Patriots’ biggest mistake from 2026 NFL Draft

The New England Patriots reeled in a large group of rookies in the draft, and there are high hopes for how they will perform this season. But here is the Patriots’ biggest mistake of the 2026 NFL Draft.

If you look at the Patriots’ receiver room, you don’t have to squint to see a problem. They have Romeo Doubs as WR1, followed by Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins as starters. This is not a strong group.

So why didn’t Patriots GM Eliot Wolf draft a wide receiver? Wolf came up with a predictable answer, according to a post on X by Sophie Weller.

”That’s how the board fell,” Wolf said. “There were some situations (where) there were receivers that we liked, that just got picked in front of where we were. It was not a conscious decision. And I think we’ll probably be pretty competitive here with the undrafted guys at that position.”

Patriots whiffed on the WR position in the draft

It’s not rocket science, folks. Doubs ranks No. 48 among wide receivers in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

That means the Patriots not only don’t have a true WR1, they only possess an average WR2. Think of the absurdity of it. This is a team that went to the Super Bowl in 2025. And yet, after free agency and the draft, they have a lackluster receiver room.

Sure, the Patriots can snicker and think, “But we have AJ Brown on the way.” OK, fine. But what if the Eagles change their minds? What if they get a better offer and trade Brown somewhere else? What if they don’t trade him at all?

What will the Patriots do then?

The highest-ranking free-agent receivers are Jauan Jennings (No. 51), Stefon Diggs (No. 52), and Deebo Samuel (No. 55). None of those guys provides anything close to a WR1 profile. Brown stands at No. 12. But then again, the Patriots don’t yet have Brown.

So why didn’t the Patriots draft a receiver?

Patriots passed on WRs Omar Cooper Jr. and De’Zhaun Stribling

If tackle Caleb Lomu doesn’t turn into a rookie beast, and Cooper turns into a star for the division-rival Jets, what will that look like for the Patriots in 2026?

Cooper was there in the palm of the Patriots’ hands.

Another great choice would have been De’Zhaun Stribling. In fact, you can make a case that Stribling, who went to the 49ers, was an even better choice for the Patriots. He’s 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, and full of potential, according to ESPN.

“Despite adding Mike Evans and having former first-rounder Ricky Pearsall on the roster, the 49ers (lacked) a deep threat,” Matt Miller wrote. “That’s who Stribling is, with 4.36 speed at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds. This is a surprise with Denzel Boston and Germie Bernard on the board, but the scheme fit and need are legit to start Round 2.”

Stribling would have been perfect for quarterback Drake Maye’s deep-ball ability.

By the time they picked in Round 2, the high-end receivers were gone. But there was one guy who would have made perfect sense for the Patriots.

WR Chris Brazzell II would have fit nicely with Drake Maye

Yes, the Patriots could have targeted Brazzell in the second round. Instead, they added Gabe Jacas, who doesn’t even project as a first-year starter.

Brazzell would not only have been a first-year starter, but he would also have had a decent shot to be WR1 for the Patriots before the season was over. It’s not like Brazzell would step in Week 1 and make Doubs look bad. But as the season progressed, he could have easily exceeded what Doubs would produce.

Harken back to PFF for a moment. Brazzell is ranked No. 61 on the receiver board right now. Remember that Doubs is No. 48. It’s not a leap of faith to see Brazzell move up. He’s easily a top-40 ability guy.

The Patriots’ loss is the Panthers’ gain. Panthers head coach Dave Canales is beaming about getting Brazzell at pick No. 83, according to the Charlotte Observer.

“He’s one of my favorite players in the draft,” Canales said. “Just his film over the last two years, when you look at Tulane (where he played from 2022-23). And you look at Tennessee and combine all of it. You’re going to get a full picture of a route tree. Body control. Ability to do those things.

“We weren’t expecting Chris to be there. We were sitting there, waiting, and he just kept dropping right to us. And what a great opportunity for us to just again add to that room.”

And he should not have been there. The Patriots weren’t the only team that whiffed on Brazzell. But they’re the only Super Bowl contender with a weak receiver room that did nothing to fix it in the draft.