The New England Patriots were unsurprisingly busy in the 2026 NFL Draft. Entering the annual player selection meeting with 11 picks, tied for second-most in the NFL, they ended up making a series of trades and picks and at the end brought in nine prospects.
But while plenty of thought and preparation went into every one of those picks, it would be naive to think that all of them will burst onto the scene and have a major impact on the team right out of the gate. More realistically, not every member
of the nonet — yes, that’s what a nine-person ensemble is called — will contribute at a high level or even make the 53-man roster to begin with.
At this point in time, we are in wait-and-see mode. That doesn’t prevent us from making projections, so let’s predict which Patriots rookies will have the biggest impact on the team in 2026 (obviously, “impact” is a subjective term; for this projection it described as a mix of playing time and statistical output).
Roster locks
The players listed here are — based on their draft status relative to historical roster construction — considered safe come cutdown day. Barring injury, they will all be on the opening 53-man team.
1. ED Gabe Jacas (2-55): Even though he neither was the first player selected by the Patriots this year nor does he project as a starter along the defensive edge, Jacas has the clearest path toward rookie playing time. At the moment, after all, he is the frontrunner to earn the third spot in the edge rotation behind veterans Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones. What his eventual role will look like remains to be seen, but at the very least he can make an immediate impact as a stout edge-setter who brings juice to the pass rush.
2. TE Eli Raridon (3-95): Unless one of the depth tight ends truly stands out in training camp, the Patriots will head into the season with Hunter Henry, Julian Hill and Raridon as their three tight ends. Raridon, a true Y-tight end capable of helping out as a receiver and a blocker, should be able to earn early snaps due to his diverse skillset. It would not be a surprise if he ended the year as TE2 in multiple categories, even if he fails to establish himself as a starter just yet.
3. OT Caleb Lomu (1-28): Caleb Lomu’s day will come, but the Patriots’ first-round draft pick is nonetheless projected to start his NFL career on the bench. He projects as the primary backup left tackle behind Will Campbell and a developmental backup behind right tackle Morgan Moses, who he will ideally succeed as the starter in 2027. Until then, he will see irregular playing time as a jumbo tight end or injury replacement. It’s all part of the process.
Depth options
As opposed to the previous group, none of the players in listed here can be regarded as roster locks. That doesn’t mean they won’t have realistic chances, but their draft status alone is not enough to secure a spot on the 53.
4. LB Namdi Obiazor (6-212): The Patriots wanted to leave the draft with more linebacker depth, and they found it in the form of Obiazor in the sixth round. The TCU product has some limitations from a size perspective and needs to improve his play anticipation, but he benefits from an unclear situation at linebacker behind Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss. At the very least, he could find a role a multi-unit special teamer.
5. CB Karon Prunty (5-171): Maybe the most surprising of New England’s picks relative to his projection, Prunty will compete for a dual role on the team: as a backup cornerback and special teamer. He will get his opportunities in both areas this summer, and very well could end up earning a role. His defensive outlook might be less clear than, for example, Obiazor’s, but he has the raw physical talent to outplay his projection and eventually his draft slot as well.
6. RB Jam Miller (7-245): The Patriots will have an open competition for the third running back spot behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson this summer, and Miller ending up on the roster as either a situational RB3 or RB4 very well could happen. A lot depends on sophomore wildcard Lan Larison, but Miller himself also has some traits that can be useful as a complementary end-of-game and goal line back.
7. OT Dametrious Crownover (6-196): Considering that he needs considerable development even as a 24-year-old and has at least Will Campbell, Morgan Moses and Caleb Lomu ahead of him on the depth chart, Crownover playing meaningful snaps in 2026 would probably be a cause for concern. That said, he has the build and strength of an NFL lineman, which very much could help him make the team as its fourth tackle.
8. ED Quintayvious Hutchins (7-247): Hutchins is neither the biggest nor the fastest edge defender, but he plays with a high motor and consistently outperformed his physical gifts at Boston College. That will definitely be more of a challenge against NFL-level competition, which is why his quickest way to playing time as well as a spot on the team seems to come via special teams. So, why is he listed lower than Crownover? Because Hutchins — all things considered — should be facing longer odds to make the 53-man roster to begin with.
9. QB Behren Morton (7-234): Everything we said above about Dametrious Crownover getting meaningful snaps also applies to Morton, and then some. In fact, should the seventh-round rookie find himself in the starting lineup at some point, the Patriots are probably in “best skip to 2027 already” territory already. The Texas Tech product will enter training camp as QB3 behind Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito, and is unlikely to climb up the depth chart. The question will be if he can earn a roster spot, and even that might prove to be a challenge.
As mentioned above, the ranking and projections are entirely subjective and simply based on each player’s profile as well as their position on the team. Surprises, especially as far as the Day 3 picks are concerned, are always possible and why training camp will be quite intriguing this year.
