The New England Patriots‘ offseason work is fully underway. After making some big moves in free agency, the front office is beginning to shift its attention to the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Even in the wake of signing Alijah Vera-Tucker, one spot the Pats could use some help at is along their offensive line.
While New England signed Vera-Tucker, it also traded Garrett Bradbury to the Chicago Bears and lost Vederian Lowe to the San Francisco 49ers. With Thayer Munford Jr.’s future also up in the air, the Pats need depth, particularly at the tackle position. As a result, they recently met with Ole Miss Rebels offensive lineman Jayden Williams, according to Tony Pauline of EssentiallySports.
“Offensive lineman Jayden Williams measured 6-foot-4.5 and 36 pounds, timed as fast as 5.03 seconds in the 40, hit 29.5 inches in the vertical jump, and completed 26 reps on the bench,” Pauline wrote. “He looked good in drills and is receiving looks as a swing tackle by teams. Williams met with the New England Patriots on Wednesday.”
Williams is an interesting prospect, as he has a good physical profile, but is still a very raw player who needs to be developed. The best-case scenario for Williams is that he’s selected in the sixth or seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but as of right now, he’s projected to go undrafted.
Still, Williams turned some heads at his Pro Day, and his versatility could make him an intriguing prospect if he doesn’t get selected. New England is being very thorough when it comes to its preparation for the upcoming draft, and that should help the team in its quest to nail all 11 of its picks.
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