NFL Draft Expert Has Patriots Making Eye-Catching First-Round Pick In 2026
New England made the 32nd overall pick with the order based on current record
After consecutive offseasons with top-5 picks in the NFL draft, the New England Patriots won’t have the same fate following Mike Vrabel’s first season.
That’s a good thing.
Instead, the conference-leading Patriots are likely to be picking where playoff teams do. Perhaps they’ll even pick where true Super Bowl contenders do seeing how they have the shortest odds to win the AFC.
NFL draft expert Dane Brugler on Wednesday released his first mock draft of the cycle where the Patriots hold the 32nd overall pick in the first round. That’s when the Super Bowl champion will be on the clock, though this time around it’s based on current records — not the fact Brugler believes the Patriots will win the Super Bowl.
Brugler predicted Monroe Freeling, an offensive tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs, to the Patriots at No. 32.
“The Patriots’ new team motto: Protect Drake Maye at all costs,” Brugler wrote. “Morgan Moses has played well at right tackle this season, but he turns 35 in March. Freeling would be a great understudy who could provide short-term depth and a long-term answer on the outside.”
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The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Freeling has started 11 of 12 games this season. He’s started 16 of 32 career games at Georgia, and played alongside Patriots left guard Jared Wilson during the 2024 campaign.
The selection of Freeling would, of course, mean the Patriots selected first-round offensive tackles in consecutive drafts. New England selected Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Fortunately for the Patriots, they won’t own that spot in 2026.
