Early 2026 mock draft has Patriots landing potential breakout prospect
Early 2026 mock draft has Patriots landing potential breakout prospect
The dust has yet to settle from the 2025 NFL draft, and there are already mock drafts for the 2026 draft.
It is never too early to break down prospective talent and potential moves in the future. That's what ESPN's Jordan Reid did in his recent first-round projections for the 2026 NFL draft.
Reid had the Patriots picking at No. 10 and taking Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk. So, a year after going offense with the first-round pick, the Patriots would switch the narrative to the defensive side of the ball with this pick.
Faulk has had a stellar career at Auburn, recording 80 combined tackles and eight sacks in two seasons with the Tigers. He could be on the verge of a breakout year in 2025.
Reid wrote:
"The Patriots went offense-heavy in the 2025 draft after using free agency to bolster their defense. We'll add more to that defense with Faulk, a towering 6-6 edge rusher with a stout base. He can play multiple alignments, and he finished the 2024 season with seven sacks. He's already one of the best run defenders in the country but needs to become more consistent rushing the passer to be picked in this part of the draft."
Adding a playmaker like Faulk to the defensive front could help put an already loaded Patriots defense over the top. You can never have too much talent on the defensive front, as the Philadelphia Eagles showed in their Super Bowl blowout win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Building a defensive juggernaut starts in the trenches for New England.
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