The Patriots have chipped away at three separate needs through the first two days of the draft, taking offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, edge rusher Gabe Jacas and tight end Eli Raridon.

Can they continue to check boxes on Day 3, with head coach Mike Vrabel away from the team as he seeks counseling?

New England could use a linebacker, and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf has said he likes the options available at the position on the final day of the draft this year.

A guard would make real sense for the Patriots, too. Investing in quarterback Drake Maye’s protection is never a bad idea, and veteran guard Mike Onwenu is going into the final year of his contract, meaning it might be wise to plan ahead there.

The same goes for preparing for 2027 and beyond at safety. The Patriots just signed veteran All-Pro Kevin Byard, but he’s on a one-year deal and so the Patriots could use a layer of depth there as well.

Let’s get to some of the players who seem like the best fits available to New England on Saturday…

Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon

Originally attending Oregon on a baseball scholarship, Boettcher walked onto the football team to play for coach Dan Lanning and ended up being a two-sport athlete for three years. Boettcher established himself as one of the best defensive outfielders in the country in 2024 and was drafted by the Astros in the 13th round that year. But in 2025, he focused on football and ended up being named second-team All-Big 10 as an instinctive and hard-charging linebacker.

At 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, Boettcher carries a walk-on chip on his shoulder and has a strike-you mindset that is unrelenting. He can overpursue at times, perhaps trusting his instincts too much in play-fake situations, but his want-to and potential on special teams could end up landing him in Foxboro.

Keyshaun Elliott, LB, Arizona State

Vrabel was clearly interested in working with offensive tackle Max Iheanachor at Arizona State’s pro day, but he would’ve had the opportunity to see Elliott up close there as well. At 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds, Elliott posted an impressive 4.58-second 40 time that day, as well as a 7.02-second three-cone drill.

Elliott’s vertical (38 inches) at the combine was an eye-opener and indicative of NFL-caliber lower-body explosiveness. There’s plenty on the field that Elliott brings to the table that Vrabel might like, too. He racked up 98 tackles, including 7.0 sacks, last season on his way to second-team All-Big 12 honors.

He’s a forceful hitter in the running game, and he’s considered a high-quality teammate, and he plays with a level of physicality that would allow him to fit in in Foxboro defensively or on special teams.

Red Murdock, LB, Buffalo

A second-team All-American with a whopping 142 tackles, 13.5 for a loss and six forced fumbles, Murdock is one of the most productive ‘backers in this class.

He posted 156 tackles in 2024 and seven forced fumbles in 2024. He was a captain who refused to leave Buffalo when he would have had a chance to transfer to a bigger program. Highly intelligent and with a thirst for contact, there’s not much the Patriots wouldn’t like about his game.

He’ll be challenged by the jump in competition as a pro. His athletic traits don’t necessarily jump off the screen. And his work in coverage needs refinement. But in terms of his competitive spirit and on-field demeanor, he makes sense in New England.

Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana

One of the James Madison transfers to follow coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana, Fisher quickly ended up as one of the top leaders for one of the best programs in the country. A two-time first-team All-American (combined 215 tackles in 2024 and 2025), Fisher was a captain as the Hoosiers completed their run to a national title.

At 6-foot-1, 232 pounds, he has enough in the way of size to qualify for this list. But it’s his motor that makes him the kind of player you could truly envision functioning in Vrabel’s defense. He seems like the kind of player who will outperform whatever expectations are attached to his draft slot.

Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State

Check out the 2025 season highlights and NFL Draft tape for Penn State Safety Zakee Wheatley. Is Zakee Wheatley the most underrated playmaker in the 2026 NFL Draft? Standing 6’3″ and 200+ lbs, the Penn State standout has evolved from a takeaway specialist into a complete, downhill safety. This 2025 highlight reel captures the instinctual play and physical growth that has NFL scouts buzzing.

A reported 30 visitor to Foxboro, Wheatley is a fascinating study for this position. He’s long and lean (6-foot-3, 203 pounds) and unafraid of contact. But it would be fair to ask if his frame and playing style will lend themselves to longevity at the next level.

His want-to in the run game can exhibit itself as over-aggressiveness at times, and his strength right now isn’t always able to live up to the mindset that puts him in some precarious, high-impact positions.

If the Patriots, however, want someone with the length to play the football down the field? Someone they feel can be a legitimate one-on-one cover man against tight ends? Wheatley might be a worthy Day 3 selection whose skills could complement Craig Woodson’s for the foreseeable future.

