Reinforcing the 2026 Patriots with a 11-player draft class that double dips at edge, receiver and tight end.

Mike Dussault

With the biggest pieces of free agency taken care of and less than a month to go before the NFL Draft, it's time to dive into the first mock draft of the spring. This year's draft class features strong edge, linebacker and tight end groups, while there are once again plenty of intriguing wide receivers who could provide a boost to the Patriots offense.

This is a traits-and-development-heavy haul, but one that left me wanting more along the offensive line and perhaps more explosiveness from the edge positions. These are things to consider in mock draft 2.0.

Still, there are plenty of high-ceiling players here, ones that play with the style of "effort and finish" that Mike Vrabel demands, and who could add plenty of intrigue to the Patriots growing foundation.

Here's Deuce's mock draft 1.0!

Round

1

ZION YOUNG, EDGE, MISSOURI

31ST OVERALL | HEIGHT: 6-6, WEIGHT: 262

Round 1, Pick 31 - Zion Young - EDGE, Missouri

Young fits the latefirst-round profile as a long, powerful edge defender who can stay on the field for all three downs. He wins with strength, leverage and effort more than pure explosiveness, but his ability to set the edge and collapse pockets makes him a strong schematic fit for the Patriots defense. With a stacked edge class, there are other, more explosive pass rushers to consider, but Young's play style and size could help him make a more significant impact than a player who might only play on third downs out of the gate.

Round

2

CHRIS BELL, WR, LOUISVILLE

63RD OVERALL | HEIGHT: 6-2, WEIGHT: 222

Round 2, Pick 63 - Chris Bell - WR, Louisville

Bell is one of the biggest medical wild cards in the class after a late-season ACL injury limited his pre-draft process. When healthy, he profiles as a physical perimeter receiver with the strength and speed to win in traffic and generate yards after the catch. If he regains full explosiveness, this pick carries clear Day 2 upside with the potential to give the Patriots a bigger outside presence to complement their current receiver room.

Round

3

SAM ROUSH, TE, STANFORD

95TH OVERALL | HEIGHT: 6-6, WEIGHT: 267

Round 3, Pick 95 - Sam Roush - TE, Stanford

Roush brings classic in-line size with powerful lower-body explosiveness, giving him a legitimate two-way tight end profile. He projects as an early contributor as a blocker while continuing to grow into a complementary receiving role. His ceiling depends on route refinement and consistency, but the athletic foundation points toward long-term starter upside. Roush could immediately back up Hunter Henry and free agent signing Julian Hill.

Round

4

ZXAVIAN HARRIS, DL, OLE MISS

125TH OVERALL | HEIGHT: 6-8, WEIGHT: 330

Round 4, Pick 125 - Zxavian Harris - DL, Ole Miss

Harris is a true "planet" player whose value is rooted in size and power. While his technique remains a work in progress, his ability to disrupt run schemes and occupy multiple blockers gives him rotational potential. Despite his mammoth size, he's still got enough quickness to get off the ball and get upfield. Harris would bring the kind of size that would ideally complement the Patriots talented and deep group of defensive tackles.

Round

4

ISAIAH WORLD, OT, OREGON

131ST OVERALL | HEIGHT: 6-8, WEIGHT: 318

Round 4, Pick 131 - Isaiah World - OT, Oregon

World is a traits-first offensive tackle whose evaluation is affected by injury and technical inconsistency. His length and raw power are NFL-caliber, but footwork and balance must be addressed. Drafted here, he profiles as a developmental tackle who may need time before competing for meaningful snaps, but one who has the potential to be a long-term answer at right tackle. His recovery from an ACL tear suffered in Oregon's CFP semifinal loss to Indiana could limit his early availability.

Round

5

VJ PAYNE, S, KANSAS STATE

171ST OVERALL | HEIGHT: 6-3, WEIGHT: 206

Round 5, Pick 171 - VJ Payne - S, Kansas State

Payne has intriguing length and range at the safety position, with the ability to play multiple roles around the secondary. Payne would have a chance to develop behind Craig Woodson and Kevin Byard III, but has the skillset to potentially become an immediate contributor on special teams and as a role player in defensive subpackages.

Round

6

TANNER KOZIOL, TE, HOUSTON

191ST OVERALL | HEIGHT: 6-6, WEIGHT: 247

Round 6, Pick 191 - Tanner Koziol - TE, Houston

With four picks in the sixth round, we're going to double-dip at multiple positions on players with traits. Despite his massive length, Koziol is still a production-driven pick with clear passing-game value, especially in the red zone. His size, hands and body control allow him to win against smaller defenders, though his in-line blocking might limit his versatility. He projects best as a move tight end or big slot option who contributes situationally on offense, giving the Pats another big target to develop for Drake Maye.

Round

6

JOSH CAMERON, WR, BAYLOR

198TH OVERALL | HEIGHT: 6-1, WEIGHT: 220

Round 6, Pick 198 - Josh Cameron - WR, Baylor

Cameron is a physical, tough receiver whose game revolves around contact balance and reliability. He lacks top-end speed and needs a lot of refinement as a receiver, but consistently wins underneath and after the catch, playing like a running back with the ball in his hands. His clearest roster path comes through depth receiver duties and special teams contributions.

Round

6

JUSTIN JEFFERSON, ILB, ALABAMA

202ND OVERALL | HEIGHT: 6-0, WEIGHT: 223

Round 6, Pick 202 - Justin Jefferson - ILB, Alabama

Jefferson profiles as a modern linebacker with legitimate speed and range. He projects as an immediate special teams contributor with the ability to develop into a sub-package linebacker. His athletic traits give him coverage value, particularly in subpackages.

Round

6

TJ HALL, CB, IOWA

212TH OVERALL | HEIGHT: 6-1, WEIGHT: 189

Round 6, Pick 212 - TJ Hall - CB, Iowa

Hall is a savvy, physical corner whose game relies more on instincts and toughness than elite athleticism. He fits best where he can read routes, trigger downhill and support the run. His ability to tackle and handle assignments makes him a realistic depth and special teams projection.

Round

7

LOGAN FANO, EDGE, UTAH

247TH OVERALL | HEIGHT: 6-5, WEIGHT: 257

Round 7, Pick 247 - Logan Fano - EDGE, Utah

Fano is a late-round edge defender with strong run defense traits and a high-end motor. While his pass-rush upside is limited, he consistently sets the edge and plays within structure. He profiles as a developmental depth piece at a position of need.

DISCLAIMER:The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization.Read Full Disclaimer