The New England Patriots will see 30 prospects come off the board before they select with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
However, the Patriots will get the chance to come away feeling good by selecting the best player that meets their needs from the talent pool remaining.
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Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine mapped out the dream scenario for every NFL team in the first round of the draft, touting edge rushers Keldric Faulk (Auburn), as well as T.J. Parker (Clemson), as the two prospects that work best for the Patriots at No. 31.
“A run on receivers keeps Buffalo from upgrading the weaponry around Josh Allen while Keldric Faulk or T.J. Parker slide all the way to 31,” Ballentine said. “They join the pursuit of the Bills quarterback as part of the Patriots’ plan for AFC East supremacy.”
Faulk collected two sacks and five tackles for loss in 2025. He recorded seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2024 in what was his best season over the course of his three years at Auburn. Faulk is mentioned right behind David Bailey, Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor as one of the edge rushers worthy of a first-round draft pick.
Parker put up numbers at Clemson, recording five sacks in 2025. He picked up 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss the year prior in 2024. He’s another intriguing prospect for the Patriots to consider in the event that he’s still on the board at No. 31 overall.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: What is the dream 2026 NFL Draft scenario for the Patriots?