7-round mock draft: Free agency sets Patriots up to go defense

It’s that time of the year. The legal tampering period officially starts later today, so what better way to kick it off than with my Mock Draft 2.0.

For this one, based on a recommendation from my friend Dave, I am going to give you a few free agents that I would like the New England Patriots to sign. This should give you an idea of what their roster looks like when they start the draft.

So, consider this an all-encompassing wish list of sorts.

Let’s start with the projected free agency haul, focusing on some of the biggest pickups: WR Alec Pierce; LGs David Edwards or Isaac Seumalo; EDs Boye Mafe, Odafe Oweh, or Rashan Gary; LBs Devin Lloyd, Quay Walker, or Leo Chenal. I also expect the Patriots to bring in some depth players, with some of them potentially being at these positions at well. For our draft, however, that second group has little meaning.

OK, now let’s get into the draft. As always, the player’s current ranking in the Mock Draft Database is included for context. My previous mock draft can be found here: 1.0

Round 1

1-31: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo | No. 31): The NFL is a copycat league. The way that Seattle’s defense was changed by Nick Emmanwori was significant, so I would expect the rest of the league to try to follow suit. Bill Belichick may have been ahead of the curve when he drafted Kyle Dugger in 2020, but he didn’t have the long speed to cover deep. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren does, and he would make the Patriots defense a lot more explosive.

A group of him, Craig Woodson and Jaylinn Hawkins — who I project the Patriots will retain in free agency — will be one of the best safety rooms in the NFL.

Round 2

2-63: ED Malachi Lawrence (UCF | No. 63): The Patriots are in need of more guys that can get after the passer, and Lawrence most certainly can. He is 6-foot-4 and 253 pounds, and he did well in his athletic testing at the Scouting Combine as well, running a 4.52-second 40-yard dash, and jumping 40 inches in the vertical and 10-foot-10 in the broad jump. He is a high-energy player who has a good amount of moves in his bag to get after the passer.

Lawrence didn’t play a ton of elite competition, and he sometimes has trouble setting the edge on run plays, but he will instantly make the Patriots’ pass rush more dynamic. In this exercise, they have brought in an edge defender in free agency, but they are still in need of more help and developmental upside, and Lawrence fits the bill.

Round 3

TRADE: Patriots trade 3-95, 6-196, and a 2027 5th-round pick to Vikings for 3-82: The Patriots have a lot of draft capital on Day 3 this year, so they are able to take advantage if a player starts to slip down the board, which is what happens here. They give up one of their four sixth-round picks, and a fifth-rounder next year, to do it.

3-82: WR Antonio Williams (Clemson | No. 69): I believe that the Patriots should be looking to upgrade the slot position with DeMario Douglas entering the final year of his contract. That is exactly where Williams shined for Clemson. He is a little bigger than Douglas, at just a bit under 6 feet tall, and he is a bit more physical as well. He now has a chance to sit and learn behind the former sixth-rounder this season, and then take over as the full-time slot receiver in 2027.

In this exercise, the Patriots have already addressed receiver in free agency by bringing in Alec Pierce, but they should constantly be looking for young players who can help them at the position. That’s what they do here with Williams.

Round 4

4-125: OT Markel Bell (Miami | No. 199): The Patriots’ offensive line was much improved in 2025, but they still need to bring in more players to help with depth. So, how about one of the biggest players in the draft?

Bell measured in at 6-foot-9 and 346 pounds at the Combine, and he has some pretty good movement skills as well for a player his size. He needs some polishing, but the chance to sit and learn from a veteran like Morgan Moses could be invaluable for him. If the Patriots move on from Moses next year, he can step right in and be their starter at right tackle.

Bell seems to be a player who is getting better, as there was a significant improvement in his tape from 2024 to 2025. The Patriots are betting that he will continue to grow when he gets to the NFL.

4-131: LB Bryce Boettcher (Oregon | No. 148): If there was a definition of a Vrabel guy in the dictionary, there might be a picture of Bryce Boettcher to go along with it.

Boettcher has had an interesting career. He went to Oregon to play baseball, and was good enough to be drafted by the Astros in the 13th round back in 2024. Baseball wasn’t enough for him, however, so he decided to walk onto the football team as well. He made the transition from defensive back to linebacker in 2023, and has been one of the best players on the Ducks’ defense since. Over the last two seasons, Boettcher tallied 230 tackles, 13.5 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, and 10 PBUs. He is an aggressive run defender who also has enough athleticism to play in coverage, and he plays on almost every special teams unit as well.

Round 5

5-169: CB Thaddeus Dixon (North Carolina | No. 174): The Patriots are in need of some corner depth with Alex Austin potentially leaving in free agency. That is where Dixon comes in.

He has the size to play outside, and showed a good amount of improvement this season. Bill Belichick had him watching film of Ty Law this year, and some of that seemed to have rubbed off on him. He did a nice job at the Senior Bowl and should be a guy who continues to get better in the NFL.

With the Patriots already having set starters at cornerback, he will get the chance to learn and grow behind two very good players in Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis. I think this fit makes a ton of sense for what the Patriots are looking for at the corner position. Good teams continue to build on strength, and that’s what they do with this pick.