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New England Patriots Seven-Round Mock Draft: Pass Rush Heavy

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In the first seven-round mock draft of 2026, the New England Patriots bolster a position that faces a great deal of uncertainty heading into next season. Even after punching their ticket to Super Bowl 60, it is an ideal time to inquire about young, controllable reinforcements to maximize the contention window beyond this year.

New England Patriots Seven-Round Mock Draft: First Edition of 2026

Round 1, Pick 31: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson

The New England Patriots haven’t had a player record more than ten sacks since 2022. Milton Williams and Christian Barmore form a formidable duo on the inside of the defense, but the team needs help on the edge. With K’Lavon Chaisson on an expiring contract and an ageing Harold Landry, the Patriots don’t have much long-term value at the position. New England shifts that narrative with their first pick of this seven-round mock draft.

After an incredible 11-sack sophomore campaign, Clemson Tigers’ edge rusher T.J. Parker left a lot to be desired this past season. He mustered just five sacks and didn’t come close to matching his program record 19.5 tackles for loss from a year prior. Beyond the box score, Parker isn’t the greatest athlete. He won’t threaten the outside shoulder with bend and burst. Instead, he will anchor the edge against the run by winning leverage battles. On pass rush reps, he finds a way to win with advanced technical skills and manipulation techniques rather than sheer athleticism.

SCOUTING REPORT

Round 2, Pick 63: Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee

The Patriots’ offense was one of the most explosive units in all of football this season. Their 12.4 yards per reception and 69 twenty-plus yard receptions both ranked second in the NFL. In recent years, there has been a heavy expectation for receivers drafted early in New England. With an already productive unit, there won’t be much pressure for a rookie receiver to contribute immediately.

Between Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman, the Tennessee Volunteers don’t have a great reputation for developing wide receivers lately, but Chris Brazzell II has more translatable skills than the latter. He has exceptional twitch that allows him to separate against man coverage and get off the line cleanly when facing press coverage. While the lack of a route tree is a concern, Brazzell is physically gifted and worth an early-day two selection.

Round 3, Pick 94: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford

In recent years, New England has typically solidified the tight end room through free agency. They haven’t drafted and developed an impactful player at the position since Rob Gronkowski over ten years ago. While Hunter Henry has been a consistent option, he is an older player with an incredibly physical role. With their final top-100 selection in this seven-round mock draft, the Patriots add some youth and athleticism alongside Henry.

Sam Roush is a throwback tight end. He wants to get his hands dirty and block in the trenches. Instead of running around defenders, he wants to run through them. Roush doesn’t have high-end athleticism, but, has enough juice to threaten the seam consistently. His nuance when route running stands out. Roush understands how to change his tempo and work back to the ball rather than wait for it. This is the perfect prospect to polish his skills behind Hunter Henry before eventually superseding him.

Round 4, Pick 125: Michael Taaffe, SAF, Texas

With Jaylinn Hawkins set to hit free agency this offseason, the Patriots have an underrated need at safety. If New England is unable to bring Hawkins back, Craig Woodson and Brenden Schooler would be the only safeties under contract through 2026. While Woodson was good in his rookie season, he struggled in coverage. Schooler is a special teams ace, but he is truly an unknown asset on defense. With this selection, an experienced player maker on the backend is headed to Foxborough.

Michael Taaffe brings cornerback-esque coverage skills to the safety position. He is elite at diagnosing, communicating, and disrupting plays. His ability to plant, break, and drive to force incompletions underneath is incredible to watch. Taaffe would immediately give the Patriots an elite cover safety to deploy either in the slot or against tight ends. At the very worst, he can be utilized strictly when defending the pass or on special teams.

Round 4, Pick 130: Malachi Lawrence, EDGE, UCF

The Patriots use their second fourth-round pick to dip back into a deep edge class. Central Florida’s Malachi Lawrence has an impressive blend of length, size, and athleticism. He can win quickly with great burst off the line and possesses flexible hips that allow him to win outside. There isn’t much early-down potential from Lawrence because he struggles against the run. Instead, the Patriots could utilize him strictly as a designated pass rusher right out of the gates.

Round 5, Pick 168: Kage Casey, OT, Boise State

With the lack of talent at offensive tackle in the 2026 NFL Draft, the best value could be found on day three. With this selection, New England finds a potential long-term replacement for the 34-year-old Morgan Moses. Kage Casey would bring plenty of experience and intellect to the Patriots’ offensive line. He doesn’t have top-tier measurables or movement skills, but Casey is controlled, powerful, and understands his play style.

Round 6, Pick 190: Jager Burton, IOL, Kentucky

The New England Patriots use back-to-back day three picks on offensive linemen by selecting Jager Burton from Kentucky. With over 50 games of experience at both center and guard, he would bring plenty of versatility to an offensive line that allowed 47 sacks this past season. Burton is a prospect to watch after putting together a strong week at the 101st East-West Shrine Bowl.

Round 6, Pick 201: James Thompson Jr., IDL, Illinois

James Thompson Jr. is another Shrine Bowl standout from this past week. The Fighting Illini alumnus would bring his massive 6-foot-6, 310-pound frame to the interior of the Patriots’ defense. Thompson Jr. won’t be known for his pass rush skills in the NFL, but his power is next level. He is strictly a power-based interior defender who can take on double teams and generate enough push to pressure the quarterback. New England could use another run-stopping defensive tackle with Khyiris Tonga set to hit free agency.

Round 6, Pick 208: Eric Gentry, LB, USC

Trojan linebacker Eric Gentry could be one of the best low-risk, high-reward options in this draft class. At just 221 pounds, it’s unlikely for him to see considerable snaps in the middle of a defense. With his movement skills and length, the Patriots could utilize him as a WILL linebacker or even on special teams. At this point in the draft, New England would be looking to make their roster deeper, and Gentry would give them special size and physical tools wherever he plays.

Round 6, Pick 210: Devin Moore, CB, Florida

With Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, and Marcus Jones, the Patriots have a three-headed monster at cornerback. Beyond them, the depth is a bit lacklustre. Devin Moore from Florida has an elite 6-foot-3, 196 lb. frame and can go stride-for-stride with any assignment. Maybe his lack of ball production is the reason for his availability in the sixth round, but this could be another example of a late-in-the-process riser.

Round 7, Pick 246: Palmer Williams, P, Baylor

According to Pro Football Focus, Bryce Baringer was the sixth-worst punter in football this season. With the final selection in this seven-round mock draft, Palmer Williams will battle Baringer for the starting punter title in New England next season. Williams has been one of college football’s best punters over the past two seasons. He was named the Big 12 Conference’s 2025 Special Teams Player of the Year after having the best punting season in all of college football as a sophomore.