Kamari Ramsey, S, USC

The Patriots have certain position-specific traits they like in the draft, but across positions there are broader qualities they hope are possessed by all of their picks. Among ’em? Selflessness. Being a good teammate matters to Vrabel’s staff, and Ramsey seems to check that box.

He played out of position last season in the slot, perhaps harming his draft stock in the process, because the Trojans needed him there. He did it without complaint, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. He was the on-field play-caller defensively for USC, indicating he has some coach-on-the-field traits, and he exhibited enough in the way of his football IQ to be an effective player from various alignments.

A good athlete (4.47-second 40, 36-inch vertical) at 6-feet, 203 pounds, Ramsey is another player in this group with durability concerns. But his intelligence and team-first mindset could make him a Day 3 option at One Patriot Place.

Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami

Thomas plays like a ball of fire, which will make him the apple of someone’s eye on Day 3 when special teams come into focus. While that may be where the 6-foot-1, 211-pounder ends up making his greatest contributions early in his career, he shows big-play ability that could end up making him a good complementary option at safety for the Patriots.

That big-play — and more specifically big-hit — mindset can get him into trouble at times in coverage. But even with areas to clean up in his game, his quick-trigger reactions helped him record 16 pass breakups and nine picks in his career.

For a team that has no shortage of Miami fans — including Eliot Wolf, senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith and pro scouting director AJ Highsmith — in the building, it’s not hard to see the Patriots taking a shot on a competitor like Thomas in the later rounds.

Demonte Capehart, DT, Clemson

Check out the 2025 season highlights and NFL Draft tape for Clemson Tigers defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart. DeMonte Capehart has proven to be a physical powerhouse on the interior of the Tigers’ defensive line. Known for his brute strength and ability to shed blockers, Capehart is a true “gap-eater” who excels at neutralizing the run and collapsing the pocket from the inside. This highlight reel showcases his heavy hands, impressive wingspan, and the veteran poise that has made him a focal point for NFL scouts looking for interior defensive line depth in the 2025 NFL Draft.

A five-star recruit out of high school, Capehart never truly lived up to that billing with the Tigers. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a key contributor for someone’s rotation on the defensive line in the NFL — especially as a run defender.

He has an eye-opening ability to jolt offensive linemen and overpower them backwards like they’re blocking dummies. At 6-foot-5, 313 pounds, and with nearly 34-inch arms and 10-inch hands he has the kind of frame that will make coaches salivate. He also lit up the combine with a 4.85-second 40 and a 33.5-inch vertical for a massive RAS of 9.96 out of 10.0.

Capehart spent six years in college, so his ceiling may be limited. And he was arrested in 2024 for unlawful possession of a firearm on university property. But if the Patriots are comfortable with him as a person, he has the kind of traits that often make effective football players.

Jordan van den Berg, DT, Georgia Tech

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, van den Berg grew up playing rugby as one of five boys in the family. They moved to the Atlanta area when he was 10 years old, and he played football, basketball and baseball at Providence Christian Academy in Georgia.

After one season at Iowa Western Community College and three at Penn State, he transferred to Georgia Tech. He was named First-Team All-ACC in 2025, racking up 11.0 tackles for loss, which was tied for most in the nation among Power Four defensive tackles.

He plays with a relentlessness the Patriots would enjoy, and his quickness at the snap will give him a chance at the next level. His pro day, at 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, was one of the best we’ve seen in years. He performed at an elite level across the board. His 35 bench reps of 225 pounds, 36-inch vertical, 9-foot-11 broad, 4.94-second 40 and 4.19-second short shuttle gave him a mind-boggling 10.0 RAS.

Jalen Farmer, OG, Kentucky

At 6-foot-5, 312 pounds, Farmer isn’t the burliest player on this list. He is, however, a guard who will go as far as his power takes him. A right-guard-only player at Kentucky over the last two seasons, he relishes the opportunity to finish — something that could endear him to a Vrabel-led coaching staff that preaches finishing longer than the ball-carrier on offense.

His quickness in tight spaces will limit him in pass protection, and his movement skills don’t scream “follow me!” in the screen game. But in a gap running scheme, there’s upside for a powerful player who’ll still be just 21 years old on draft weekend.

