One of the offshoots of the Patriots‘ quick and impressive rise in the NFL is the fact that, going forward, this will be a team building on a solid foundation. They’ve got quarterback Drake Maye in place, the most important part of the franchise’s base, as well as a coach, Mike Vrabel, for whom players seem to love to play.
If you want to dig a little deeper, maybe the third-most important foundational ingredient in this league is a left tackle, and Will Campbell is proving he has that position locked down.
As they build, then, the Patriots will continue to find younger stars to put around this cast, and as long as health is not an issue–knock on wood there–the franchise will be in very, very good shape. Looking ahead to the 2026 NFL draft (only five months away now), the Patriots could be in a position to score some difference-makers.
Patriots Adding Drake Maye ‘Best Friend’ in Mock Draft
At The Athletic, the prediction from the first major mock draft of the season is that the Patriots would land Denzel Boston, the Washington star who continues to put up impressive production for a so-so Huskies team. Boston had 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown in Washington’s upset of Illinois on October 25, and came back with eight catches and 62 yards (plus a touchdown) in a loss to Wisconsin.
He has 52 catches for 730 yards and eight touchdowns this season. And if The Athletic is right, Boston would land in New England with the No. 27 pick.
“This might be too low for Boston, who continues to put up huge numbers,” the site wrote. “A big-bodied receiver who’s quick enough to win underneath, Boston has made at least five catches in six of Washington’s nine games. Could he be Drake Maye’s new best friend?”
Patriots Will Have Receivers on Hand in 2026 Draft
The fact that Boston, who is 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds and can line up in the slot or on the outside, could still be on the board late in the first round is, indeed, good news for Maye and the Patriots. It means that the upcoming draft is pretty well stocked with potential first-rounders at wide receiver.
The Athletic has five: Jordyn Tyson of Arizona State; Carnell Tate of Ohio State; Chris Bell of Louisville; KC Concepcion of Texas A&M and Boston. Other sites include Makai Lemon of USC as a first-rounder, too.
More Depth in WR Room Needed for Drake Maye
No question, it will be a position of need. The Patriots were both lucky and smart to have landed Stefon Diggs to be the team’s WR1, avoiding injury disasters like Brandon Aiyuk and their preferred target, Chris Godwin, but Diggs will be 32 this month and drafting his eventual heir will be a priority this offseason.
The Patriots have two young receivers with promise, of course, in Kayshon Boutte and Kyle Williams, though neither figures to be an every-down WR1. Getting a player to fill that role via trade is not out of the question (Garrett Wilson? Romeo Doubs?) but draft-and-develop is obviously the preferred route.
Maye will need weapons. The Patriots will be in position to get them.
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