Pats Pulpit
It’s been almost two months since the New England Patriots finalized their 2026 NFL Draft class. Now, with the commencement of mandatory minicamp last week, those rookies have progressed through the entirety of New England’s spring workout program before returning to Foxboro on July 18 for training camp.
Some of the fresh faces have shown signs of progress, while others are still climbing the depths of the roster or have yet to start. Here’s the current status of each of the Patriots’ draft selections.
New England has been prepping their first-round draft pick as an all-around backup along the offensive line, with Lomu repping at both tackle and guard spots throughout the OTA sessions. The 21-year-old also slotted in as the starting right tackle during the first two minicamp practices while veteran Morgan Moses received rest.
Head coach Mike Vrabel has pointed out Lomu’s flexibility and versatility as traits that have stood out, and the rookie said after Wednesday’s workout the move to the right side feels more natural.
Lomu has been an amenable participant and looks like he could be more than a traditional swing tackle next season.
The same, however, can’t be said of Jacas, who has yet to practice with the team. Jacas appeared and stood on the sidelines at rookie minicamp on May 7 and 9, but has not attended a practice since. He’s the only second-round pick not signed to a rookie deal as of now.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss wrote on Sunday that in addition to Jacas’ pre-draft hamstring injury, the rookie also underwent a “clean-up” knee procedure. It’s currently unknown whether or not the surgery was disclosed to the team. Reiss noted that Jacas not being given a “participation agreement,” which protects the player financially if they were to get hurt before signing the contract, is related to his absence.
Jacas is currently missing valuable time during a critical stage in his rookie development.
As more of a project player at tight end, Raridon can find a contributing role in 2026 as a receiving option for quarterback Drake Maye, who can also threaten defenses vertically. Training camp is still over one month away, and with free agency signing Julian Hill’s unfortunate season-ending injury, the rookie will see increased opportunities as the offseason progresses.
During minicamp, Raridon saw competing action as a primary sub in Maye’s offense, rotating with Jack Westover. The Notre Dame product showcased resilience during Thursday’s practice, receiving an open red-zone touchdown from Maye after a drop over the middle several plays prior. His development as a blocker will be a litmus test for the involvement he could see in year one.
The Patriots went into the offseason needing more depth at cornerback, so they drafted Karon Prunty in the fifth round to add to it. With New England’s top three corners absent at OTAs (Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones), the rookie repped with...
