New England Patriots
The Patriots have received a major boost from their 2026 rookie class so far this season.
It’s been a tumultuous start to the 2026 NFL season for Mike Vrabel and the Patriots, who sit at 4-3 through seven weeks amid a campaign marked by struggles, statement performances, and plenty of injuries.
It was to be expected for New England to traverse a daunting road back to the playoffs, given their standing as the reigning AFC champions, a loaded schedule, and the inevitable reversal of fortune regarding injuries.
But even with that 4-3 result so far, the Patriots have shown plenty of resolve in the first two months of a new season — with several newcomers making their presence felt on the gridiron and a few expected stalwarts laboring out of the gate.
As the Patriots lick their wounds during a much-needed day off on Sunday, here’s a look at some early surprises so far this season in Foxborough:
An impactful 2026 NFL Draft class
If the Patriots want to build a sustainable contender, they can’t rely on Drake Maye to routinely bail them out year after year.
New England will need to build depth across its roster — and the easiest way to do that is to hit on your picks in the draft.
It’s been an organizational weakness over the years, with multiple whiffs in the late 2010s by Bill Belichick and Co. ushering in the collapse of New England’s two-decade dynasty.
Even recent draft classes have left much to be desired, with Drake Maye the only player left on New England’s roster from an eight-player 2024 NFL Draft class.
But over seven games this fall, the Patriots seem to have several intriguing rookies making a major impact.
After a shaky preseason, 2026 first-round pick Caleb Lomu has more than held his own when pressed into game action.
When tasked with stepping in for either Morgan Moses or Will Campbell at tackle, Lomu has stood tall—posting a 75.1 grade so far this season by PFF.
That grade not only leads all rookie tackles this season, but it also ranks 14th out of 71 eligible tackles across the league.
In Week 5 against the Raiders, Lomu replaced Campbell at left tackle — giving up just one pressure and zero sacks over 29 pass-blocking snaps, while also facing Maxx Crosby.
Lomu also got plenty of reps against Jets star rookie David Bailey in Week 6 after replacing a banged-up Moses — and didn’t allow a single sack, QB hit, pressure, or hurry in 30 pass-blocking snaps.
Another rookie with a so-so (and in his case, abbreviated) ramp-up to the NFL regular season, second-round pick Gabe Jacas, is also looking like an impact player right out of the gate — ranking second on the Patriots in pressures (21) and QB hurries (13) in just 248 snaps.
Third-round pick Eli Raridon is also providing plenty of value at tight end, reeling in 12 catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns over six games.
Jacas is already looking like a potential game-wrecker on defense. But if Rairdon and Lomu can continue to develop and slot in as long-term replacements for Hunter Henry and Moses, respectively, the Patriots will be in good shape at two critical spots on the roster.
Elijah Ponder’s emergence as a pass-rushing threat
One of the top questions facing the Patriots entering the 2026 season was the uncertainty regarding their pass-rushing personnel.
Only six teams recorded fewer sacks than the Patriots last season (35.0).
To make matters worse, New England lost K’Lavon Chaisson in free agency, while Harold Landry Jr. still has not been activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
But even with shorthanded personnel, the Patriots entered Sunday as one of nine teams with at least 17.0 sacks so far this season.
Jacas’ immediate impact and defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr’s blitz-heavy scheme have certainly helped. But New England has also received a sizable boost from second-year pro (and undrafted free agent) Elijah Ponder.
Through seven games this season, the Cal Poly product has recorded 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble, with a PFF grade of 75.0 that ranks 24th out of 115 eligible edge rushers so far.
So far, Ponder appears to be the main beneficiary of New England’s blitz-often approach — using his natural burst and athleticism to put opposing QBs under duress.
“He’s a guy that is kind of quiet, doesn’t talk too much, just goes to work,” veteran safety Kevin Byard said of Ponder. “To see an undrafted guy like him take advantage of his opportunities — I know maybe coming into the season that group wasn’t looked at to say — oh we don’t have strong group, Harold [Landry] is not back yet, but those guys — him, Dre’Mont, Gabe [Jacas], they’ve been playing lights out for us.”
TreVeyon Henderson’s second-year regression
After rushing for 911 yards and scoring nine touchdowns as a rookie, TreVeyon Henderson seemed set to become a more consistent, dynamic weapon on an already explosive New England offense in 2026.
But beyond one impressive 39-yard touchdown run in Week 2 against Pittsburgh, Henderson hasn’t generated much for New England — with that TD standing as his lone play for 15-plus yards so far this season.
When you take out that one score, Henderson has only recorded 164 rushing yards off of 51 carries — averaging just 3.2 yards per carry.
Henderson’s issues with vision and patience when it comes to choosing when to attack lanes and gaps have carried over from last season.
At the same time, his pass-blocking skills (a supposed strength coming out of college) have also left a lot to be desired — posting a horrid 16.4 pass-blocking grade on Thursday against the Bears, including a failed blitz pickup that led to a fourth-quarter punt.
Both Rhamondre Stevenson and Corey Kiner have made sizable contributions to the ground game for a Patriots team seeking more balance in its offense this year.
But Henderson — who emerged as a boom-or-bust, home-run hitter with his explosive plays last season — has whiffed on most of his snaps so far in 2026.
A.J. Brown’s slow start
Brown’s expected impact as an elite pass-catching target for Drake Maye is still a work in progress.
Granted, some patience should be prescribed after the 29-year-old wideout suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 1 against Seattle.
But with both Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins currently sidelined on IR, the Patriots need Brown to rise to the occasion and serve as Maye’s safety blanket. Brown had a home debut to forget in Foxborough in Week 6 against the Jets with three total drops that likely wiped at least two touchdowns off the board.
But even if you wanted to chalk that up to rust and uncharacteristic blips from the All-Pro wideout, Thursday’s performance against the Bears didn’t exactly inspire heaps of confidence — snagging three catches off six targets for 48 yards.
Of the 321 total passing yards Maye recorded against Chicago, only 87 were from catches by wide receivers.
Given Brown’s extended track record as a dynamic, No. 1 wideout in this league, the Patriots desperately need him to emerge as a difference-maker — especially given the shorthanded state of Boston’s pass-catching corps.
A brutal turnover margin
Mike Vrabel didn’t mince words last week when asked about New England’s turnover struggles.
“We turn the ball over at a historic rate, and it’s ridiculous,” Vrabel said on WEEI. “It’s an embarrassment.”
Those woes continued Thursday against the Bears, with a critical red-zone pick from Drake Maye taking three points off the board — and leading to a 10-point swing after Chicago marched down the field for a TD on the subsequent drive.
Maye has improved from his brutal start to the season (one touchdown, six interceptions, two fumbles in three games) — looking more like the MVP runner-up from last season.
But New England’s offense has still been prone to critical miscues, while the team’s defense — which has largely been stout before Thursday’s struggles against Caleb Williams — hasn’t been great at forcing turnovers.
Entering Sunday, only the Colts have a worse turnover margin than New England’s -7 through seven games.
The 2025 Patriots weren’t a turnover machine with a +3 differential, but they were still one of 13 teams that had a positive turnover differential.
So far this year, New England has its work cut out for it to just get back to even.
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