Patriots links 4/29/26: Which late-round picks stick?

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Jam Miller #RB13 of Alabama participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

TEAM TALK

• Evan Lazar's Film Review: Edge Gabe Jacas. Breaking down how the second-round pick fits into the Patriots defense. Jacas's rugged playing style makes him a textbook Vrabel guy on the edge.
• Roster Move: Patriots release RB Elijah Mitchell.
• Press Conferences:Hunter Henry - Robert Spillane. (16 min. video)
• Mike Dussault, Paul Perillo, and Evan Lazarbreak down the Patriots draft picks and discuss how the overall team is shaping up with the 2026 draft class. (15 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered:Draft recap & takeaways, roster updates, undrafted free agent signings. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Alex Barth passes along a report that the Patriots picked up the fifth-year option on Christian Gonzalez's contract Tuesday, ahead of key deadline.
• Ethan Hurwitz looks at the late-round draft picks who have the best shot to make the Pats roster.
• Mark Daniels highlights tight end Hunter Henry embracing his mentor role with rookie Eli Raridon.
• Doug Kyed finds veteran players excited to mentor 2026 NFL draft rookie class.
• Mark Daniels relays Hunter Henry on how the Super Bowl still stings.
• Karen Guregian notes Hunter Henry and Robert Spillane don't go into detail but address the Mike Vrabel scandal and how the head coach spoke to the team.
• Doug Kyed reports the Patriots cut veteran running back Elijah Mitchell, after adding 20 rookies.
• A Clare Perspective podcast: Clare and Nick Stevens discuss the Pats' Draftermath. (39 min.)
• Patriots Daily podcast: Taylor Kyles & Mike Kadlick welcome Phil Perry to recap the Patriots' 2026 draft class: Superlatives for best value pick, biggest sleeper, most likely to succeed, and more! (38 min.)
• Greg Bedard Patriots podcast:Why he likes a lot of the Pats' picks; Why it's fine that not many of these players will be contributing year 1; Will Campbell not moving from left tackle this season; More. (1 hour)
• All 32 NFL podcast: Why Caleb Lomu is the most intriguing draft pick by the Patriots; More. (36 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Kristopher Knox (Bleacher Report) 1 word for every NFL team's 2026 draft. Patriots: Fine.
• Nate Tice and Matt Harmon (Yahoo! Sports) Are the Patriots - even without A.J. Brown - better than last years Super Bowl team? Patriots keep doing things I like... didn't overextend themselves" (3 min. video)
• Kevin Patra (NFL.com) Offseason checklist for every team: What did the draft cross off and what's left to do? Patriots still to do: AJ Browntrade? Where willCaleb Lomuplay? Get more depth at safety
• NFL Nation (ESPN) Revisiting most impactful draft-day trade for 32 NFL teams. Patriots: Acquiring WR Randy Mossfrom the Raiders for a fourth-round pick during the 2007 draft. /19 years ago!!!
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) NFL Power Rankings, post-draft edition: Cowboys set to make Super Bowl push. Pats 11th (-3). /Is there a law that says NFL writers have to pump up the Cowboys every single year???
• Staff (Yahoo! Sports) Best available free agents: Big-name veterans like Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs remain.
• Jason La Canfora (SportsBoom) Did the New York Jets win the draft? Rival front offices believe so.
• Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) Watch out for these Super Bowl long shots: CIN, DAL, MIN, WAS, NYG.
• Jason La Canfora (SportsBoom) NFL, NFLPA to revisit 18-game schedule proposal in coming months.