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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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.
