The New England Patriots are finalizing their preparations for the 2026 NFL Draft, prompting discussions about potential player selections. Speculation centers around the strategy of choosing the best player available.
Georgia Bulldogs linebacker CJ Allen
NFL Mock Draft 4.0: What If Patriots Actually Took Best Player Available? originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It's the most wonderful time of the year!
The New England Patriots are putting the finishing touches on their preparation for the 2026 NFL Draft, which means it is time for us to start tossing some predictions out there in hopes to get at least a few right so we can brag about how smart we are over the coming months -- or something like that.
NESN is giving us five tries at getting this thing right, with our stories dropping on March 23, March 30, April 6, April 13, and April 20. I'll set out new rules for each crack at it, with the next edition of our little series coming under these restrictions: take the best player available.
Let's go!
No. 31: LB CJ Allen (Georgia)
Allen, curiously enough, has been a popular target for this particular franchise -- landing around these parts in not only this ridiculous exercise but in mock drafts done by both NFL Media's Chad Reuter and CBS Sports' Mike Renner. It's not a complete and total surprise, however, as there remains a long-term need at the second level of the defense and this particular group of decision-makers has been bold with draft picks.
Allen would be able to contribute immediately, as he made tremendous strides in the passing game last season to help match how great he has always been in the running game. New England could do a lot worse.
No. 63: EDGE Derrick Moore (Michigan)
Moore's role would have to be earned, as there is still plenty for him to improve upon if he wants to be afforded opportunities on early downs. It's not like he doesn't have a track record of earning more responsibility, however.
Moore played 1,355 career snaps on defense, mostly in a rotational role, but saw his production increase by improving sack (4.0 to 10.0), tackle for loss (6.0 to 10.5), and pressure (37 to 41) totals from 2024 to 2025.
No. 95: S Bud Clark (TCU)
Clark does a little bit of everything, finishing his collegiate career with pretty impressive numbers in just about every statistical category possible -- including 15 interceptions, 21 pass deflections, and 214 tackles. The Patriots are in great shape in the secondary, but you need to find someone who will eventually replace Kevin Byard as the partner to Craig Woodson.
No. 125: TE Justin Joly (NC State)
Joly has been extremely consistent as a pass-catcher across his stints with UConn and NC State -- totaling 148 receptions, 1,728 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns across 2023-2025. The Patriots would be wise to address the long-term future at tight end, and grabbing someone who has produced consistently isn't a bad start.
No. 131: OT Austin Barber (Florida)
Arizona State's Max Iheanachor, Utah's Caleb Lomu, and Clemson's Blake Miller have all been tied to the club at No. 31, but what if they aren't available? Barber might be a choice in the later rounds, as he has experience playing on both sides and has the size (6-foot-7, 318 pounds) that you might covet in a potential replacement for Morgan Moses (6-foot-6, 314 pounds).
No. 171: IOL Jeremiah Wright (Auburn)
Wright has made multiple appearances in this series, and for good reason! The Patriots reportedly have met with him on numerous occasions and could use some depth behind Mike Onwenu (entering the final year of his deal), Jared Wilson (making a position change after an up-and-down rookie season), and Alijah Vera-Tucker (has missed more games than he has played in the last three seasons).
No. 191: WR Cyrus Allen (Cincinnati)
Allen, who played two seasons at Louisiana Tech followed by one-year stints at Texas A&M and Cincinnati, produced from the slot and recently made a Top 30 visit at One Patriot Place.
No. 198: QB Cade Klubnik (Clemson)
The Patriots claim they're going to draft a quarterback, so in our last attempt at filling a (need) we took the top option left on the board.
No. 202: RB Roman Hemby (Indiana)
Hemby is an absolute tank who thrived (1,120 rushing yards in 2025) splitting carries with Kaelon Black at Indiana. I'd like to see him bring that bully ball style behind the likes of Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.
No. 212: TE Tanner Koziol (Houston)
Koziol is an awesome late-round choice given his size (6-foot-6, 247 pounds) and production (74 receptions, 727 receiving yards, six touchdowns in 2025).
No. 247: ATH Eli Heidenreich (Navy)
I like the guy... Sue me.
"Best player available, hopefully. Maybe we trade up. Maybe we trade out. I don't know."
Mike Vrabel didn't mince words during his media availability at the NFL's Annual Meetings on March 31. The Patriots would prefer to take the best player available when it's their turn to pick at No. 31, so we took that as a challenge and spent an entire draft taking the "best player available" on the consensus board -- with the only caveat being that we wouldn't double-dip until every need was addressed.
It's ridiculous to think this is how things would shake out, but so is assuming you'll be able to take the best player available. I've seen worst groups of players, though...
How do you think we did? Let me know on X!
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