2026 New England Patriots Mock Draft: 7-Round Projection
Draft Capital: 9 picks | Overall Grade: B Last Updated: July 20, 2026Overview
New England Patriots enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 9 selections. Biggest needs: NT, Safety, Inside Linebacker.
Complete Draft Class:Ole Miss
— Grade B+
LSU
— Grade B-
LSU
— Grade C+
Baylor
— Grade C+
Auburn
— Grade C-
Penn State
— Grade C-
Ohio State
— Grade C-
Auburn
— Grade C-
Texas Tech
— Grade C-
View Full 3-Round Mock Draft →---
Complete Pick-by-Pick Analysis
Pick #23 - New England Patriots: Will Echoles, Defensive Line,
Ole Miss
Rank: #25 overall | Grade: B+ Why This Pick:Best player available. New England Patriots needed NT help, but Will Echoles (ranked #25) represents elite value here. You can't pass on top-tier talent when it falls to you.
The Fit:Will Echoles brings immediate impact to New England Patriots. Will Echoles is the most productive interior disruptor in the 2027 class and the anchor of the Ole Miss defense. He arrived in Oxford as a consensus four-star recruit and Mississippi 4A Mr. Football out of Houston High School, where he dominated on b... His best trait—led all power four interior linemen in pressures (39) and defensive stops (35) in 2025, rare production for a first-year starter—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Walter Nolen (Ole Miss predecessor with the same explosive interior-penetrator profile)-type player at the NFL level.
---
Pick #55 - New England Patriots: Ty Benefield, Safety,
LSU
Rank: #51 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:Critical need filled. New England Patriots desperately needed Safety help (need #2), and Ty Benefield was the best available at this spot. This pick addresses an immediate roster weakness.
The Fit:Ty Benefield brings immediate impact to New England Patriots. Ty Benefield is a long, downhill safety who spent three seasons carving out a reputation at Boise State before transferring to LSU as the No. 2 safety in the portal. He is a 32-game starter with over 600 snaps of experience split across the slot, the... His best trait—positional versatility with 600-plus snaps across slot, box, and deep safety—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a AJ Haulcy (SI, framed as Benefield's direct replacement at LSU with a similar versatile skill set and even stronger man coverage)-type player at the NFL level.
---
Pick #87 - New England Patriots: Whit Weeks, Inside Linebacker,
LSU
Rank: #86 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:Critical need filled. New England Patriots desperately needed Inside Linebacker help (need #3), and Whit Weeks was the best available at this spot. This pick addresses an immediate roster weakness.
The Fit:Whit Weeks brings immediate impact to New England Patriots. Whit Weeks is the athletic heartbeat of LSU's defense and a player scouts believe can impact an NFL game in three phases: coverage, as a blitzer and against the run. Listed at 6'2" and 225 pounds, the former 4-star recruit broke out as a sophomore in... His best trait—breakout 2024 with 125 tackles and an sec-leading 61 solo stops—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Drue Tranquill (sub-230 speed-and-blitz WILL who plays bigger than his frame)-type player at the NFL level.
---
Pick #123: DJ Lagway (Quarterback,Baylor
) - Grade C+. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #163: Xavier Atkins (Outside Linebacker,Auburn
) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #189: Andrew Rappleyea (Tight End,Penn State
) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #195: Jermaine Mathews Jr (Cornerback,Ohio State
) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #202: Bryson Washington (Running Back,Auburn
) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
Pick #204: Howard Sampson (Offensive Tackle,Texas Tech
) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.
---
Draft Class Summary
Overall Grade: B | 9 positions addressed across 9 picks.---