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Drake Maye has not impressed Bill Belichick.
The New England Patriots signed former All-Pro WR Stefon Diggs and drafted Washington State WR Kyle Williams on Day of the 2025 NFL Draft in an attempt to surround franchise quarterback Drake Maye with playmaking weapons on the perimeter.
Well, one recent 2026 NFL mock draft has the Patriots spending top 10 draft capital on a top WR prospect to open up the vertical passing game for New England.
Patriots Select Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson in Latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft from ESPN
ESPN’s Matt Miller sees the New England Patriots spending Day 1 or Day 2 NFL Draft capital in an attempt to finally give Drake Maye a true go-to WR by selecting Jordyn Tyson out of Arizona State No. 8 overall in his latest mock draft.
Miller wrote, “Upside is intriguing when devising summer mock drafts, and Tyson has the potential to rise into the top 10. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, he reminds me of Jaxon Smith-Njigba with his route-running ability and poise in space while effortlessly moving through a route tree. Tyson broke out in 2024, catching 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns. But drops are a problem, with eight coming on 114 targets. If he cleans that up, Tyson has the speed and route technique to be a top-10 pick and a prime target for young Patriots QB Drake Maye, who has shown franchise potential.”
NFL Draft Analyst for Pro Football & Sports Network Ian Cummings see Tyson in the WR1 conversation for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Cummings wrote, “So let’s recap: Tyson is a high-level vertical athlete with snap, suddenness, and flexibility. He has the speed to stretch the field, stem defenders, and accrue RAC in the open field. He can weaponize his athletic traits as a route runner, and he’s an instinctive catch-point adapter with middle-field focus.”
Tyson had a breakout 2024 season with 75 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Cummings added, “Tyson has the size-speed advantage if he manages to grow into an elite technician. Off his size, speed, and deceptive suddenness, he bears some similarity to Baltimore Ravens WR and former first-round pick Rashod Bateman.”
If Tyson builds off of his breakout junior year, then it is pretty easy to see why he could be an option for the Patriots if he is available when they are on the clock in 2026.
Will a WR1 Emerge from the Patriots Offense in 2025?
The current WR room for the Patriots is a bit of a mess.
Stefon Diggs was signed this offseason but is on the wrong side of 30 years old and is recovering from a torn ACL.
Kyle Williams is an intriguing prospect out of Washington State, but is still an unknown entering the league as a rookie.
Speaking of rookies, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker both had rough rookie campaigns and don’t even feel like a lock to make the roster entering the upcoming season.
Lastly, the remaining veteran options on the roster like Kendrick Bourne, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and Kayshon Boutte all feel like role players with clearly defined production ceilings.
If Drake Maye turns out to be a superstar in 2025, then it’s possible someone rises to the occasion to take the lead in this receiver room.
If not, then the Patriots very well could be going back to the drawing board to figure out the WR room in 2026.
Derek Tate covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Heavy.com from 2022 to 2023. His bylines include Pro Football Network, The Athletic, Dr. Roto, Fantasy Focused and NewsNet. More about Derek Tate
