New England Patriots - NESN.com
The Patriots’ incredible season has pulled them out of the familiar territory they’ve been in for the past few years, where discussions about the NFL Draft usually ramp up before Christmas.
However, because the Patriots are still a young team, focusing on the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft is crucial, even with New England holding a late first-round pick.
Pro Football Focus’s Trevor Sikkema released a new mock draft on Monday, in which he has the Patriots selecting Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the 30th overall pick.
“Banks was viewed as a top-20 player before the season began, but he has missed most of the year due to a foot injury,” Sikkema wrote. “As long as that recovery checks out, the 6-foot-6, 330-pound defensive lineman should still be a top-32 pick thanks to his rare combination of explosiveness and power.”
Banks participated in only three games this season. Still, he brings a wealth of experience from his college career, having played 34 games over five seasons — two at Louisville and three at Florida.
If teams are down on Banks because he played three games this season, it could cause him to fall on draft boards, possibly helping New England.
