, he’ll help keep franchise quarterback Drake Maye’s arm warm throughout the offseason.
Patriots Draft Grade: B
Seventh Round (245th Overall): Jam Miller – RB
Like almost every other seventh-round running back in existence, Jam Miller will have to earn a roster spot on special teams. Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson are firmly entrenched above him on the depth chart, and it’s hard to envision a world where Miller beats out either player for touches. Still, running back is an injury-prone position, and there’s no harm in using a late seventh-round pick on additional depth.
Patriots Draft Grade: B
Seventh Round (247th Overall): Quintayvious Hutchins – EDGE
The Patriots finished up their draft with yet another edge defender. New England was low on pass-rushing talent entering the NFL Draft, so this is a pleasant example of when talent and need align. Despite the presence of second-round pick Gabe Jacas, Quintayvious Hutchins has a decent shot to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, or at least stick around on the practice squad.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images
