The NFL Draft is over.
Find all of the latest Patriots’ pick-by-pick grades here with the Herald’s complete draft tracker:
Day 3
Boston College EDGE Quintayvious Hutchins closes out draft
Grade: C
Hutchins is neither a terrific athlete nor a prospect who was highly productive in college. But as a high-character player at a premium position, the Patriots decided Hutchins was worthy of their final draft pick.
A team captain Boston College, Hutchins recorded just 5.5 sacks over 43 career games. He gained experience dropping into coverage and showed he can tackle well. Aside from a quick first step, evaluators seemed to struggle to identify other major strengths of his game that might translate to the NFL.
Like most of the Patriots’ Day 3 picks, Hutchins may end up as a special teams-only player.
Patriots add Alabama RB Jam Miller with penultimate pick
Grade: B-
A better athlete than he is natural runner, Miller gives the Patriots depth at a position that could be in trouble if Rhamondre Stevenson or TreVeyon Henderson go down for an extended stretch next season. He’s 5-foot-10 and 209 pounds. He rushed for 504 yards and three touchdowns a 3.9 yards per carry average last season.
Miller is plenty fast (4.42 in the 40-yard dash) and did flash some receiving ability (40 career catches and two receiving touchdowns), but look for him to chase a roster spot as a special teams-first player this summer.
Texas Tech QB Behron Morton drafted as new QB3
Grade: C+
Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton (2) throws a pass during the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game between Texas Tech and BYU Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Unlike some of their other late-round picks, Morton has unimpressive physical traits he balanced in college with plus intangibles.
Morton is tough, experienced and regarded as a good leader. But his arm strength and ball placement don’t wow, and his injury history gives reason for concern at the next level, especially given he’s almost eager to take punishment. Morton, at 6-foot-2 and 221 pounds, fits the classic mold of being a better college passer than pro prospect, much like former Patriots fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe.
He projects as a good locker-room presence, and figures to have an uphill climb to make the roster, even with a clear path to being the No. 3 quarterback behind Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito.
Pats select TCU LB Namdi Obiazor at end of 6th round
Grade: B-
On the surface, the Patriots addressed another need by adding Obiazor to their linebacker room, which needed depth. But is he the coverage linebacker they should have been chasing?
Obiazor graded out as a run-first player at Pro Football Focus, and evaluators question his ability to diagnose plays and react quickly. However, the physical tools are there with Obiazor, a 6-foot-3 and 229 pounds who ran a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash. Perhaps it was most telling that Patriots vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden mentioned special teams when discussing Obiazor at the start of the seventh round, considering that may be the linebacker’s first and forever home in New England.
Patriots add another OL in Texas A&M’s Dametrious Crownover
Grade: B+
At this stage of the draft, it’s wise to bet on traits. That’s exactly what the Patriots did with Crownover, a massive offensive tackle with excellent length, proven durability and plenty of experience.
The 6-foot-7, 319-pounder made 27 starts at right tackle and one at left tackle during his college career after converting from tight end. Crownover was projected to get drafted early on Day 3, but slid to the Patriots in the sixth round. He took nine penalties last year, including several false start and holding flags. But if the Pats can maximize his potential, they may have a future swing tackle on their hands.
Crownover’s best football, having played offensive tackle for just four years, is undoubtedly ahead of him.
Pats surprise with Wake Forest CB Karon Prunty in 5th round
Grade: C-
Wake Forest defensive back Karon Prunty (3) looks on during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
The Patriots have made their first selection on Day 3, adding Wake Forest cornerback Karon Prunty late in the fifth round.
Prunty is a tall, speedy cornerback who transferred twice from Kansas to North Carolina A&T and then Wake Forest. He recorded eight career interceptions over five seasons and six years in college. Prunty was widely projected to be an undrafted free agent despite receiving high coverage grades from Pro Football Focus last year. He allowed catches on just 44.4% of his targets, per PFF, but posted so-so tackling numbers the past two seasons.
Prunty may help address the team’s shaky cornerback depth, but he’s a 24-year-old prospect who figured to be available later and may soon be in his physical prime, if he isn’t there already. Prunty is already older than rising fourth-year corner Christian Gonzalez. Even if he can contribute on special teams (Prunty was a gunner in college), there’s little time for him to prove himself as an NFL player given his age.
If the Patriots were chasing traits, like Prunty’s 4.4 speed and plus length, why not target a younger prospect with similar accolades who was still on the board?
Day 2
Pats draft Notre Dame TE Eli Raridon in 3rd round
Grade: B
Raridon is a tall, athletic tight end who, like Jacas and Lomu, could solve a present and future need for the Patriots.
He should immediately compete with free-agent addition Julian Hill for the No. 2 job this season and could succeed Hunter Henry as the team’s top tight end starting next year. At 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, Raridon offers a big target over the middle and down the seams. He had 48 catches for 623 yards and three touchdowns over his college career.
Raridon doesn’t wow as a blocker, though he’s effective in space, and his frame suggests he could easily add weight. This is a decent bet by the Patriots that Raridon’s athletic traits will allow him to develop into a solid NFL tight end, even if he never sniffed dominance at Notre Dame.
Raridon has elite speed for the position (4.62 in the 40-yard dash) and posted high marks in the vertical and broad jumps at the NFL combine, which speak to his explosiveness. His basketball background is also evident on 50/50 balls, an area the Pats may be able to tap into early in his career.
Pats trade up for Gabe Jacas at No. 55 overall
Grade: A
Illinois Gabe Jacas (17) rushes the line during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Like Mike Vrabel told Jacas on the phone shortly after his selection, he embodies everything the Patriots want in a player.
Violent, physical, relentless. He’s tough and exceptionally strong. Jacas leaves Illinois as one of the most productive edge rushers in college football (11 sacks last season) and one of the most experienced players in this year’s draft cycle (41 career starts).
Former Illinois assistant and Patriots legend James White called Jacas a “perfect fit” for New England in a text exchange with the Herald.
“Good, tough player,” White wrote. “(He) practices hard. Great vocal leader.”
Jacas was a captain at Illinois. He stands at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, fitting the exact physical prototype for a Patriots edge defender. He can stand to be a bit more disciplined coming off the edge, but at 55th overall the Patriots not only landed arguably the best player available but the best player who can help address their most glaring need.
This was a no-doubt home-run pick.
Day 1
Patriots select Utah LT Caleb Lomu in 1st round
Grade: B+
Eliot Wolf said he was surprised to see Lomu still on the board when the Patriots finalized a trade to move up and select him.
He wasn’t alone.
After six offensive tackles went in the top 21 picks, Lomu slid toward the end of the first round despite allowing zero sacks last season and testing as an elite athlete for his position at the combine. A two-year starter at left tackle, Lomu is still only 21. He fills a major need for the Patriots, whose offensive tackle depth this season and beyond are both question marks.
So, why not an “A” grade for this pick?
Lomu is expected to change positions in New England, which clouds his projection at the next level. Will Campbell remains the Patriots’ starting left tackle. Had the Pats instead landed a college right tackle like Clemson’s Blake Miller (drafted 17th overall by Detroit) or Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor (drafted 21st by Pittsburgh), the vision would have been clearer. For now, Wolf claims Lomu can play almost anywhere across the offensive line.
Lomu also comes with questions about his size and play demeanor. He said he’s already gained weight after playing at 307 pounds last season. He would do well to play with more of an edge, particularly as a run-blocker where he struggled at times against bigger defenders.
But Lomu’s talent is obvious. If he can successfully serve as the Patriots’ swing tackle as a rookie, then start at right tackle for 2027 and beyond, Lomu could be one of the best picks the team has made in recent memory.