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The New England Patriots' 2026 NFL Draft class ranked 22nd in average athleticism with a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 8.01. Despite this, the team successfully filled needs and improved overall roster depth.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 01: Caleb Lomu of the Utah Utes participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 01, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the dust had settled on the New England Patriotsâ 2026 NFL Draft, they had brought in nine new players â from first-round offensive tackle Caleb Lomu to seventh-round edge Quintayvious Hutchins. In between, they filled some needs and bolstered the overall depth across their roster.
They also added some high-end athleticism, even though that was unsurprisingly primarily concentrated within their first three selections. Overall, using Relative Athletic Score, which operates on a 0-to-10 scale, we can see the Patriotsâ draft haul breaks down as follows:
Adding these scores up and dividing them by nine to get an average, we can see that New Englandâs draft class posted an average RAS of 8.01. That is a good number â it would be shaded green in the graphic above â but nonetheless lacking in comparison to other teams around the league.
The Patriots' 2026 draft class posted an average Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 8.01.
The Patriots' draft class ranked 22nd in average athleticism among NFL teams.
The key players drafted by the Patriots include first-round offensive tackle Caleb Lomu and seventh-round edge Quintayvious Hutchins.
A Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 8.01 indicates a good level of athleticism, though it is lower compared to other teams' averages.

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As can be seen, the Patriotsâ 2026 draft class is ranked 22nd overall in average athleticism. Itâs 8.01 score also is slightly below the league average of 8.29.
Five of New Englandâs picks â OT Caleb Lomu, ED Gabe Jacas, TE Eli Raridon, CB Karon Prunty, LB Namdi Obiazor â check in higher than that average, with the rest of the group failing to reach that level. Is that a problem, though? In theory it might be, given that being faster, bigger and stronger usually gives players an advantage in the NFL.
However, our argument is that it is not a big deal when all is said and done.
Relative Athletic Score is a useful tool to compare playersâ pre-draft testing within their position groups and relative to four decades worth of historical data. However, as with all things draft or player evaluation, it is merely one piece of the puzzle â one easy-to-digest metric (built out of other easy-to-digest metrics) to give a quick overview.
It certainly has its merits, but it also is just one way of measuring a playersâ athleticism. Generally speaking, after all, in-game athleticism and testing athleticism are two different things. Itâs great if a linebacker runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, but that speed is not properly put to use if the playerâs processing speed, burst or quickness do not also look the part.
And that is a key point in the NFL: success or failure are not determined by testing in a vacuum. This is precisely why a player such as Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane has built a solid multi-year career for himself despite registering an underwhelming Relative Athletic Score of 1.97 back in 2018 (and in part due to his measurements going undrafted).
In addition, the makeup of the Patriotsâ average score in 2026 also needs to be looked at. They made three picks on the first two days of the draft, with those averaging 9.65 points. Following a series of trades to move up for Lomu and Jacas in Rounds 1 and 2, they were left without a selection until late in Round 5 â aka. outside the typical âroster lockâ range for draft pick.
In that sense, the majority of the Patriotsâ draft class are more lottery tickets than anything else. While baseline athleticism is still a plus, drafting at that point becomes very much based on traits; those do not necessarily have to be tied to a high RAS.
Ultimately, the success of New Englandâs nine-player class will not be determined strictly by its testing athleticism. There are other factors both individually and organizationally at play that also have a significant impact on development, which is why the 22nd team â or any team, for that matter â has a chance to outperform its ranking.