Mike Vrabel Opens Door To Patriots Trading 1st-Rd Pick NFL Draft

Mike Vrabel Opens Door To Patriots Trading 1st-Rd Pick NFL Draft originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots currently hold the No. 31 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But recent comments from the head coach, Mike Vrabel, confirm nothing is set in stone before April 23.

“Maybe we trade up. Maybe we trade out. I don't know,” Vrabel said as quoted by Mike Reiss of ESPN. “But I love being able to work with Eliot and Ryan and their staff, and coaches, and try to bring that together.

“I'm trying to bring the coach's perspective on a player together [with] the personnel side to bring the best person in there for our football team."

A trade could make a lot of sense for the Patriots in a few scenarios. Firstly, there is a strong consensus on the top three in the wide receiver class. If any one of the group, including Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Arizona State’s Jardyn Tyson, or USC’s Makai Lemon, falls further than expected, trading up just a few picks to draft a top receiver could be an enticing option.

Conversely, the edge group is very deep this year. Draft analyst Todd McShay expects to see anywhere from seven to eight drafted in the first round. Should only six come off the board before the Patriots pick, they could have a handful of edge rushers left on the board at No. 31 that they have a similar grade on.

In this scenario, trading down would make a lot of sense. They could pick up some draft capital and still select a similarly graded player at the same position ten spots later.

The Patriots have 11 picks in this draft, which is plenty of capital to make some big splash moves. Expect anything and everything when the Patriots are on the clock. 

More NFL: Patriots Predicted To Trade First Round Pick To NFC North Team