The New England Patriots have multiple avenues that they can go in with the 31st overall selection in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday. Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor has been a name in particular that has emerged as a potential early target for the team. Some would even point back to Mike Vrabel's interaction with him at Arizona State's pro day, when the Patriots head coach was spotted being hands-on with the young offensive lineman during a workout.
The Patriots clearly like Iheanachor, but whether they like him enough to use a first-round draft pick on him remains to be seen. “I have a sense the Patriots might have some interest in him," ESPN's Adam Schefter said on The Adam Schefter Podcast. "They have to operate under the assumption that A.J.
Brown’s gonna be coming in, so they’re gonna be in a good spot.”Iheanachor measures in at 6-foot-6 and 321 pounds. The Patriots could be looking for additional depth on the offensive line, and a top prospect like Iheanachor would certainly fit the bill. Veteran offensive tackle Morgan Moses is 35 years old.
So there are questions regarding his long-term health for another full NFL season. Iheanachor could be viewed as an emergency replacement and a future starter for the Patriots. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Adam Schefter thinks Patriots have 'some interest' in rising prospect