With immediate moves still in play, some analysts see a long-term fix for the Patriots coming in the 2026 NFL Draft, rather than waiting to address depth in the short term.
In the current mock landscape, veteran draft evaluator Todd McShay projects New England to select Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion with the 31st overall pick, envisioning him as a strong year-one contributor alongside quarterback Drake Maye.
Concepcion highlighted a productive final college season, totaling 919 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 61 catches, and he accumulated 2,218 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns across his college career. He also contributed in the run game and has expressed confidence in his abilities to impact an NFL team.
The Patriots have shown interest in Concepcion, hosting him for an 30 visit earlier in the cycle, signaling that they’ve taken a close look at his fit within their passing attack.
This year’s wide receiver class features several notable prospects, with as many as five expected to be selected, and Concepcion is viewed by some mocks as a potential first-round target depending on how the board unfolds.
Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf spoke positively about the receiver pool, noting that the WR and TE positions are strong in this draft and emphasizing the team’s intent to add impact talent with their picks, including the possibility of pursuing a receiver early to complement Maye’s offense.