Logan Taylor, OG, Boston College

Vrabel will have great insight into what makes Taylor tick thanks to his relationship with Boston College coach Bill O’Brien. The Patriots were well represented at BC’s pro day, too, and if they opted to invest in Taylor on Day 3, it would come as little surprise.

His size (6-foot-6, 316 pounds, 34-inch arms) gives him the look of an imposing tackle — and he could potentially give a team some snaps there at the next level. One of his top characteristics is his versatility since he started at every position other than center, including 26 starts at tackle and 23 at guard with the Eagles.

The senior captain has been working with legendary line coach Dante Scarnecchia prior to the draft, and would be considered a culture add wherever he goes.

Febechi Nwaiwu, OG, Oklahoma

Nwaiwu was a North Texas transfer who showed up to Oklahoma and immediately became a staple on the interior of their line, starting 26 games over two years. He has the kind of violent play demeanor that the Patriots would covet, and he’s thought to be the kind of person who would be a positive addition to any locker room environment.

His nearly 35-inch arms allow him to play with patience and power, and he was penalized just once last season. He’s not a fluid athlete, but he has legitimate pop in his hands to compete for a role along the interior — potentially as a super sub, who can play all three interior spots — at the next level.

Jeremiah Wright, OG, Auburn

Wright reportedly made a 30 visit to Foxboro, and it’s easy to see why the Patriots would be interested in him.

The 6-foot-5, 331-pounder is a behemoth interior lineman with two seasons of experience as the starter for the Tigers at right guard. Against some of the best defensive linemen in the country, he flashed NFL-ready power on a regular basis, and his aggressive play demeanor helped him seek out opportunities for brutal finishes.

Can his work in pass protection improve with some time to develop under a capable coaching staff? If the Patriots think so, don’t be stunned to hear them call his name this weekend.

Adam Randall, RB, Clemson

Another 30 visitor, it’s not surprising that the Patriots would be interested in Randall (6-foot-3, 232 pounds) if they’re interested in bigger backs.

The former four-star receiver recruit converted to running back in 2025 and showed real promise, accumulating 814 rushing yards (on 4.8 per carry) and 10 touchdowns. A team captain, he also caught 36 passes and was named honorable mention All-ACC. His pad level can get a little high, and since he’s new to the position, it seems as though his vision will only improve with reps.

As a later-round flier at a position where the Patriots could use some size and some pass-catching ability — what they had, really, in last year’s reserve back Antonio Gibson (another former college receiver) — Randall would be a sensible addition.

Chip Trayanum, RB, Toledo

Trayanum’s frame belies his nickname. At 5-foot-11, 224 pounds, the Arizona State, Ohio State and Kentucky transfer — a rare four-school prospect — put together his first 1,000-yard season in 2025 for Toledo, averaging 5.6 yards per carry with 12 touchdowns. His 4.50-second 40 and 37-inch vertical were impressive at his pro day, and he has the kind of body type that would suggest he’ll be able to improve in pass protection.

If the Patriots seem Trayanum as a special-teams contributor at the next level, perhaps they’d be willing to invest in him on Day 3.

CJ Donaldson Jr., RB, OSU

The tape from Ohio State’s matchup with Miami this past season shows examples of Donaldson functioning as willing pass-protector who’s unafraid of high-speed collisions.

Not only does the West Virginia transfer welcome contact, but at 6-foot-2, 236 pounds he has more than enough strength to hold up in those spots. As a runner, he clearly wants to get downhill and run through anyone in his way.

His lack of production (just 361 yards on 96 carries for the Buckeyes last season) may have him waiting until late on Day 3 to hear his name called — if it’s called at all — but if the Patriots opt to wait to add a big back on draft weekend, perhaps Donaldson is one of their better bang-for-your-buck options.

Max Bredeson, FB, Michigan

It wouldn’t be right to get through this rundown and not include Bredeson as a potential fit for a team that respects the fullback position the way the Patriots do.

Yes, they just signed veteran lead-blocker Reggie Gilliam in free agency. But if they wanted to backstop Gilliam with a younger option, if they wanted to give themselves a chance to maintain their two-back offense if something were to take Gilliam off the field for any stretch of time, Bredeson is worth a look.

He walked on at Michigan and played without a scholarship for two years until then head coach Jim Harbaugh offered him one in 2023. He never carried the football for the Wolverines in five seasons, catching just 12 passes. But his football character, toughness and ability to displace defenders is impressive.