13 NFL Draft Prospects Who Are Perfect Patriots, Per Recent History

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The New England Patriots are entering their second offseason under the leadership of head coach Mike Vrabel, executive vice president of player personnel Elliott Wolfe and vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden.

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It’s safe to say that on their first try, things went well…

Together, Vrabel, Wolfe, and Cowden absolutely crushed their first draft class, succeeding in nearly every pick, as the rookies were as much a part of going from worst to first as anyone on the roster — but this trio’s experience extends far beyond last season.

I gathered all the pertinent information on each draft player, with heavy input from the brain trust at One Patriot Place, and averaged the size, speed, strength, and agility stats to come up with not only what Vrabel, Wolf, and Cowden say are archetypes for each position, but also the best prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Get it? knew? OK!

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QB

The Patriots won’t be in the market for someone to replace Derek Meyer, but that doesn’t mean they won’t bring in someone to compete with Joshua Dobbs and Tommy DeVito for the backup job — something this regime has done a few times in the past.

UConn’s Joe Fagnano will come in late and has the solid frame and above-average athleticism that we see in many draft prospects in this group of talent evaluators.

RB

If you’re looking for backup running back options, there’s no one better than this guy…

Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price – who’s known for putting up insane numbers behind Jeremiah Love in 2023, 2024 and 2024 – actually did this exercise in a lab, as his numbers closely matched those of those running the organization’s average targets.

WR

I don’t want to insult your intelligence by telling you that wide receiver averages mean anything – you simply can’t compare guys like AJ Brown and Kyle Williams.

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If you’re looking for an interior option, look no further than Alabama’s Germie Bernard. If you’re looking for an outdoor option, USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane is a great choice.

TE

New England needs to bring in some youth at tight end, and two selections in the upcoming draft look like they might be interested.

SMU’s Matthew Hibner and Texas’ Jack Endries tested well and are the right size.

Ott

It’s extremely difficult to find offensive linemen who aren’t completely physically abnormal — they’re kind of like snowflakes, no two are the same. I did my best at both offensive tackle and interior offensive lineman, even though the players participating in this practice weren’t the right fit.

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Mississippi State’s Diego Pounds would be a mid-round pick, perfect for a team in need of versatility.

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Kentucky’s Jager Burton is similar, playing half of his games at left guard and the other half at center.

DT

The Patriots don’t necessarily need to add depth here, but it seems like every year the team adds depth in the middle rounds.

Missouri’s Chris McClellan is annoying inside, which is what this organization usually needs.

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No, they’re not going to draft one of the eight best players in the entire draft! But I bet they would!

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Texas Tech’s David Bailey would be the perfect player to fill the organization’s pass rush needs, but he’ll be gone before they get to the podium.

pound

Vrabel/Cowden haven’t had much luck drafting linebackers, so maybe they changed their approach this offseason?

Oklahoma State’s Irving Heinecke, however, is the closest thing they’re familiar with.

CB

New England doesn’t need any help at cornerback…

However, Tennessee’s Colton Hood would be a pretty good addition, as his stellar overall performance puts him in line with those who form the prototype at the position around these parts.

S

If Jaylin Hawkins needs to be replaced, perhaps the 2026 NFL Draft will focus more on safety.

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Not only does USC’s Bishop Fitzgerald fit in with recent history, but he can fill a variety of roles and might be just what the doctor ordered.

If you want to see individual stats for each player’s average points, you can find them here.

I don’t exactly expect all of these players to be targeted in the coming months, but it will be interesting to see who the numbers point to and how these players compare to other players considered suitable for their individual positions. The Patriots have drafted from these rosters the past two offseasons (Kyle Williams in 2025, Javon Baker and Joe Milton in 2024), although the numbers are much slimmer considering the numbers under Jerod Mayo and Mike Vrabel. We’ll see how things go this time…