Quick-hit thoughts on the Patriots’ 2026 NFL Draft class

Lack of roster locks

While it is by no means a set rule, players selected within the first four rounds are typically considered locks to make the roster. Needless to say, every situation is different, but you’d be hard pressed to find many fourth-round rookies that end up being let go by their teams. If we look at the Patriots’ draft class through that lens, we can see that there is a distinct lack of such roster locks. Sure, Caleb Lomu, Gabe Jacas and Eli Raridon all will be on the team come the start of the regular season, but the same cannot be said with certainty about the other six members of the class. Naturally, some of them will make it, but all of them will be under pressure to perform in training camp and preseason if they want to earn roles on the team.

Limited contributions?

The Patriots selected 11 players in last year’s draft, and six of them made major contributions to the team right out of the gate. Will Campbell and Jared Wilson started along the offensive line, TreVeyon Henderson finished the season as the team’s leading rusher, Craig Woodson started at safety, and both Andy Borregales and Julian Ashby became integral parts of the kicking game operation. Looking at this year’s class, finding obvious contributors let alone starters is a challenge. Caleb Lomu might see some snaps as a jumbo tight end, but he will primarily back up Campbell and Morgan Moses. Gabe Jacas and Eli Raridon could actually have a clearer path toward regular playing time, but neither should be expected to end up starting at their positions either. The others — i.e. those six non-roster locks drafted between Rounds 5 and 7 — will get their opportunities. Still, they would have to stand out over the summer in order to earn regular playing time at their listed positions. The kicking game, however, is a different story. Karon Prunty, Namdi Obiazor, Jam Miller and Quintayvious Hutchins in particular might have to use it as their ticket onto the roster. And it would consequently not be surprising to see some of them end up as core contributors on special teams.

No wide receiver moves

The Patriots entered the draft with considerable speculations about their wide receiver position. Would they trade Kayshon Boutte? Would they target a wideout early? Or would the draft serve as all but confirmation that a trade for Eagles wideout A.J. Brown is indeed in the pipeline, as expected? Well, it looks like that is the case. The Patriots did not part ways with Boutte, nor did they select any wide receivers. Philadelphia meanwhile, traded up in the first round to draft USC’s Makai Lemon — another sign that the organization is planning to move on from Brown after the June 1 deadline that would ease his salary cap impact in case of a trade. At this point in time, the Patriots trading for Brown seems very much inevitable. Both teams have prepared themselves accordingly.