New England Patriots

NFL analyst predicts two possible Patriots draft trades

The Patriots are currently set to pick 31st overall in the first round when the NFL Draft begins on April 23.

Eliot Wolf Patriots draft trades
Patriots front office executive Eliot Wolf at a media availability in March, 2026. Barry Chin/Globe Staff

By Hayden Bird

4 minutes to read

Possibles Patriots draft trades: The Patriots are currently slated to make 11 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, including four picks in the sixth round alone.

As for how front office executive Eliot Wolf and head coach Mike Vrabel might approach the top of the draft from New England’s standpoint, it could involve a trade or two.

“Maybe we trade up, maybe we trade out. I don’t know,” Vrabel told reporters at the recent NFL owners’ meetings.

Holding the 31st pick in the first round, New England (also equipped with additional picks to potentially move up) possess the always-coveted “flexbility” that NFL teams try to achieve in the offseason.

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Predicting what might happen when the draft gets underway in Pittsburgh on April 23 is inevitably difficult, but ESPN staff writer and NFL analyst Bill Barnwell tried to take a look into the future to see what New England might do.

He foresaw two possible trades. The first was with the Browns:

  • Patriots get: 24th overall pick
  • Browns get: 31st pick, 95th pick, 191st pick

“Even though the Patriots unexpectedly made it to the Super Bowl, I’m not sure they should approach 2026 with a one-player-away approach,” noted Barnwell. “This would be a moderate move up, costing the Pats a late third-round pick and a sixth-rounder.”

In his view, it would be a trade triggered by a run on edge rushers (a priority for New England) or wide receivers.

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The other scenario could be a trading down from the 31st pick. To demonstrate this contingency, Barnwell posited a trade that would be notable simply for happening: A deal with the rival Jets.

  • Patriots get: 33rd pick, 44th pick
  • Jets get: 31st pick, 63rd pick, 131st pick

Exactly why New York would offer to top-50 picks in order to move up two spots might seem unlikely, but Barnwell explained that on top of the rivalry component — the “intra-division tax,” as he called it — it would mean New England loses the ability to have a fifth-year option on their top rookie pick (only players in the first round can have such contractual options).

New York would only pursue it in specific circumstances, such as trying to leapfrog the Seahawks in the drafting of a cornerback.

“New York shouldn’t be trading up very often,” Barnwell noted, “given its need for young talent, but if it has one player left in a tier at a position it really values, moving up would lock in that player.”

Trivia: What quarterback, who once held the NFL record for the most touchdown passes thrown to different receivers in his career until Tom Brady broke it, played for both the Jets and Patriots?

(Answer at the bottom).

Trivia: He played college at the University of Miami.

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Scores and schedules:

The Celtics defeated the Raptors 115-101 on Sunday. Boston will host the Hornets on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Also from Sunday, the Red Sox lost to the Padres 8-6. Now 2-7, the Red Sox begin a new series at Fenway Park tonight against the Brewers at 6:45 p.m.

The Bruins lost on Sunday as well, falling 2-1 in overtime to the Flyers. The Bruins play the Hurricanes in Carolina on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Also on Tuesday, the Fleet face the Vancouver Goldeneyes in Edmonton at Rogers Place at 9:30 p.m.

More from Boston.com:

The latest from Tatum: The Celtics star continues to astonish since from returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon. He logged 23 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists (along with three steals) in Boston’s win over Toronto on Sunday.

Buzzer-beater championship moment:

On this day: In 1963, the Celtics defeated the Cincinnati Royals in Game 5 of the Eastern Division Finals 125-120. Tommy Heinsohn’s 34 points and 12 rebounds led the way, with Bill Russell totaling an impressive stat line of his own (24 points, 26 rebounds, five assists).

The win put Boston up in the best-of-seven series, 3-2. Pushed by Royals guard Oscar Robertson (who averaged 33 points per game), the series went seven games before the Celtics eventually emerged victorious.

Celtics Tommy Heinsohn playoffs Globe sports 1963

Daily highlight: From over the weekend, Angels outfielder Jo Adell robbed three home runs in the same game.

Trivia answer: Vinny Testaverde

Hayden Bird

Sports Staff

Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.

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