2026 New England Patriots Mock Draft: 7-Round Projection

Draft Capital: 9 picks | Overall Grade: B Last Updated: September 07, 2026

Overview

New England Patriots enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 9 selections. Biggest needs: Cornerback, Tight End, IOL.

Complete Draft Class:

Round 1 (#24): Trey'Dez Green, Tight End, LSU — Grade B+

Round 2 (#56): Rasheem Biles, Linebacker, Texas — Grade B-

Round 3 (#88): John Henry Daley, Edge Rusher, Michigan — Grade C+

Round 4 (#120): Isaiah Sategna III, WRS,

Oklahoma

— Grade C

Round 5 (#152): Dijon Lee Jr, Cornerback, Alabama — Grade C

Round 5 (#168): Josh Hoover, Quarterback,

Indiana

— Grade C-

Round 5 (#175): McKale Boley, Offensive Guard,

Virginia

— Grade C-

Round 6 (#186): Jacob Ponton, Offensive Tackle, NA — Grade C-

Round 6 (#207): Terry Moore, Safety,

Ohio State

— Grade C-

View Full 3-Round Mock Draft →

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Complete Pick-by-Pick Analysis

Pick #24 - New England Patriots: Trey'Dez Green, Tight End, LSU

Rank: #23 overall | Grade: B+ Why This Pick:

CB was the clear top need, but with the board thin at corner by pick 24, New England instead grabs their No. 2 priority in Green, essentially on the number at 23. Passing on need-at-any-cost for a rare athletic mismatch at tight end is defensible, especially since TE production has been thin, and Green offers a size-speed combo that doesn't come around often. It's not a reach given where he was ranked, just a slight positional pivot dictated by the board.

The Fit:

At 6-foot-7, 240 pounds with 4.55 speed, Green gives New England a matchup weapon they don't currently have, someone who can win in the slot, out wide, or inline and post up linebackers and safeties in the red zone, as his seven touchdowns on 33 catches in 2025 show. The concerns are real: five drops on 51 targets, fewer than 200 career blocking snaps, and a modest 1.46 yards per route run suggest he's more raw mismatch than finished product. He'll likely be deployed early as a move-Y flex piece while the blocking and hands round into form.

Strengths: Rare 6-foot-7, 240-pound frame with projected 4.55 speed that runs away from SEC safeties

Weaknesses: Five drops on 51 targets, the hands lag well behind the athleticism

NFL Comp: Greg Dulcich (big-frame flex receiving TE with a similar ranking arc)

Full scouting report for Trey'Dez Green → | See New England Patriots 7-round draft →

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Pick #56 - New England Patriots: Rasheem Biles, Linebacker, Texas

Rank: #53 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

Linebacker sits fifth on New England's need list, but at pick 56 this is close enough to Biles's #53 grade that it barely counts as a reach, and taking a top-of-the-class run-and-hit defender there is defensible even with bigger holes at corner and tight end still unaddressed. After grabbing Trey'Dez Green at 24 to fill the tight end void, the Patriots are now using Day 2 to stack athletic, high-floor defenders rather than force a need pick at a thinner position group.

The Fit:

Biles led the ACC with 17 tackles for loss and racked up 101 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two pick-six interceptions in 2025, showing the kind of twitchy, downhill instincts that translate to sub-package and WILL linebacker duty in a 3-4 scheme. His 1st-percentile weight profile at 6-1, 220 means he cannot hold up between the tackles full-time, so New England will need to scheme him into gap-shoot and coverage-heavy roles rather than ask him to anchor against SEC-caliber blockers every down. His special teams value, three career blocked kicks, adds an extra layer of usefulness even as he develops.

Strengths: Led the ACC with 17 tackles for loss in 2025

Weaknesses: 1st-percentile weight profile, listed only 6-1, 220

NFL Comp: Kyle Louis (undersized, twitchy Pitt LB who plays bigger than his frame)

Full scouting report for Rasheem Biles → | See New England Patriots 7-round draft →

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Pick #88 - New England Patriots: John Henry Daley, Edge Rusher, Michigan

Rank: #87 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

Addresses key depth concern. While Edge Rusher wasn't the top priority, John Henry Daley's talent at #87 overall was too good to pass up. Sometimes value trumps need.

The Fit:

John Henry Daley brings immediate impact to New England Patriots. John Henry Daley exploded onto the 2027 radar as a first-year starter at Utah before a non-contact Achilles rupture ended his breakout season and he transferred to Michigan. Football runs in the family, his father Neal played linebacker at BYU and hi... His best trait—led fbs with 17.5 tfl and ranked second nationally with 11.5 sacks across just 11 starts—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Boye Mafe (speed-to-power edge with motor and developing bend)-type player at the NFL level.

Strengths: Led FBS with 17.5 TFL and ranked second nationally with 11.5 sacks across just 11 starts

Weaknesses: Non-contact Achilles rupture in November 2025 is a major medical red flag affecting burst

NFL Comp: Boye Mafe (speed-to-power edge with motor and developing bend)

Full scouting report for John Henry Daley → | See New England Patriots 7-round draft →

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Pick #120: Isaiah Sategna III (WRS,

Oklahoma

) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.

Pick #152: Dijon Lee Jr (Cornerback, Alabama) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #168: Josh Hoover (Quarterback,

Indiana

) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.

Pick #175: McKale Boley (Offensive Guard,

Virginia

) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.

Pick #186: Jacob Ponton (Offensive Tackle, NA) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential. Pick #207: Terry Moore (Safety,

Ohio State

) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.

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Draft Class Summary

Overall Grade: B | 9 positions addressed across 9 picks.

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