The 2026 NFL draft begins on April 23 in Pittsburgh, when the New England Patriots will pick at No. 31 overall in Round 1. The draft continues with Rounds 2-3 on April 24 and Rounds 4-7 on April 25 (ESPN, ABC and the ESPN App).
The Patriots have 11 total picks: Nos. 31, 63, 95, 125, 131, 171, 191, 198, 202, 212, 247. But how will they use them? Which positions need to be addressed? Which prospects are coming in for visits and getting buzz with the New England front office and coaching staff?
Patriots reporter Mike Reiss has the latest intel on the team's draft plans, potential targets and more in the lead-up to the 2026 draft. We will update this page right up until Round 1 begins.
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Patriots hosted Memphis OT Burke
Thursday, April 16: By the time Memphis offensive tackle Travis Burke arrived in New England for his visit April 13-14, he had already been one of the draft's most well-traveled prospects.
The Patriots are one of eight teams Burke visited before the April 15 deadline for teams to host prospects.
At 6-foot-8 and 325 pounds, Burke is hard to miss, and he projects to be in the mix for teams who miss out on the top tier of tackles in the first round, possibly as early as Day 2 (second and third rounds).
One reason for his high total of visits is likely due to missing the final two games of the 2025 season with a lower-body injury, in addition to the Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl. But Burke participated in parts of the combine and that seemed to ignite a spark among NFL teams.
Burke began his college career at Gardner-Webb before moving on to Florida International and then Memphis. He started 46 games, with experience on both sides of the line.
Patriots looking at an edge rusher
Wednesday, April 15: In a predraft press conference Monday, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said adding speed at the edge position would be ideal.
Auburn's Keyron Crawford might fit the bill after being timed at 4.55 in the 40-yard dash, and he was one of the team's predraft visitors this week.
The 6-foot-4, 253-pound Crawford totaled 36 tackles (9.5 for a loss) and five sacks last season. He was at Auburn the last two years after beginning his career at Arkansas State (2022-2023), and is projected to be selected on Day 2 of the draft (Rounds 2 and 3).
The Patriots have free agent signee Dre'Mont Jones and nine-year veteran Harold Landry III as their projected starting edge players, with 2025 undrafted free agent Elijah Ponder, 2025 fifth-round pick Bradyn Swinson and longshot Jesse Luketa also on the depth chart. The position is one of the team's top needs.
Patriots hosted a wide receiver on Tuesday
Tuesday, April 14: Receiver De'Zhaun Stribling took a predraft visit to the Patriots on Tuesday, per sources.
Stribling (6-foot-2, 207 pounds) was at Washington State and Oklahoma State before finishing his career at Ole Miss in 2025, totaling 55 career starts. He was timed at 4.36 in the 40-yard dash and had high-end production in the biggest games. Scouts have highlighted his blocking as being among the best in this year's receiver class.
When it comes to drafting a receiver such as Stribling, who is expected to be off the board within the first two days, there might be a balance the Patriots attempt to strike as they also have explored the possibility of trading for Eagles receiver A.J. Brown.
The Patriots currently have Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III, John Jiles and Jeremiah Webb on their wide receiver depth chart.
Highlights from Eliot Wolf's predraft press conference
Monday, April 13: Notable nuggets from Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf at the team's annual predraft press conference:
On how certain positions rate: "I think it's a pretty strong draft on the offensive and defensive line. Secondary, maybe not as much. Receiver and tight end are pretty good in comparison to some of the recent years."
On the linebacker position: "Probably a little similar to the way it was last year; for me, at least, I thought it was going to be a little bit better than maybe it's come out. But I do think it's a good position Day 3 from a depth standpoint."
On Mike Vrabel's involvement: "Very involved. Business as usual. He's been in there with us, this round of meetings, probably more than he was last year. He tries to watch every player that we give to each position coach. He has an opinion on these guys and it's helpful, because sometimes there's players that the scouts like, me included, and he'll be like, 'This is the reason that maybe this guy is not the best fit for us.'"
Who will be the third-string QB?
Monday, April 13: After releasing veteran quarterback Josh Dobbs in March, which bumps Tommy DeVito to the top backup job behind Drake Maye, the Patriots plan to add a QB3 in the draft or by signing an undrafted free agent.
Among those they've had to Gillette Stadium for visits include UConn's Joe Fagnano, Kansas' Jalon Daniels and Texas Tech's Behren Morton. In an interview on SI.com, Morton said his other in-person visits to team facilities included the Packers, Panthers and Jets.
