2026 NFL Mock Draft: New England Patriots pick pass rusher

**Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami**

Elegy for a Super Bowl Participation Trophy

(With apologies to Dickens) *It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,* *it was the age of the prodigal Vrabel’s return, it was the age of his foolishness, or whatever* *THAT* *was.* **[1]** *It was the epoch of belief in Drake, it was the epoch of incredulity at his Super Bowl faceplant.* *It was the season of a light at the end of an (albeit very short) tunnel, it was the season of darkness after watching their prized left tackle get smoked again* **[2]** *it was the spring of hope after a Super Bowl run, it was the winter of despair after getting curb stomped once they got there.* *They were going to be another dynasty, they were all going back to mediocrity—in short, that Super Bowl was like* ***every one before Brady and Belichick****.* **[3] [4]** This should be a happy time for Pats nation. Their time in the wilderness, compared to other post-Dynasty teams like the Bulls, was remarkably short. They appeared to have nailed two (perhaps THE two) most important decisions facing any team by drafting Drake Maye and hiring Mike Vrabel in little over a year after the somewhat ignominious exit of the last remnants of the B and B dynasty. They also managed to parlay an (admittedly) easy schedule and some very timely injury luck into another Super Bowl berth. For a team with young players at so many key positions, even when they got overwhelmed in Santa Clara, you would think that they might consider their glass more than half-full. But, at least to this foreign (Eagles) Nation(al) posted in New England, there is more discontent than you might imagine. Even before the whole Vrabel-Russini nonsense became a national, cross-over story, there is a belief/recognition/concern that last year was a mirage; that Drake, their new lord and savior, might not have “it”. Between that, major issues on the O-line that got exposed by the Seahawks, and a schedule that is likely to be far-less forgiving than last year, the vibes are far worse than you might suspect. **[5]** ***And with the 31st pick…*** So what should they do with their draft pick? Since I’m not totally immersed in the Pats Pulpit/WEEI ecosystem, to be safe I field-tested my priors wrt their needs with my buddy Jake, one of the most clear-eyed Pats fans I know. A recap of our thread: *“What do they need? edge, o-line, safety,……um, did I mention edge and O-line?* *(long pause)* *….now that you mentioned it, do you think the Eagles will trade AJ Brown?”* This exchange confirmed what I had observed watching the Pats and the occasional foray over to Pats Pulpit. While most of BGN has been focused on the (questionable) strength of the Pats’ receivers room for obvious reasons, the truth is that they have more pressing needs elsewhere. Edge is the biggest one. As for the O-line, well, you all saw the Super Bowl. Finally, safety looks very thin with the Kevin Byard reclamation project **[6]** being penciled in as a starter. So what do they do with what’s left at the 31st pick? Before going over who is left on the board to choose from, I’d note two other things that influence my thinking and theirs First, this F.O. appears to have moved on from Belichick’s “trade down until you get every third-round pick and then draft randos” approach that drove the localsnuts back in the day. Ergo I think it’s unlikely they go outside the box which is smart. Second, I (and they I think) would very much want to trade for AJ Brown. Their strategy appears to be going for it without totally selling out like the Commanders did last offseason, so I am baking in the assumption that they will be bidding for Brown as June 1 approaches. With all that in mind I took the following approach to considering options:

1. Cross off the players already selected 1-30 from Fran Duffy’s draft guide and Dane Brugler’s “The Beast”.  **[7]**
2. Compile a list of everyone listed 1-32 in either draft guide as a “BPA” list
3. Add to them everyone 33-40 from a position of focus for the Pats, i.e. fills a need at edge, o-line, or safety and appears to be a fair value, As I noted, I wouldn’t reach for anybody and am pricing in a better-than-average chance WR will include AJ after June 1. In the “BPA” category, there were a few prospects: **Peter Woods DT Clemson**  (Numbers 15 and 35 for Duffy and Brugler, respectively) *I don’t think this is happening. The Pats just spent a gazillion dollars on Milton Williams and the \\\\\\ extension and can’t afford a luxury pick* **Aveion Terrell CB Clemson** (14,27) I also doubt this one as well. CB may be best position group on the roster, **K.C. Concepcion** **WR Texas A&M** (21,26) One of the team’s bloggers had a WR as top target a few weeks ago but I don’t think they can afford missing out on another area of need and THEN trade away a future first plus an additional pick for Brown. This leaves a few folks left who fill needs and are still ranked pretty highly by both guides **Akheem Mesidor Edge Miami** (28, 46) **Emmanuel  McNeil-Warren S** **Toledo** (20, 23) **Chase Bisontis IOL Texas A&M** (29, 34) **Caleb Tiernan** **T/G Northwestern** (33,64) While each of these have some appeal ***I’d have to go with Mesidor***. Edge is clearly the Pats’ biggest need and some of the knocks on him (age and injuries) are either less important given the accelerated timeline and/or not a concern if you trust your medical staff **[8]** and they clear him.

