The Patriots enter Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft with a clear mission: improve the pass rush and provide more explosive targets for the passing game. With draft capital to spend, New England is in a prime position to address the lingering depth issues at edge rusher and defensive tackle while searching for a long-term solution at the “Y” tight end position.

The following players are players the Patriots could target in Rounds 2 and 3.

Keyron Crawford, EDGE, Auburn: A lengthy and explosive pass rusher from Auburn, Crawford offers the versatility to stand up or put his hand in the dirt. He wins with a quick first step and has developed a reliable long-arm move that keeps offensive tackles off-balance. His lean frame suggests he will need to add bulk to hold up against NFL-level power run schemes, but as a situational speed rusher, he could provide immediate impact on third downs.

Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt Stowers is a former quarterback turned tight end who brings elite-tier athleticism to the position. Standing 6’4″ and roughly 240 pounds, he functions more like a jumbo wide receiver, capable of stretching the seam and outrunning linebackers. While his blocking is still a work in progress, his background as a passer gives him a unique understanding of defensive coverages and spacing that helps him find soft spots in zone.

Max Klare, TE, Ohio State: Klare is the prototypical New England tight end, known for his technical refinement and reliable hands. He excels at working the short-to-intermediate areas of the field and is often the “security blanket” for his quarterback. Unlike more athletic “move” tight ends, Klare is a dedicated in-line blocker who understands leverage, making him a three-down player who doesn’t tip the offense’s hand when he breaks the huddle.

Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois: A heavy-handed edge setter from Illinois, Jacas plays a brand of football that prioritizes physicality over finesse. He is excellent at “setting the edge” and funneling run plays back inside to his interior defenders. While he may lack the elite bend to be a double-digit sack artist, his ability to compress the pocket and play with a high motor makes him a high-floor prospect for a gap-control defense.

Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech: Hunter is a massive presence in the middle of the Texas Tech defensive line, possessing the raw strength to occupy double teams effortlessly. He is a pure nose tackle prospect who allows linebackers to flow freely to the ball. While he isn’t a high-volume pass rusher, his ability to collapse the pocket from the inside out creates opportunities for the edge rushers to finish plays.

Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona: A savvy cornerback with extensive experience in the Arizona secondary, Stukes is praised for his high football IQ and diagnostic skills. He isn’t the fastest player on the field, but he compensates with excellent footwork and an ability to anticipate route breaks. He projects best as a nickel corner who can tackle in space and provide leadership to a young defensive backfield.

Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M: Howell is a specialist in every sense of the word, possessing one of the most productive pass-rush toolkits in the class. He uses a variety of hesitations and speed-to-power transitions to keep blockers on their heels. His smaller frame for the position means he might be limited to a “sub-package” role early in his career, but his knack for getting to the quarterback is undeniable.

Dominique Orange, DT, Iowa State: Known by the nickname “Big Citrus,” Orange is a wide-bodied interior defender who is nearly impossible to move when he anchors. He specializes in the “dirty work” of a defense, taking on blocks and neutralizing the interior run game. He offers very little in terms of pass-rush production, but for a team looking to shore up a leaky run defense, he is a primary target.

Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan: Moore is a powerful, well-built edge rusher from Michigan who excels in a bull-rush heavy style. He has the length and functional strength to manhandle smaller tackles and is remarkably disciplined in his gap assignments. He may lack elite “twitch,” but he is a productive, pro-ready defender who understands how to use his hands to shed blocks and finish at the ball carrier.

Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame: Fields is a large-framed wide receiver who specializes in winning “50-50” balls and dominating in the red zone. He uses his basketball background to box out defenders and high-point the football. While he doesn’t possess elite breakaway A sticky man-coverage specialist from Arizona State, Abney is a competitive defender who plays much larger than his listed size. He has the speed to mirror vertical threats and the agility to stick with twitchy slot receivers. He is a developmental prospect who would benefit from a year in an NFL strength program but has the “dog” mentality coaches crave.

Chris Bell, WR, Louisville Bell is a vertical threat who creates stress on the back end of a defense through raw speed and size. He is at his best when he can build up momentum on crossing routes or deep posts. His route tree is currently limited, and he can be prone to the occasional concentration drop, but his physical tools are of a primary “X” receiver caliber.

