2026 Mock Draft 1.0: Patriots add real juice at receiver for Drake Maye originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
There’s still so much work to be done for the Patriots this offseason that it’s almost impossible to put together an NFL Mock Draft that makes any sense. But that won’t stop us from trying.
Yes, the Patriots just finished up a run to the Super Bowl that would have delayed Mike Vrabel and his coaching staff’s prep for the draft. Yes, they are once again in the top half of the NFL in available cap space ($41 million, per Over The Cap, which ranks 11th), meaning they have the ability to sign players who will render any assessment of current roster “needs” moot.
Still, this is an exercise worth engaging in for two reasons: A) It forces us to do a little projection as it relates to the types of additions (and subtractions) the Patriots may make at the start of the league year, and B) it provides for us a glimpse at the types of talent across positions available to the Patriots when they pick at No. 31 overall.
It’s a much different spot for the Patriots after picking in the top five each of the last two seasons. But the possibilities at the bottom of the first round are just about endless, which will give us plenty to bat around between now and the end of April.
This time around? We’re giving Drake Maye’s offensive huddle a spark.
Let’s dive into the first round…
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Tom Brady can’t pass on the opportunity to grab the player who looks like perhaps the only one with franchise-quarterback potential in this year’s draft.
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
He may not be the cleanest projection since he plays both off the line and on the edge, but Reese’s physical skill set is top-tier.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
One of the best (if not the best) tackles in this class goes to Arizona to help protect whichever quarterback they turn to in 2026.
4. Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, ED, Texas Tech
His arms aren’t the longest, but Bailey has the kind of high-end pass-rushing potential that won’t allow him to slip far beyond the draft’s top five picks.
5. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
There will be some debate this offseason as to whether or not taking a safety this high is worth it. Let’s assume John Harbaugh — who has had the chance to coach some game-changers at the position — thinks it is.
6. Cleveland Browns: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
The Browns still need more certainty at the quarterback spot, but until they figure out what they’re doing there, might as well build up the offensive line in the meantime.
7. Washington Commanders: Reuben Bain, ED, Miami
It would come as a real stunner if Dan Quinn had the opportunity to draft a relentless and productive pass-rusher like Bain… then passed. Can’t see it.
8. New Orleans Saints: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
Kansas City’s brass might be punching walls if this is the pick that gets turned in one spot ahead of their own, but Love is a dynamic playmaker in a class thin on running-back talent.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Patrick Mahomes no longer has to focus on his aging tight end or former Patriots wideouts when he drops back to pass. Lemon might be the best all-around wideout in the class, and he’s drawing comparisons to fellow USC product Amon-Ra St. Brown.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Cincinnati needs as much defensive help as it can muster. In Delane, the Bengals get a cornerback who will slot in as a starter right away.
11. Miami Dolphins: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
Would Miami roll with a banged-up corner like McCoy this early? McCoy missed the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL, but when healthy, his tape suggests he might be the best corner in this class.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Keldric Faulk, ED, Auburn
Dallas is another team that needs to flood its roster with defensive talent on draft weekend. Faulk is very young — he’ll be 20 when drafted — and has physical traits that can’t be taught.
13. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Sean McVay had to come away from his NFC Championship Game loss to the Seahawks thinking that if he just had a little more skill in his secondary, his team might’ve been off to a Super Bowl. Hood gives Los Angeles a starting-caliber cover man who’ll be ready to go as soon as the fall arrives.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Cashius Howell, ED, Texas A&M
New head coach Jesse Minter is going to want to re-shape Baltimore’s defense to reflect that which he believes in on that side of the ball. Nabbing a twitchy pass-rusher will help.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
If Lavonte David is nearing the end of his career, it’s hard to envision a better replacement than Styles, who is one of the freakiest athletes in the draft class.
16. New York Jets (via Colts): Olaivavega Ioane, OL, Penn State
Alijah Vera-Tucker has been injury-prone. John Simpson might be gone. The Jets have a shot to draft the best interior lineman in the class here.
17. Detroit Lions: Akheem Mesidor, ED, Miami
While Bain will likely be the first Hurricanes edge defender to be drafted, it was Mesidor who actually racked up more sacks in 2025 (12.5 to Bain’s 9.5). He’ll be 25 years old when he’s drafted, but in this scenario Dan Campbell doesn’t care. He knows a kneecap biter when he sees one.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
Dropping a do-it-all safety into Brian Flores’ scheme has the potential to be a lot of fun in Minnesota. McNeil-Warren looks like he could be special when paired with a smart defensive coordinator.
