Tkodger'S MOCK DRAFT
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Tkodger'S MOCK DRAFT
RUN ON JAN 27, 2026

2026 NFL draft

  • Tkodger DRAFTING FOR THE
    Patriots
Draft Selections
R Mason Thomas Head Shot
PICK: 31 RND: 1 (NE)
R Mason Thomas
DE-EDGE Oklahoma
Eric Rivers Head Shot
PICK: 63 RND: 2 (NE)
Eric Rivers
WR Georgia Tech
Zakee Wheatley Head Shot
PICK: 95 RND: 3 (NE)
Zakee Wheatley
S Penn State
Draft Grade — Patriots
Overall B-
ValueC NeedA TradesB- FutureB-
The Patriots checked most of the boxes and earned a B-.

Call it a hunch or call it a gamble, but the Patriots spent Round 2, Pick 31 on Eric Rivers, a name most had 66 spots down the list. Good, not great, and the B- says as much.

The Wheatley steal is the beam this whole class leans on. That interior defensive lineman hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall. Job largely done: edge rusher settled and 3 of 8 of the wish list covered.

A competent weekend that does not make headlines and does not need to.

Pick Analysis
Pick31 Rnd1 R Mason Thomas
In the Round 1 slot they get a disruptor off the edge. The biggest hole, addressed.
Pick63 Rnd2 Eric Rivers
They talked themselves into Eric Rivers at pick No. 63, and the board did not agree. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick95 Rnd3 Zakee Wheatley
Somehow Zakee Wheatley was still sitting there in pick 95, and they pounced on premier safety value. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.