Patriots Receive Favorable Spot In Early 2026 NFL Power Rankings

ESPN has already released its way-too-early 2026 NFL Power Rankings, and the New England Patriots landed right behind the Seattle Seahawks at No. 2.

“Offseason in three words: Late-round draft picks,” ESPN’s Mike Reiss wrote.

“As a result of their surprising run to the Super Bowl, the Patriots won’t be in a similar spot as they were last year by picking high in each round. So it will be harder to duplicate their 2025 draft class in which all 11 selections (plus four undrafted rookies) made the roster. One of the Patriots’ goals has been to replenish the roster with younger talent after some lean years prior to coach Mike Vrabel’s arrival. Despite the overall success at that in 2025, the goal remains the same going forward.”

New England had one of the most miraculous turnarounds in NFL history in 2025. Vrabel transformed a franchise that had gone 4-13 in each of the last two seasons and ended up going 17-4 on the season, falling just one win shy of a Super Bowl title.

Vrabel and the Pats have a pair of 23-year-old studs in Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez to build around moving forward, as well as a stable of other young players who should continue to improve throughout the 2020s and beyond.