19. Carolina Panthers: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
In Carolina, the plan should be to continue to throw pass-catching options Bryce Young’s way and see what he can do with them. Tate would complement Tetairoa McMillan well with his ability to threaten defenses vertically.
20. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
See pick No. 12. Defense, defense and more defense. That’s what the Cowboys need. With Terrell, they get a dependable coverage option with NFL bloodlines.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
Tyson’s injury history may force him to fall, but if he can stay healthy, he looks like one of the most promising wideouts in this class. His explosiveness could get him drafted much higher than this.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Chase Bisontis, OL, Texas A&M
The Chargers know where their bread is buttered. If they can get their star tackles back healthy, they’ll then need to make sure quarterback Justin Herbert is protected up the middle.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Under Howie Roseman, the Eagles have never been afraid of snatching up blue-chip specimens from the SEC. That’s Proctor, whose size and movement skills are rare. If he can keep his weight in check, this could be a steal.
24. Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
After adding to the offensive line earlier in the first round, drafting Boston gives Cleveland a big-bodied playmaker on the outside.
25. Chicago Bears: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State
Chicago’s run defense could use a shot in the arm. McDonald’s size (6-foot-3, 326 pounds) and power at the point of attack could go a long way in transforming Ben Johnson’s defensive front.
26. Buffalo Bills: Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana
Cooper is fast, tough and has real yards-after-the-catch ability. The Patriots might be hoping he falls to them at No. 31. Instead, the Hoosiers wideout lands with a division rival.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame
With one of the most impressive catch radii in the draft class, Fields lit it up at the Senior Bowl. If Jauan Jennings leaves via free agency, Fields could step right in.
28. Texans: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Houston is going to have to continue to chip away at its offensive line issue this offseason. Lomu played left tackle for the Utes, meaning last year’s rookie Aireontae Ersery might have to shift to right tackle.
29. Los Angeles Rams: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Heads up, Matthew Stafford. The reality of the situation in Los Angeles is that its MVP quarterback just turned 38 years old. Simpson could use some time to develop (only 15 college starts under his belt) but he’ll get that as the No. 2 in 2026.
30. Denver Broncos: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
You can almost picture Sean Payton salivating at the opportunity to draft Sadiq as the draft moves closer and closer to the end of the first round. The Ducks tight end will see his versatility maximized by a coach who isn’t afraid to align elite athletes all over his offensive formations.
31. New England Patriots: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
Explosiveness. Separation. Versatility. Those are three words that immediately come to mind when watching Concepcion.
His quickness as a route-runner and burst with the ball in his hands are outstanding. Combine those traits with an innate feel for open spaces and a refusal to go down upon first contact, and you have a potential game-changer in Josh McDaniels’ offense.
A transfer from NC State, Concepcion returned two punts for touchdowns this season with the Aggies. He’s not going to move people in the running game (5-foot-11, 190 pounds), and he dropped 19 passes over three seasons. But his ability to uncover and provide Drake Maye quick openings in the passing game could lead to bundles of easy yardage — and potentially fewer sacks for a quarterback who took a whopping 47 last season.
Concepcion has the ability to play a variety of different alignments, but if the Patriots opt to part ways with Stefon Diggs in the offseason, this spark plug rookie would be an ideal fill-in to play on the interior as Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams take on more of the work outside the numbers.
The Patriots could have gone for an offensive tackle — perhaps the next in line after Morgan Moses on the right side — with No. 31.
Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor and Clemson’s Blake Miller both represent intriguing options for different reasons. Miller made 54 starts for the Tigers, played through injury, and seems like a ready-made option. Iheanachor only started playing football in 2021, but he’s light on his feet for someone with a massive frame, and he impressed at the Senior Bowl.
But in this scenario, the Patriots go with the wideout, with the thinking being that they can perhaps find a developmental tackle on Day 2 with the soon-to-be 35-year-old Moses still on the roster and coming off a solid season.
32. Seahawks: Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
With Riq Woolen set to hit free agency, the Super Bowl champs could use a corner who can slide in to fill the void. Cisse can fly and seems like a fit for Mike Macdonald’s scheme.