**FOOTNOTES**

***[1]** — Look, normally I wouldn’t care about what two consenting adults might choose or not choose to do in their private lives BUT … a) the whole “Patriot Way™” thing, while already a bit of a punch-line because of things like this, and this, and lest I forget, this, still grates this Philadelphian who spent years up here listening to that \\\\. Say what you want about the Eagles, at least our drama is rated PG-13 and is not plastered over Page 6, TMZ, or the subject of true crime mini-series. b) the entire A.J. to the Pats stream of stories coming from pillow talk, Foxborough-approved talking points, “sources” through Diana Russini smells incredibly fishy after this story broke. If these stories were anything more than neutral reporting I hope that the front office equivalent of ball don’t lie occurs and Howie gets at least a future first and a third for AJ if not more. After the Jonathan Gannon debacle, the Birds have some experience using the velvet hammer to leverage something useful out of tampering so if anyone can extract some silver out of that lining, it’s Howie.* ***[2]** — and again, and again, and again …….* ***[3]** — This Super Bowl reminded Pats fans of a mix of the two Super Bowls they were in that didn’t involve Tom Brady; somewhere between a domination at the hands of a great defense (’85 Bears) and a moral victory that in theory could have gone their way but not really (’96 Packers)* ***[4]** — Am I being extra salty because of what the Celtics are about to do to the Embiid-less Sixers? Yes, yes I am.* ***[5]** — There is another issue at play that I think underpins the tinge of ennui in New England’s fandom. I think they are still trying to come to terms with the end of the Brady-Belichick era.* ***[6]** — What is it with former Eagles flameouts at safety finding starting jobs up here?* ***[7]** — What a world that we live in where there are TWO amazing draft guides and one is compiled by a former Eagles staffer.* ***[8]** — Which by all accounts is really good. Fun fact, MGH sports medicine has an OR suite adjacent to Foxboro Stadium where even randos like me can have a shoulder repair.*

**2026 BGN Mock Draft Order**

1. Raiders (Mailata\_in\_a\_Miata): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2. Jets (Dr.MidnightGreen): Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
3. Cardinals (grantspectations): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
4. Titans (DrBubbles): Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
5. Giants (ablesser88): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
6. Browns (kjb304): Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
7. Commanders (Jerry Robinson 56): Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
8. Saints (VetStadiumSection358): David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
9. Chiefs (Hoosinole): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
10. Bengals (chuckelberryfinn): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
11. Dolphins (phillyfan): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
12. Cowboys (ejdubya): Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
13. Rams (All\_Hail\_Howie): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
14. Ravens (215T1LL1D1e): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
15. Buccaneers (pascofljoe): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
16. Jets (Euegene11): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
17. Lions (BCHaas): Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
18. Vikings (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop): Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
19. Panthers (jaynase): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
20. Cowboys (Cravin’ LeBlanc): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
21. Steelers (iam4theBirdz): Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
22. Chargers (Aint1stULast): Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
23. Eagles (Philly21): Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
24. Browns (FierceDisc65): Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
25. Bears (jazztafari): Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
26. Bills (PhillyTexan): Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
27. 49ers (granthill7): Omar Cooper Jr. WR, Indiana
28. Texans (CrackTheEaglesNut): Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
29. Chiefs (z): Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
30. Dolphins (Booth12): T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson
31. Patriots (Niels Rosenquist): Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami
32. Seahawks (J. Wil)

2026 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft

Now it’s YOUR TURN to vote for who you think should be selected with this pick.

1. Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza
2. Jets: EDGE Arvell Reese
3. Cardinals: OT Francis Mauigoa
4. Titans: RB Jeremiyah Love
5. Giants: LB Sonny Styles
6. Browns: WR Carnell Tate
7. Commanders: EDGE David Bailey
8. Saints: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
9. Chiefs: S Caleb Downs
10. Bengals: CB Mansoor Delane
11. Dolphins: WR Jordyn Tyson
12. Cowboys: CB Jermod McCoy
13. Rams: WR Makai Lemon
14. Ravens: OT Monroe Freeling
15. Buccaneers: TE Kenyon Sadiq
16. Jets: OG Olaivavega Ioane
17. Lions: OT Spencer Fano
18. Vikings: S Dillon Thieneman
19. Panthers: OT Kadyn Proctor
20. Cowboys: EDGE Akheem Mesidor
21. Steelers: EDGE Keldric Faulk
22. Chargers: OT Caleb Lomu
23. Eagles: OT Max Iheanachor
24. Browns: OT Blake Miller
25. Bears: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
26. Bills: DT Kayden McDonald
27. 49ers: WR Omar Cooper Jr.
28. Texans: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
29. Chiefs: CB Colton Hood
30. Dolphins: EDGE T.J. Parker
31. Patriots: