Patriots 2026 Draft Preview: Wide Receiver
Positional overview: Personally, I could've skipped doing this position this year. I'm making a lot of assumptions (during Draft Preview Season, aren't we all?) about the Pats wide receiver room. The main one being that it will include AJ Brown. And probably not Kayshon Boutte, who will likely go to Philly in the Brown trade. Then, with the addition of Romeo Doubs, and last year's 69th pick landing Kyle Williams, that's a lot of investment in the position for two offseasons. Besides, that's a crowded depth chart already.
On the other hand, not including wideouts in a draft preview series is like not posting a blog about Sydney Sweeney every couple of days, at least. This is the sexiest position to talk about. The one that puts eyeballs on screens. So I'm willing to split the baby here (a while ago I used that idiom talking to a 29-year-old who didn't get it so here's the Biblical reference to explain) and meet you halfway. Depending on which Draftnik you listen to, there are a good six receivers in the Class of '26 who won't make it out of the 1st round. And another three or four not expected to make it to the last half of Round 2. I may live to eat these words, but I just can't see Mike Vrabel and Elliot Wolf putting so much draft capital into adding more bodies to the WR room. The fact they only met with one of the Top 10 or so wideouts would seem to be a dead giveaway on that. So I've got the draft Amazon search filter set for Low to High and shopping in the middle of Day 2 and beyond.
Current roster: Doubs, Williams, Boutte (for now) Mack Hollins, Pop Douglas, Efton Chism III, Jeremiah Webb, John Jiles.
Top Wideouts Who Could Theoretically Be Within Reach of Their Round 2 Pick, 63rd Overall:
Chris Bell, Louisville. 6-foot-2, 222 pounds, 4.44 40-time (estimated)
Once you get past those first half dozen or so prospects, the reports are all over the map. Mock Draft Database has Bell coming off the board at No. 55. To NFL.com, he's just the 14th best WR and a 3rd-4th round prospect. What you get with him is a rare blended whiskey of size and speed, with a big, powerful frame and the ability to get separation on crossers and slants, then run away from safeties. He projects as a guy could develop into a boundary receiver who can high-point a ball and make the adjustments on back shoulder throws. He was First Team All-ACC, with 917 yards on 72 receptions and 6 TDs and an impressive 2.55 yards per route run. He's dropped on most boards over the course of 2026 due to a torn ACL. Which could make him a steal for a team not looking for instant gratification.
Germie Bernard, Alabama. 6-1, 206 lbs, 4.48
Bernard is sure-handed, with just one drop in 102 targets. And 13.5 YPC rate that helps put a number on his smooth route-running and Tesla-like acceleration. He's versatile, with roughly a 2-to-1 ratio of wide alignments to slot, and was used on corner routes, posts, deep crossers, bubble screens, and out of the backfield. He's moved around like an Army brat, starting out at Michigan State as a depth guy in every sense of the word, with just 7 receptions but 18.3 YPC. Transferred to Washington when the Huskies played for their first Natty since 1991 or The Boys in the Boat, depending on which poll you believed in then. Since then, he's led the Tide in receptions, yards and TDs. His versatility and experience make him an interesting project, even if he's not expected to dominate in any one area.
Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee. 6-4, 198 lbs, 4.37
Brazzell is one of those guys who will make or break the career of those anonymous, intrepid, hard-done-by, souls who evaluate college football talent for a living. He's your ultimate boom-or-bust prospects. As capable of taking over a game as he is having the Invisibility Cloak thrown over him by a cornerback half his size. Dominating Syracuse and East Tennessee State (an 83.1 PFF grade) to start the season, then doing nothing against Arkansas (48.5 grade) and Bama in the middle of the season. His height and top-end speed and ability to get over defenders is the stuff offensive coordinators are dreaming about when they're on the couch and their legs are twitching. But less than 200 lbs on a 6-4 frame is the stuff that gives team trainers the nightsweats. Yet he was Third Team All-American and First Team All-SEC for a reason, with over 1,000 yards, a 16.5 average, and 9 TDs. He's a risk. But one worth taking if you can afford to, with such a high ceiling. Personally, I see Tyquan Thornton. And I saw enough of him the last time we drafted him.
Malachi Fields, Notre Dame. 6-4 1/2, 218 lbs, 4.61
Every year I project the Patriots taking some skill position guy from Notre Dame, and every year it turns out to just be … well, projection. After four seasons at Virginia, Fields landed in South Bend and helped lead the Irish in becoming the first team to turn down the Pop Tarts Bowl. Despite his relative lack of speed, he managed 16.5 YPC and 5 TDs on 36 receptions on a run-heavy offense. As you'd imagine for a guy of his size, he's got play strength to shield himself from defenders draped on him and win the contested catches. And he's outstanding in run blocking. He strikes me as a guy who'll move the chains in the pros, running corners off and coming back on the ball, as opposed to finding open field like he has been.
Day 3 Flyers With Upside:
De'Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss. 6-2, 207 lbs, 4.36
At the risk of starting this paragraph in Cris Collinsworth fashion: Now here's a guy the Patriots met with. They spend a 30 visit on Stribling. And you can see why. He's got experience, with two seasons each at Washington State and Oklahoma State. He's been consistently productive, with over 800 yards and 6 TDs in each of the last two seasons. He's got a size/speed combo that you don't find all that often in the picks 90-120 where he's projected. He's very much more a deep threat with a 5th gear than someone who's going to run juke routes in the middle zone and snatch the ball out of a tight window. But he does have the added benefit of being one of the better blockers in his class. He's lined up in the slot plenty, but is really an X-receiver projection. And for what it's worth, he comes from a Marine Corps family and his uncle is WWE legend Don "The Rock" Muraco. To me, that means a lot.
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Cyrus Allen, Cincinnati. 5-11, 180 lbs, 4.49
Another of the Pats 30-visits, Allen followed up an impressive 2023 at Louisiana Tech (46-778-16.9, 4 TDs) with forgettable season at Texas A&M before bouncing back to lead the Bearcats with 51 receptions, 674 yards (13.2), and 13 TDs, good for third in the nation, on his way to Second Team All-Big 12 honors. He's your prototypical slot receiver, the kind Josh McDaniels' offense has always run through. He puts pressure on the slot defenders and LBs with a quick burst off the LOS, sudden acceleration and the ability to stick his foot in the ground and change direction, which is key to opening up short area room on the McOffense's option routes. And that ability showed up at the Senior Bowl, where he consistently shook defenders in the one-on-ones. While we're talking slots, he's slotted to come off the board (see what I did there? That's the Old Balls Difference) just as New England will be on the clock late in the 5th.
Please, Just Throw Me This Bone in the Late Rounds:
Jordan Hudson, SMU. 6-1, 191, Who cares about his 40-time?
The Perfect Patriot: I'm asking myself a tough question here. And maybe an irrelevant one, given that AJ Brown is Vrabels' No. 1 choice this offseason. But just to stay consistent with the format, I'll answer the question and say Bernard. They're just not shopping in that aisle in 2026.
Whom they'll draft: Stribling. He's a great low risk/high upside value pick, which is what I think they're in the market for. And later on, I still like Allen, as draft-and-develop Pop Douglas insurance. But seriously, let's make some noise with JordAn Hudson. It seems fated.