Emmanuel Pregnon,, OG, Oregon: A powerful guard from Oregon, Pregnon is a mauler in the run game who looks to finish blocks through the whistle. He possesses a wide base and heavy hands that make him difficult to move in pass protection. His lateral agility can be tested by quicker interior rushers, but in a downhill power-blocking scheme, he is a potential Day 1 starter.

R. Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma: Thomas is a light, flexible edge rusher who wins with speed and bend. He has a natural ability to “dip” his shoulder and get under the pads of offensive tackles to create a short path to the quarterback. He will likely start his career as a designated pass rusher while he works on the functional strength required to be an everyday run defender.

Mike Washington Jr. RB, Arkansas: Explosive running back with size and sneaky power. He can push the pile and finish runs. He is also effective as a receiver and be used in motion and in the slot. Runs upright and needs some refinement in terms of his pass protection technique but he represents a terrific value pick in the third round.

Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&M: Can play inside as a 3-technique and outside as a 5-technique. This flexibility makes him a valuable asset for teams that run multiple defensive fronts. He is a high-effort player who wins through persistence and sound technique rather than pure explosive traits.

Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State: Wheatley is a ball-hawking safety with a background as a cornerback, which is evident in his range and ball skills. He has a knack for being around the football and can cover significant ground in a single-high look. He is still learning the nuances of run support at the safety level, but his ability to create turnovers is a game-changing trait.

Bryce Lance, WR, NDSU: The brother of former first-rounder Trey Lance, Bryce is a productive wideout from the FCS level who has proven he can compete against higher-level competition. He is a smooth route runner with deceptive speed and very reliable hands. He projects as a high-end depth piece who can contribute on special teams while he adjusts to the speed of the NFL.

Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia: Delp is an athletic tight end from Georgia who was utilized as a versatile weapon in a complex offense. He is comfortable lining up in the slot, in the backfield, or with his hand in the dirt. He is a fluid athlete with the speed to outrun linebackers and the toughness to make catches over the middle of the field in traffic.

Kyle Louis, ILB, Pitt: Louis is a modern, “sideline-to-sideline” linebacker who excels in pass coverage and space defending. He is extremely fast for the position and can track down running backs on the perimeter with ease. While he can get washed out by larger offensive linemen in the run game, his utility as a coverage linebacker makes him highly valuable in today’s NFL.

Keyshaun Elliott, LB, Arizona State: Elliott is an old-school, thumping linebacker who thrives in the “box.” He is a downhill attacker who diagnoses run plays quickly and meets ball carriers with significant force. He is less comfortable when forced to drop deep into coverage, but he provides a physical presence and leadership that anchors a defensive front.

Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri: McClellan is a disruptive interior presence from Missouri who uses a quick first step to penetrate the backfield. He is more of a “one-gap” penetrator than a space-eater, making him ideal for a defense that wants its linemen to get upfield. He has shown flashes of being a high-volume sack producer from the defensive tackle position.

Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee: Brazzell is a tall, slender wide receiver who uses his height and long arms to win at the catch point. He is a vertical specialist who can track the ball well over his shoulder and has the speed to get behind secondary defenders. He will need to prove he can handle the physicality of press-man coverage at the professional level.

Jaishawn Barham, EDGE, Michigan: A versatile defender with a background at Michigan, Barham can play as a traditional off-ball linebacker or rush the passer from the edge. He is a violent hitter who plays with a relentless motor and excellent closing speed. His best fit is likely in a hybrid role where his athleticism can be used to disrupt offenses in multiple ways.

Darrell Jackson, DT, Florida State: Jackson is a mountainous human being at the heart of the Florida State defense. He is a pure run-stuffer who requires a double team on nearly every snap. While he doesn’t offer much in the way of a pass-rush plan, his presence alone makes a defense much harder to run against and protects the linebackers behind him.

Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State: Dennis-Sutton is a massive, powerful defensive end who looks like he was built in a lab. He is a stout run defender who can walk offensive tackles back into the quarterback’s lap. While he is still developing his pass-rush counters, his physical floor is incredibly high, and he has the upside to become a dominant “heavy” end in a 3-4 system.