Bills division rival 2026 draft analysis: New England Patriots

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: A screen shows Caleb Lomu of Utah after being selected 28th overall by the New England Patriots during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) | Getty Images The New England Patriots snapped the Buffalo Bills’ five-year streak of winning the AFC East last season and ultimately advanced to the Super Bowl before being trounced by the Seattle Seahawks in a game that was not as close as the 29-13 score. Like the Bills, New England prioritized quantity with their 2026 draft class, ultimately making nine selections.

The Patriots needed edge-rushing talent on defense and blocking help for Drake Maye. Here’s a rundown of their 2026 draft class. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah Lomu doesn’t have the length issues of his new offensive tackle contemporary Will Campbell, and while he’s not as fundamentally sound as Campbell was coming out of LSU, he’s a fine athlete and hails from a Utah program that typically coaches their trench players really well.

The right tactkle spot was a weak link for the Patriots a season ago, so finding a promising blocker on the edge entering Year 3 of the Drake Maye era represented good process. Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois Because of the presence of new Bills defensive line coach Terrance Jamison, and his most recent stint at Illinois, there was a clear tie to Jacas for Buffalo during the 2026 draft cycle. To be frank, I didn’t like his film as much as many others, yet he was a plus tester and plays with plenty of energy.

For as improved as the Patriots defensive front was in the middle last season — thanks to the free-agent acquisition of Milton Williams — the club’s edge-rushers were not overly productive in one-on-one situations, and New England finished 26th in the NFL with 35 sacks during the regular season. Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame Raridon is one of those tight ends who, when watching him, if you squint, you can convince yourself you’re evaluating an oversized receiver on the field. He tested like a borderline elite athlete and, being that he played his college ball at Notre Dame, is well-versed in the blocking aspect of the game.