Iheanachor is exactly what the Pats need: More young talent for the offensive line. He would immediately compete for snaps at right tackle. However, if New England opts to go edge rusher here, Clemson's T.J. Parker should be in play.

This mock draft didn't turn out great for the Patriots. We were hoping one of Brugler's top-5 offensive tackles or top-6 wide receivers or top-7 edge rushers would fall to the 31st pick. Alas, none did. This would be a good spot for the Patriots to trade back, but since we couldn't find any takers, we went with Young. Some teams may view him as undersized, but he would fit what the Pats are looking for at edge rusher and boost one of their weakest positions entering the offseason.

I'm taking a flier here. I'm an Illini fan who has seen a lot of Gabe Jacas over his career, and he's always reminded me of former Ohio State player and current New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. If the Patriots look to address the pass rush in this spot, Jacas makes a lot of sense for both his ability and scheme fit.

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.