Welcome to another edition of the Boston Sports Journal exclusive draft coverage, as we cont you down to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, scheduled for April 23-25.
Last week, we highlighted some of the prospects who drew interest from the New England Patriots during the NFL Scouting Combine on both offense and defense. This week, we bring you up to date on some of the prospects that New England has met with throughout the draft process and provide a snippet on what each player brings to the next level.
Before we do, a relevant draft note, as the NFL announced compensatory picks this week for the upcoming draft. While the Patriots did not receive any additional selections, the full draft order is now complete and we officially know where New England will be picking with all of their selections. They are as follows:
- 1st round, 31st overall
- 2nd round, 63rd overall
- 3rd round, 95th overall
- 4th round, 125th overall (Bears, via Chiefs 2025 draft day trade)
- 4th round, 131st overall
- 5th round, 171st overall
- 6th round, 191st overall (Chiefs, via Joshua Uche trade)
- 6th round, 198th overall (Vikings through Texans and 49ers, via Keion White trade)
- 6th round, 202nd overall (Steelers, via Kyle Dugger trade)
- 6th round, 212th overall
- 7th round, 247th overall
With 11 total selections, New England will have a tremendous opportunity to strengthen their roster, especially on the backend, with eight picks on the final day of the draft. As Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf alluded to during his combine interview, if you do the homework, smart NFL teams are able to find contributors at all stages of the selection process.
“I feel like, if you’re doing your job, you’re going to be able to find players, you know, rounds one through seven, that that can help your team,” Wolf stated. “Obviously, you know, there’s varying levels of that but we still feel like we have enough team needs where we’re going to be able to get good players that are going to help our team moving forward.”
The organization is well into their war room meetings, as they attempt to stack their big board. Our outline below features potential Patriots targets projected at all three days of the draft. Let’s get to know some of the players they have cozied up with thus far …
As we begin our look at the offense, New England was active during free agency this past week, which could alter their draft plans somewhat, but there are still plenty of holes that need to be filled. The Patriots’ backfield isn’t expected to add many reinforcements in terms of the quarterback and running back positions. However, they did manage to ink fullback Reggie Gilliam (formerly of the Bills), which should help stabilize a more efficient ground attack and provide a boost on special teams. It also creates a void for their division rival.
During the NFL Combine, Wolf noted how he likes running backs who waste little time hitting the hole and can get upfield in a hurry. One player who would fit that description is Florida International workhorse Kejon Owens, who met with the Patriots during the Senior Bowl. A compact runner with excellent vision and breakaway speed, Owens flashes quick cutback ability to get upfield in a jiffy, averaging an impressive 6.3 yards per carry this past season. While he exploded for 1,334 rushing yards in 2025, the Miami native has just 452 career touches, so there is plenty of tread left on the tires to fill a rotational spot. A fringe candidate to be drafted, New England could look to add Owens after the draft as an undrafted free agent.
New England wasted little time finding a replacement at wideout for Stefon Diggs, whom the organization decided to cut ties with, signing Romeo Doubs (formerly of the Packers). A dependable target, Doubs is expected to assume the WR1 role, but that doesn’t mean the team is done adding to the depth to the unit.
During the all-star circuit, New England made sure to check in on some of the top wideouts at several events, including the Senior Bowl, where they met with local product Lewis Bond of Boston College. The speedster projects as a slot target at the next level, consistently creating separation due to his quick movements and sudden burst. Eagles head coach Bill O’Brien has compared Bond to John Metchie III (Jets), whom he coached during his time with the Texans. A combine snub, Bond will work out at his pro day on March 23, with the Patriots expected to be well represented.
New England was also on-site for the East-West Shrine Bowl, and one target they identified for a formal meeting included Emmanuel Henderson of Kansas. More suited as a slot receiver, Henderson does his damage in the short game, extending screen plays and getting creative after the catch. He provides additional value on special teams as a return man and also fits the late Day 3 category. A former five-star recruit who never materialized during his time at Alabama, this is a potential late bloomer who could blossom in the pros.
Another player team brass was sure to get one-on-one time with was Camden Brown, who was arguably the best wideout during the week of Hula Bowl practices. A towering presence at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Brown is a prototypical boundary wideout who can climb the ladder vertically and thrives in contested catch situations. After being buried on the depth chart at Auburn, the Louisiana native transferred to Georgia Southern this past season and became the first player in school history to surpass the 1,000-yard barrier, while leading the FBS with 14 touchdowns and earning Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year honors.
It’s becoming more apparent that New England will be adding to their tight end corps and will likely come via the draft. Based on their list of formal meetings, it would appear that they could be targeting the middle-to-late rounds to address this need. The Patriots were active gathering intel at the Senior Bowl, meeting with a trifecta of tight ends in attendance. There should still be adequate depth remaining at that stage but keep in mind that once you arrive to the final day of the draft, all players come with their own warts.
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