NFL Writer Has Interesting One-Word Take On Patriots' 2026 Draft

New England Patriots offensive tackle Caleb Lomu

NFL Writer Has Interesting One-Word Take On Patriots' 2026 Draft originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 NFL Draft for the Patriots officially wrapped up, and New England emerged with nine new players.

New England didn't earn the highest draft grade from analysts, but it also steered clear of a low rating. In an article for Bleacher Report, Kristopher Knox described each team's draft in just one word, and for the Patriots, he simply wrote it was "Fine."

"Look, the New England Patriots didn't have a bad draft, but they didn't knock it out of the park, either," Knox wrote on Monday. "New England's top three picks, Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, Illinois edge-defender Gabe Jacas, and Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon, should all be early contributors. However, none of them represent flashy selections, tremendous values, or future star power.

"If anything, the Patriots reached for Lomu, who was the 57th-ranked prospect on the B/R board. This was anything but a juicy haul for the defending AFC champions, but the Patriots added some good prospects in a nice, solid draft."

New England identified players who could contribute in the short term, such as Jacas and Raridon, while also hoping that Lomu could potentially step up as the right tackle in 2027 for the long haul.

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