2026 NFL draft: Latest New England Patriots updates, intel, buzz - ESPN

The 2026 NFL draft begins on April 23 in Pittsburgh, when the New England Patriots will pick at No. 31 overall in Round 1. The draft continues with Rounds 2-3 on April 24 and Rounds 4-7 on April 25 (ESPN, ABC and the ESPN App).

The Patriots have 11 total picks: Nos. 31, 63, 95, 125, 131, 171, 191, 198, 202, 212, 247. But how will they use them? Which positions need to be addressed? Which prospects are coming in for visits and getting buzz with the New England front office and coaching staff?

Patriots reporter Mike Reiss has the latest intel on the team's draft plans, potential targets and more in the lead-up to the 2026 draft. We will update this page right up until Round 1 begins.

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Friday, April 10: How the Patriots plan to utilize their eight selections on Day 3 of the draft (Rounds 4-7) is a notable subplot, and using one of their allotted 30 in-house visits on Clemson's Adam Randall might be a tip-off on their desire to add a pass-catching running back.

Randall (6-foot-3, 232 pounds) visited Foxborough a few weeks ago, according to a source. He is a converted wide receiver who timed 4.5 in the 40-yard dash and reached a top speed of 22.82 after totaling 168 carries for 814 yards and 10 touchdowns in his fourth and final collegiate season.

The Patriots return Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson atop the RB depth chart, and after spending a high second-round pick on Henderson in 2025, they are unlikely to invest a top draft pick at the position. But there is a wide-open competition at RB3, with Terrell Jennings, Elijah Mitchell and Lan Larison currently vying for that role.

So it adds up that a prospect such as Randall, who projects as a core