"We didn't spend much time on him. Just never popped up on a radar, and the times we were there (at Wake), no one was pounding the table for him."
"Since the Patriots had traded their two fourth-round picks to move up for Lomu and Jacas, the fifth-rounder took on added importance. While a reach pick can sometimes work out fine (safety Craig Woodson of California in the fourth round of 2025 being the most recent example), it is a draft strategy fraught with big risks."
"The first issue was not targeting a position of need. The Patriots needed an offensive guard for depth purposes and a third running back. Guard was - and still is - a clear and present need. It went undrafted."
"The pick also felt off because they took a player rated much lower by the consensus than he was picked. He was ranked the 88th defensive back by NFL Draft Buzz. Consensus on draft picks may occasionally mean nothing, as examples like Tom Brady attest. But it beats reaching all day long."
The Patriots started the 2026 NFL Draft by trading up for their first two selections to address offensive tackle and pass-rushing needs. They drafted Utah left tackle Caleb Lomu and Illinois edge Gabe Jacas. In the third round, they selected tight end Eli Raridon despite past major injury issues and limited college production. Later, they drafted Wake Forest cornerback Karon Prunty, who was viewed as well beyond typical fifth-round expectations. A cited scout described the Prunty selection as not heavily researched and not a player who had drawn strong support. With traded fourth-round picks, the fifth-rounder carried extra weight, but the choice was criticized for missing positional needs and for selecting a player rated lower than consensus rankings.
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