From a tale-of-the-tape perspective, Fagnano is 6-foot-3, 226 pounds with seven years in college (four at Maine, three at UConn), Daniels 6-0, 219 with six years in college (all at Kansas), and Morton 6-2, 221 with five years in college (all Texas Tech).
The Patriots currently have eight selections on Day 3 of the draft (Rounds 4-7), and their investment in identifying a QB3 has been a notable part of their pre-draft process.
Indiana running back to visit Monday
Saturday, April 11: In an appearance on the "Lots to Say" podcast last week, 11-year veteran Patriots safety Kevin Byard III went into detail on how he's still searching for answers on not being invited to the NFL combine back in 2016. It still stings for him, even as he's ascended to All-Pro status.
Could Indiana running back Kaelon Black write a similar career story?
The Patriots plan to learn more on Monday, with Black scheduled to arrive in New England for a predraft visit, per a source. Black was surprisingly not invited to the combine despite a 2025 season in which he totaled 187 carries for 1,039 yards (35th in FBS) and 10 touchdowns for the national champions.
The Patriots are one of 12 predraft visits for Black (5-foot-9, 211 pounds), per the source.
Black spent the first four years of his career at James Madison before following coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana. He was timed at 4.43 in the 40-yard dash, had a 37.5-inch vertical jump, 10'5" broad jump, and totaled 27 reps on the bench press at Indiana's pro day.
Will the Patriots draft another running back?
Friday, April 10: How the Patriots plan to utilize their eight selections on Day 3 of the draft (Rounds 4-7) is a notable subplot, and using one of their allotted 30 in-house visits on Clemson's Adam Randall might be a tip-off on their desire to add a pass-catching running back.
Randall (6-foot-3, 232 pounds) visited Foxborough a few weeks ago, according to a source. He is a converted wide receiver who timed 4.5 in the 40-yard dash and reached a top speed of 22.82 after totaling 168 carries for 814 yards and 10 touchdowns in his fourth and final collegiate season.
The Patriots return Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson atop the RB depth chart, and after spending a high second-round pick on Henderson in 2025, they are unlikely to invest a top draft pick at the position. But there is a wide-open competition at RB3, with Terrell Jennings, Elijah Mitchell and Lan Larison currently vying for that role.
So it adds up that a prospect such as Randall, who projects as a core special teamer and possible kickoff returner, would be on the Patriots' radar in the middle to late rounds.
Possible tight end draft target?
Thursday, April 9: Mike Vrabel said at the NFL annual meeting that he hopes the Patriots will add a tight end in the draft, and on Tuesday, the team hosted Georgia's Oscar Delp at its facility, according to a source.
Delp (6-5, 245) didn't work out at the NFL combine due to a hairline fracture in his left foot but was timed at an impressive 4.49 in the 40-yard dash at Georgia's pro day on March 18. He was slotted as a third-round pick (No. 77) in ESPN's recent rotating mock draft.
Delp appeared in 55 games (34 starts) over the last four seasons, totaling 70 receptions for 854 yards and nine touchdowns.
Veteran Hunter Henry enters the final year of his contract in 2026, and No. 2 option Julian Hill was signed to a three-year, $15 million base value contract in March, so a draft pick would ideally have time to develop behind them while also contributing on special teams.
Auburn G Wright to visit Thursday
Wednesday, April 8: Auburn guard Jeremiah Wright is scheduled to fly to New England on Thursday for a visit with the Patriots, according to a source. This is one of the Patriots' 30 predraft visits they're allowed to have with prospects.
The 6-foot-5, 331-pound Wright generated some buzz at the Senior Bowl with, among other things, a strong one-on-one rep against Alabama defensive lineman LT Overton. Wright projects as a midround prospect, and if he lands in New England, could be a future replacement for starting right guard Mike Onwenu, who is entering the final year of his contract.
A few notes on Wright: He converted to the offensive line from defensive line and started every game the last two seasons. He's from Selma, Alabama, and turns 25 years old on Sept. 5.
Patriots hold local pro day
Tuesday, April 7: The Patriots hosted 26 players at their local pro day Tuesday, which is for prospects from New England colleges or who grew up in the area. This reflects the thorough nature of the scouting process, as most of the players in attendance were considered late-round considerations or undrafted free agents.
Boston College offensive lineman Logan Taylor was one of them, and this comes a couple of weeks after Patriots coach Mike Vrabel got an up-close look at him at BC's pro day (shaking his hand at one point). With 11 picks and a desire to build more depth up front, the odds seem high the Patriots will select at least one offensive lineman.