New 2026 NFL mock draft has Patriots adding 6-foot-7 lineman

New England Patriots

“The Patriots’ new team motto: Protect Drake Maye at all costs.”

The 2025 Patriots are staying focused on the task at hand amid an 11-2 start to the season.

But, New England’s top brass will also need to remain vigilant this upcoming spring if the franchise wants to sustain the success they’ve achieved this season.

One the best ways to do that is continuing to add impact players via the NFL Draft.

And even if the days of selecting top-five prospects might be a thing of the past, New England should still be able to bolster one area of its roster with its 2026 first-round pick.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler released his first 2026 NFL mock draft on Wednesday, with the draft guru projecting that the Patriots will take offensive tackle Monroe Freeling out of Georgia with the 32nd pick.

“The Patriots’ new team motto: Protect Drake Maye at all costs. Morgan Moses has played well at right tackle this season, but he turns 35 in March,” Brugler wrote. “Freeling would be a great understudy who could provide short-term depth and a long-term answer on the outside.”

Freeling — a 6-foot-7 tackle — has started 11 of 12 games for the Bulldogs this season, and has played alongside current Patriots’ offensive lineman Jared Wilson during his three years with Georgia. 

Freeling would be a wise long-term investment for New England as the team looks to protect its most valuable asset in Maye for the long haul.

New England has its presumed franchise left tackle in place after taking LSU’s Will Campbell with the fourth pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

But, New England could use some long-term options at right tackle. Even though free-agent pickup Morgan Moses has held his own at that spot this season, he is also 34 years old and has been plagued by injuries in the past.

Even if allocating a first-round pick on a more dynamic target like a wide receiver or tight end would draw more headlines, shoring up the O-line would be a proactive move for New England moving forward.

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.