The 2026 NFL Draft is over, so what makes more sense then grading all of the New England Patriots’ picks before they have even stepped foot on an NFL field? Seriously though, this was a fun exercise last year, so I thought I’d do it again this year. Not only am I going to give each pick a grade, but also give the good and the bad for each player and selection.
Again, this is just my opinion, and we won’t know the actual results of this draft for a few years, but I know you love this stuff as much as I do, so let’s get into it.
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Round 1
1-28 OT Caleb Lomu (Utah): B
The Good: Guys the size of Lomu do not typically have the movement skills that he possesses. He might be more of a finesse player than a bully, but his mirroring is borderline special, and is very worth the pick, even if he doesn’t start in 2026. The Patriots said themselves that they thought he wouldn’t be available anywhere near where they would be drafting, so they canceled their pre-draft visit with him. Think about how high he must have been in their rankings for them to do that. It’s the second year in a row that the Patriots spent their first-round pick on an offensive tackle, but when you have the chance to take someone who you regard so highly, you have to take it.
The Bad: Not only are the Patriots planning to not have him start his entire rookie year, but they are also going to ask him to switch sides, which isn’t always an easy task. That doesn’t mean that he won’t be able to do it, but there’s a risk that he doesn’t develop the way they want him to, or that he can’t easily make the transition to the right side of the line. Is it worth the risk? I think so, but there’s still more risk involved in this pick than there might have been in other selections.
Round 2
2-55 ED Gabe Jacas (Illinois): A
The Good: Jacas is the most physical of the edge defenders in this class. He brings some serious punch when attacking offensive tackles, and he racked up a bunch of sacks the last few years too. His speed to power is reminiscent of former Patriot Matthew Judon, and he has said that he modeled his game after the Pro Bowler. He also has a very good repertoire of pass rush moves, and doesn’t just rely on his strength to overpower his opponent.
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The Bad: The biggest concern with Jacas is that he simply isn’t quick enough to win around the edge. He’s a bit of a plodder, and he might not be able to use his strength as much at the next level. He’s not Keion White, because he has some actual pass rush moves from the edge, but without the elite speed, he might not win consistently when trying to get to the quarterback.
Round 3
3-95 TE Eli Raridon (Notre Dame): A
The Good: Raridon feels like he might have been built in a lab to save the Patriots’ tight end room. He’s big, he’s fast, he’s a solid run blocker, and he has very good hands. He is less of a projection, because you can see the production, both receiving and blocking, on his tape. This pick should excite a lot of people.
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The Bad: He tore his ACL twice in the same knee. Now, that was a few years ago, but it could still be a concern even though he and the Patriots downplayed his injury history. He appears to be a solid player, but he could stand to add some bulk to his frame, and there is no certainty that his athleticism is quite as good when he does.
Round 5
5.171 CB Karon Prunty (Wake Forest): C
The Good: The Patriots didn’t make a pick from 95 to 171, and when they were back on the clock they once again drafted a player at a position they need. They went for size again at cornerback with Prunty, who measures in at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds. Watching his tape, you can see the ability to break on the ball and knock it away from the receiver. He might not be the best tackler in the draft, but he does show some willingness to stick his nose in there. The Patriots hit on their first pick of Day 3 last year on a defensive back that was drafted high above projections —safety Craig Woodson — and maybe they can do it again this year.
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The Bad: Prunty was a massive reach according to consensus. Sure, he had a decent year last year, but he’s bounced around a few different schools, and his play has never matched his physical traits. Overdrafting at a position where there isn’t a pressing need this year, and passing up potential players who could contribute this year doesn’t make a lot of sense. Of course, Prunty, like Woodson last year, has a chance to prove people wrong, but he has a long hill to climb just to get playing time in this secondary.
Round 6
6-196 OT Dametrious Crownover (Texas A&M): B
The Good: Crownover has very good size and length. He looks the part of an NFL tackle. Having someone with his size is beneficial for the Patriots, and he should slot in as their longterm swing tackle. You can never have enough depth on the offensive line, especially at the tackle position, so this pick makes a ton of sense.
