Patriots might be the least-predictable team in the NFL Draft

TL;DR

The New England Patriots enter the 2026 NFL Draft with unpredictable needs and no clear direction. With a diverse set of potential picks, they are tied for the title of most unpredictable team in Round 1.

Key points

Patriots have unpredictable needs in the 2026 NFL Draft
Max Iheanachor is the most popular mock draft pick for New England
Only 9% of mocks have Iheanachor going to the Patriots
27 players were selected at least 10 times for pick 31
Keldric Faulk has the highest selection rate among recent mock drafts

New England Patriots

Foxborough, MA - March 12: New England Patriots Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf meets with the media on March 12, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images The last two years, there was not a whole lot of mystery surrounding the New England Patriots entering the NFL Draft. In 2024, it was pretty clear that they would go quarterback, and Drake Maye was the frontrunner and eventual pick at No. 3 overall. In 2025, offensive tackle was the main need on the roster with Will Campbell the highest-rated prospect on the board; he too ended up in New England as the fourth selection in that particular draft. Heading into this year’s college player selection meeting, all bets are off. Naturally, the team no longer being among the first on the clock is the primary reason for that. However, a diverse set of needs without any obviously glaring ones also contributes to this. The Patriots could go edge at No. 31 overall. They could go offensive tackle or guard. They could go wide receiver, maybe even defensive tackle or safety. Anything seems possible given the current state of the roster and their draft slot. This in turn, makes them one of the least predictable teams in the draft. And don’t just take our word for it, a combined 143 first-round mock drafts see it the same way. True to its name, the NFL Mock Draft Database has collected that number of mocks over the last month — i.e. since the end of free agency — with Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor as the Patriots’ most popular pick. Iheanachor indeed seems to be in play for the team in Round 1, but there is no consensus he will end up in New England. Looking at those 143 mocks, only 13 of them actually have the 22-year-old headed to the Patriots. The rate of 9% ties New England with the for the title of most unpredictable in Round 1. The writers producing those mock drafts are not the only ones uncertain about the Patriots heading toward Round 1. Fans themselves are also all over the place as a look at the shows. Over the last seven days, more than 5,000 picks were made at No. 31 and 27 different players were selected at least 10 times — one of the highest such numbers among the league’s teams. The biggest share went not to Iheanachor, who was drafted 482 times (which again gives us a rate of 9%), but instead to Auburn edge Keldric Faulk. Hobby mock drafters have given him to the Patriots 1,421 times (27%) since last week. Faulk is one of the most intriguing defensive linemen in the class, and him lasting to the 31st pick and ending up in New England would be a slight surprise. That said, given the unpredictability of the draft in general, and the Patriots’ position within it specifically, anything seems possible. That is very much a change from the last two years.

Q&A

What are the New England Patriots' biggest needs in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Patriots have diverse needs including edge, offensive tackle, guard, wide receiver, defensive tackle, and safety.

Who is the most popular pick for the Patriots in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor is the most popular pick, but only 9% of mock drafts have him going to New England.

How many players have been selected for the Patriots at pick 31 in mock drafts?

Over 5,000 picks were made at No. 31, with 27 different players selected at least 10 times.

Which player has been most frequently picked for the Patriots in recent mock drafts?

Auburn edge Keldric Faulk has been selected for the Patriots 1,421 times, accounting for 27% of recent picks.

Patriots might be the least-predictable team in the NFL Draft

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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