FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots hold eight Day 3 picks and plan to use them as trade chips to climb the board. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports the team will aggressively pursue deals after their Super Bowl run, targeting impact players earlier than their current slots allow.
Why the Patriots Will Try to Move Up
The numbers tell the story. New England owns two fourth-round selections and four sixth-rounders among its haul of Day 3 capital. Scouts around the league view this year’s late-round class as thinner than 2025’s group. That reality pushed Reiss to answer “true” when asked if the Patriots would flip extra picks to improve their position.
Reiss wrote it plain: the front office expects to explore using some of those Day 3 selections as chips in trades to better position themselves for players they are targeting earlier in the draft. The war room in Foxborough is already buzzing with those conversations.
Trenches Take Center Stage
Offensive and defensive lines sit at the top of the priority list. Jordan Reid of ESPN highlighted the need to attack both units, starting with the interior defensive line. Don’t be surprised if the Patriots spend an early pick on a defensive tackle. Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald stands out as a name to watch in the first two rounds. South Carolina’s Nick Barrett could slide into the conversation later.
The offensive line needs reinforcement too. Protecting young quarterback Drake Maye remains non-negotiable after the team’s deep playoff push. Every extra body up front buys the offense more time and opens lanes for the run game.
Edge Rushers, Linebackers and Receiver Contingency
Edge depth is another clear need. Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf noted at the Combine that the draft lines up well for the Patriots because of the volume of quality prospects at that spot. Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas fits the profile for a potential second-round target.
Linebacker help and corner depth also sit on the shopping list. And if a trade for Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown doesn’t materialize, the Patriots will look long and hard at adding a receiver fairly high in the draft.
“I think this draft offers a lot of different depth at varying areas, edge being one of them.”
— Eliot Wolf, Executive Vice President of Player Personnel, Patriots
Draft Day Outlook and What Comes Next
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off April 23 in Pittsburgh. With 11 total picks on the board and a clear plan to trade up, the Patriots have the ammunition to reshape their roster on the fly. The front office’s willingness to move signals urgency. They saw how close they came in the Super Bowl and refuse to stand pat.
Expect the Patriots to come away with at least one early-round trench player, plus added juice off the edge. The moves made over these three days will determine how quickly they can reload for another title chase in 2026. The clock is ticking, and New England is ready to deal.
