B-
New England Patriots
A respectable, level-headed haul for the Patriots: B-.
by Arcadiuz ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 12 picks
· 4 steals
· 4 reaches
You can hear the double-takes from here. The Patriots took Jaishawn Barham at the 63rd overall pick, roughly 53 spots before his name belonged.
On value alone, Lane makes the weekend a net positive. A whole weekend of picks and safety is somehow still a want. Edge rusher was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.
Nothing here to lose sleep over, and plenty to feel decent about.
Pick-by-Pick
In pick No. 31 they get a quarterback's worst nightmare, even if it was a touch early. The biggest hole, addressed.
A real head-scratcher, Jaishawn Barham in the Round 2 slot is miles ahead of his ranking. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They talked themselves into Jude Bowry at pick 95, and the board did not agree. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
A wide receiver of that caliber at the 125th pick is the definition of value, full stop. The biggest hole on the depth chart just got a whole lot smaller.
Harold Perkins Jr. at No. 131 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
A market-rate wide receiver, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Jeff Caldwell. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
By-the-book stuff, Ephesians Prysock at pick 191 squarely in line with his ranking. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Anez Cooper slipping to Round 6, Pick 17 is the kind of luck good rooms make for themselves. A need, and now a little less of one.
Jimmy Rolder at pick No. 202 is an overdraft of the loud, memorable kind. A want dressed up as a pick, at a spot they had covered.
Cameron Ball is a better player than No. 212 suggests; smart patience, rewarded. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Le'Veon Moss at the 221st pick is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the running back. It fills a real need, too.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Jaren Kanak in the Round 7 slot. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.