Patriots’ 2026 NFL Draft Grades For Every Pick

The New England Patriots were just one win away from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for the seventh time. Had they won their matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, they would have taken over sole possession of first place for the most Super Bowl titles. Instead, New England needed to get busy in the offseason in order to take the next step forward. The team already had a better free agent period than anybody would have guessed, considering last year they were the biggest free agent spenders in the NFL. They most recently went to work in the 2026 NFL Draft. So, how does each of the Patriots’ draft picks grade?

Round 1, pick 28: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

Grade: B

Last year, the Patriots invested the fourth overall pick into Will Campbell to ensure Drake Maye would stay upright. It helped Maye finish in second place in MVP voting. Protecting their prized quarterback possession for years to come will continue to be of the utmost importance, though. In the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Patriots added another elite tackle prospect in Caleb Lomu. He paired well opposite Spencer Fano in college at Utah, and the duo of Campbell and Lomu should impress at the NFL level, too. The bad news is Lomu isn’t slated to be a day one starter, and he is going to have to switch from the left tackle position to go over to the right side.

Round 2, pick 55: Edge Gabe Jacas, Illinois

Grade: B

Gabe Jacas isn’t the fastest rusher off the edge, nor does he have tons of pass-rushing moves. He is a physical force who wins with a nasty bull rush, though. This archetype has found success in New England in the past, so expect the Illinois product to make an impact right away. Adding a win-now player like Jacas made sense for a Patriots team with championship aspirations.

Round 3, pick 95: TE Eli Raridon, Notre Dame

Grade: C+

Eli Raridon is 6-foot-6, and he impressed on tape as both a blocker and pass catcher at various times during his career at Notre Dame. However, Raridon is a little bit raw, and his collegiate production left something to be desired. Raridon might not make a big impact right away, but he provides high-upside depth and a Hunter Henry succession plan. The fact that he has torn the same ACL twice is worrisome.

Round 5, pick 171: DB Karon Prunty, Wake Forest

Grade: D+

Karon Prunty was considered by most to be a priority free agent, not a draft selection, which makes his pick at 171 a major reach. The Wake Forest player hadn’t done much before his redshirt senior season, but he does have length and reach, which is becoming more and more coveted at the cornerback position.

Round 6, pick 196: OT Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M

Grade: C

While the Patriots still have high hopes for Campbell, his rookie season was very up and down. After taking Lomu in the first round, New England went back to the offensive tackle position with the selection of Dametrious Crownover in order to ensure they have ample options on the offensive line. Crownover will be 25 years old as a rookie, but he isn’t necessarily a play-now prospect. The Texas A&M product still needs to develop his technique.

Round 6, pick 212: LB Namdi Obiazor, TCU

Grade: C+

Coverage skills are more important to possess for off-ball linebackers than ever before, and Namdi Obiazor can certainly hold his own in the passing game. However, at 229 pounds, he simply doesn’t have NFL size. It is easy to see Obiazor getting abused in the running game, but if he can be used situationally as a pass coverage specialist, the TCU player can find a role in the NFL.

Round 7, pick 234: QB Behren Morton, Texas Tech

Grade: B-

Behren Morton spent three years as Texas Tech’s quarterback. The Air Raid offense of the Red Raiders is known for creating NFL signal callers. The Patriots have their franchise quarterback, but they saw firsthand how important the backup quarterback position is when they won the AFC Championship Game against a Denver Broncos team without Bo Nix. Morton has experience and is accurate, so he can serve as Maye’s backup even as a rookie.

Round 7, pick 245: RB Jam Miller, Alabama

Grade: C+

Jam Miller is far from the most highly touted running back prospect to come out of Alabama in recent years. Still, ball carriers coming out of the system tend to find success. Miller runs hard and can break out chunk plays. It is hard to see him getting playing time right away, though, considering TreVeyon Henderson wasn’t even given as many carries as he seemingly deserved last season.

Round 7, pick 247: LB Quintayvious Hutchins, Boston College

Grade: C-

With their final draft pick, the Patriots took a gamble on an edge rushing project from Boston College. Quintayvious Hutchins only had 5.5 sacks over his collegiate career, but the Patriots will hope he can develop at the next level. Without impressive measurables, though, that seems unlikely.

Patriots overall draft grade

Grade: C

Coming off a Super Bowl appearance, the Patriots didn’t need much to take the next step forward, but there is a chance that none of their 2026 draftees will start right away. However, the Patriots did add depth and players who can take over at positions sooner rather than later.

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