New England Patriots: 2026 NFL Mock Draft 1

In this mock, the Patriots get lucky and KC Concepcion falls right into their lap at pick thirty-one. Concepcion is one of my favorite prospects in the entire Draft, and his tape is absolutely electric. His athleticism, shiftiness, and ability to separate with his route running is some of the best in this class, which is exactly what New England could use. Giving Drake Maye a weapon of Concepcion’s caliber would be beneficial to both the Patriots as a whole and Concepcion as a player. Concepcion would thrive with an elite quarterback feeding him the ball, and the Josh McDaniels led offense is at its best when they have a game breaker at the slot receiver position. However, I do believe the Texas A&M star could line up at every receiver position in this offense and be a threat all over the field. A lot of people also forget about current New England receiver Kyle Williams, who is also a very shifty speedster, and the hope is he will get more opportunities heading into year two. Drafting Concepcion could create one of the shiftiest duos in the division with Williams, which would elevate the explosiveness of the offense, something the Patriots desperately needed in their playoff run in 2025. Overall, if the Texas receiver falls to pick thirty-one, New England shouldn’t hesitate to make him a Patriot.

Round 2: Romello Height, DE, Texas Tech

The Patriots address their biggest need in the second round, and they get very lucky with Romello Height from Texas Tech. New England has a glaring need at edge rusher, and Height is the perfect fit in Foxborough. At 6’3″, 235 lbs, Height has decent size, but his talent comes from his athleticism. He lacks some strength, which could cause him to fall to the second round, but the upside is what the Patriots would be betting on here. His pass rush ability and first step quickness are what separates him from other prospects at this point in the Draft, and getting him into the New England program could skyrocket his production. Height is the exact type of player I would love to see Vrabel and company develop, and he could have an immediate impact as a rookie.

Round 3: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia

Oscar Delp is currently flying up Draft boards after an incredible pro day, and with good reason. At 6’5″, 245 lbs, Delp ran a 4.49 in the forty yard dash which is one of the more impressive things I have seen this off-season. This just shows how much of a threat he can be in the passing game, and giving Drake Maye another weapon is always a good idea. Delp wouldn’t have to get thrown to the wolves right away since current New England tight end Hunter Henry is still under contract. This would allow him to develop at the pro level while also contributing as a rookie, the perfect balance for one of the harder positions at the NFL level. This would also set up the Patriots for the departure of Hunter Henry in the coming seasons, he is getting older, and New England will need another reliable target for Maye for years to come.

Round 4: Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU

Harold Perkins Jr. is by far one of my favorite potential Patriots in the entire Draft. He was considered one of the best players in the nation as a true freshman a couple years ago, but after a serious injury, he never captured that level of hype again. This could be ideal for the Patriots since he could fall down Draft boards, allowing New England to use a day two pick on him. Perkins could very well be the steal of the Draft with all the tools he has. He is like a heat-seeking missile with his speed and athleticism. This is exactly what you want in a modern NFL linebacker, the sideline to sideline ability, and the ability to drop into pass coverage are two things that Perkins puts on a display all over his tape. Putting Perkins next to Spillane as a rookie would be very fun to watch, and could have huge benefits for his development. Overall, if New England gets a chance to draft the LSU star, I believe he could thrive in Foxborough.

What type of impact could this Draft class have on the Patriots?

This potential New England Draft class could have an immediate impact. Adding an electric playmaker in Concepcion, bolstering the edge rusher spot, giving Maye a new security blanket at tight end, and adding an athletic chess piece to the defense could be incredibly entertaining to watch. The Patriots offense needed some juice during their playoff run, Concepcion and Delp could add just that. Two young weapons that can easily break any play for a touchdown, and will give Maye more places to go with the ball. The defense would also be getting a big boost with a day one starter at edge in Romello Height, and a weapon in Perkins Jr. All of these players have very high ceilings, and if anybody can help them get there, it is Mike Vrabel and his coaching staff.