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The Bad: Despite being an older prospect, Crownover still looks like a project. It’s hard to imagine him ever getting to the point where he’s good enough to be anything more than a backup, regardless of how big he is. Again, there were playmakers at other positions of need for the Patriots that they passed on to take a tackle that might not play meaningful snaps for them anytime soon.
6-212 LB Namdi Obiazor (TCU): D+
The Good: Obiazor is a new-age linebacker. He might not have the size, but he isn’t afraid to trigger downhill and lay a hard hit on anyone. He also has some decent coverage skills as well. Whether or not he can get on the field on defense, he should step in and be a core special teamer from Day 1, and the Patriots need some serious help there, after losing three of their top five special teams players from last season.
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The Bad: Quite frankly, he’s probably too small to play off-ball linebacker in the NFL. He might not be afraid to play the run and take on blocks, but it’s a lot different at the pro level, and he looks like he simply doesn’t have the size to do it. He could be a special teams player, but he is almost certainly going to be capped at that.
Round 7
7-234 QB Behren Morton (Texas Tech): D
The Good: Morton is a tough kid who constantly played through injuries, and is a good leader in the locker room. He’s not afraid to go through his progressions, and to let the ball fly when necessary. He also has a ton of experience, which should help him in the meeting room and to learn an NFL offense.
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The Bad: He doesn’t have the size, speed, or arm strength to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. At best, he’s a backup, and he’s almost certainly just a camp arm and practice squad player. He reminds me of Bailey Zappe, and I don’t mean that in a complimentary way. It’s the seventh round, but I’d still like more than that out of my draft picks.
7-245 RB Jam Miller (Alabama): B-
The Good: Miller tested very well, running a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash, and that speed shows up on his film. His 2025 senior year was derailed by injury, but he showed some real pop the previous season. He’s not a great receiver out of the backfield, but he is a tough runner who has the ability to break one if given good enough blocking. I also like that, in this day and age of leaving for more money or playing time, he decided to stick it out and finish his playing career at Alabama.
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The Bad: Miller’s vision is a problem at times, and his size is an issue when trying to pass protect. I like the thought of him as a third running back, but it’s hard to imagine him climbing much higher than that without some serious improvement in his game.
7-247 EDGE Quintayvious Hutchins (BC): C-
The Good: Hutchins plays bigger and faster than he actually is and does a nice job against both the run and the pass. There might be some questions about his size, but the tape is solid, and there’s a good chance that he can bring those skills to the NFL and become a pass rushing specialist at some point in his career.
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The Bad: The problem with playing bigger and faster than you are is that you aren’t, in actuality, very big or fast. Those are two things that are very important in the NFL. At the very least, you need to have one of them, and Hutchins doesn’t quite measure up in either category. It worked for him to an extent at BC, but it might not work as well in the NFL.
Overall grade
All in all, the Patriots draft class features some definitive potential for the future as well as some intriguing depth additions in the later rounds. There were some relative head-scratchers, but when those com on Day 3 it is not too much to worry about either. The final grade of this draft class will largely not be determined by them, though, but rather by the first three picks.
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Caleb Lomu, Gabe Jacas and Eli Raridon highlight the Patriots’ 2026 class, and there is reason for optimism. All three could be valuable pieces for the team this year, and by 2027 at the latest hold starter-equivalent roles at their respective positions. The lack of clear instant contributors or readymade depth is a concern that pushes down the final grade a bit — there is no telling who will earn roster spots among the late-round picks, for example — but all in all it was a solid haul for Mike Vrabel, Eliot Wolf and company.
Final grade: B-
How would you grade the Patriots’ 2026 draft class, though? What did you like? What pushes the grade down in your view? Let us know in our poll, and please and head down to the comment section below to share your thoughts with the community.
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