2026 NFL Draft Grades: New England Patriots

One year ago, the Patriots drafted Will Campbell at No. 4. He was supposed to be the answer for Drake Maye's lack of protection after the 2024 O-line allowed pressure on 37.4% of the young quarterback's dropbacks. Things started off well, but Campbell went down with a knee injury in Week 12 and wasn't the same when he returned. His relatively short 32⅝-inch arms proved problematic against playoff competition, and he allowed five sacks across four playoff games.

I thought New England might seek out the K'Lavon Chaisson replacement in Round 1, but the team went back to the offensive line well for a second straight year, taking Caleb Lomu at No. 28 after a slight trade up. Lomu was a top-25 player for me, and he's very consistent as both a pass protector and run blocker. Patriots fans will likely want to know his arm length -- it's 33⅜ inches, much more in line with standards at the position. But Lomu also brings quick feet, which helps him adjust on the fly and keep speed rushers from reaching the corner. I'd like to see him fill out his 6-foot-6, 313-pound frame a little more, but the upside is there.

The lingering question is where he plays. Could he actually push Campbell inside and play left tackle, his college position? It's possible. Would he replace Morgan Moses at right tackle? Eventually, yes, but not yet. Would he fall into a swing tackle role or even kick inside to guard? All of those options should be on the table, and Lomu has the versatility to help this unit form anywhere.

Limiting pressure in 2026 is just as key as getting pressure, though. The Patriots were 21st in pressure rate (31.1%) last season, and I'm not sure Dre'Mont Jones is an upgrade in that regard over Chaisson. The Pats had to do something here at the draft. Gabe Jacas was the team's next pick, and I enjoyed his tape in the predraft process. He had 11 sacks last season, but I actually think that's selling his pass-rush chops short. At Illinois, Jacas took on a lot of other asks, like sealing the edge and dropping in coverage. If the Patriots let him pin his ears back, he could be a real factor in getting to the QB.

Eli Raridon was another one of my guys this year. He has a big 6-foot-6 frame and can make plays down the field. It was probably a round early on him, but considering the other much-worse reaches on tight ends on Day 2, I'm OK with this move, especially since it helps Maye.

There were bigger issues afoot in Foxborough in recent days, but the reigning AFC champs also picked some new players. And while this grade isn't intended as a knock, particularly given the Pats were selecting near the end of most rounds due to their 2025 success, first-round OT Caleb Lomu, second-round OLB Gabe Jacas and third-round TE Eli Raridon all feel like succession plans as opposed to players ready to put this team over the Lombardi hump. Maybe the cherry on top will arrive in a few weeks in the form of Brown, a transaction that would better frame a forward-thinking draft, but that calculus will also involve parting with more valuable 2027 draft capital.

Best Pick: Second-round EDGE Gabe Jacas gives them much-needed help. He is a power rusher who needs some refining, but the tools are there.

Worst Pick: I like Caleb Lomu as a player, but trading up to take a player who was a left tackle when you insist Will Campbell is the left tackle is puzzling. I know they say he can be the right tackle down the road, but he probably won't help this year.

The Skinny: This is not a draft I loved. Lomu will be a good player, but where and when? Jacas fills a need, but the rest of their draft was underwhelming. Does not taking a receiver mean A.J. Brown is on the way?

Making the roster of any NFL team is difficult, and it is exponentially harder for one coming off a Super Bowl appearance. That's why I appreciated the Patriots' strategy of getting pro-ready contributors with two of their three top-100 selections and gambling on athletic upside in the later rounds.

Interestingly enough, the pro-ready players I'm referring to, however, are second-round edge Gabe Jacas and third-round tight end Eli Raridon. First-rounder Caleb Lomu has all the traits needed to eventually be a high-end starting left tackle in the NFL, but I don't believe that he's currently strong enough for this role. It will be interesting to see if the Patriots do push him to start as a rookie, potentially moving last year's top pick Will Campbell inside to guard.

While I like the Patriots' strategy — and appreciate the difficulty of finding players who can make an impact on a team this talented and deep — their class feels long on potential and short on immediate help.

With Morgan Moses getting older and banged up over the years (but to his credit plays through injuries), the Patriots needed to get another young offensive tackle. Lomu has a very athletic lower half that mirrors in pass protection, but his run blocking is in the developmental phase.

Jacas is stout against the run, can play standing up or with his hand in the dirt and converts enough speed to power. I think he'll be a long-term starter.

Eli Raridon was my TE3 in this class with a huge catch radius and in-line blocking ability. If not for two ACL tears in a ten month span in his past, I'd imagine he goes earlier than pick 95.

Day three got a little off the rails at times, but Namdi Obiazor is a converted safety to linebacker who is very athletic in coverage. He was a sleeper for me in this draft.

Here's why: Caleb Lomu was incredible value at the bottom of the first round, potentially being the long-term blindside protector for Drake Maye and allowing the Patriots more flexibility with last year's top-five pick, Will Campbell. They also found an edge defender with decent enough traits in Gabe Jacas who will at least help the Pats get more physical on the outside. They didn't really have many premium picks outside of that, but getting Eli Raridon in the third round was nice as a potential Hunter Henry replacement down the line.

Most interesting pick: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Lomu could've gone much higher than this, but at the bottom of the first round he's a steal. He can allow the Patriots to truly play their best five O-linemen and could even play right tackle if they keep Campbell on the left side.

The Patriots did well for themselves picking from such a late slot in the draft, making small moves to land the guys they really wanted. New England jumped up three spots in the first round to land a smooth-moving tackle in Caleb Lomu, an excellent athlete who could be a future starter at both tackle spots. Eliot Wolf maneuvered up in the second round, too, grabbing a powerhouse pass rusher in Gabe Jacas. Jacas was one of my favorite edge players in this class, possessing incredible strength and balance as a rusher and excellent closing speed to finish. He should be an early contributor on the team's edge group rotation. Tight end Eli Raridon is a smart pick in the third round, giving the Patriots a potential successor for Hunter Henry. Raridon may need a bit of a runway to develop, but he possesses the skill set to become a true in-line Y tight end. Overall, the top of this class looks great—and Lomu and Jacas in particular could play impact roles very early on.

Analysis: The Patriots focused on the trenches early and often, and it makes sense. New England wasn't good up front in 2025 despite its shocking Super Bowl run, and selecting Lomu to be the right tackle should help Drake Maye stay upright. Jacas is also a nice fit, slotting into the front seven after amassing 35.5 tackles for loss and 27 sacks at Illinois. Raridon is a true "Y" tight end (blocker and receiver) who will help in 12- and 13-personnel sets as an inline blocker for the run game. It was a solid draft for the Patriots.