Patriots Predicted to Draft Fernando Mendoza’s WR1
On Monday, April 20, PFSN analyst Jacob Infante published his final 2026 NFL Mock Draft, outlining all 257 selections this week. Infante shook up the board with several first-round trades, one of which included the Patriots trading up with the Chargers for pick No. 22
He wrote: “To jump potential WR-needy teams like the Eagles, Browns, Bills, and 49ers, the Patriots give up the No. 95 overall pick and a 2027 third-rounder to move up from No. 31. With the departure of Stefon Diggs this offseason, they now desperately need wide receiver help (although the possibility of an A.J. Brown trade looms).”
With the pick itself, Infante predicts New England to select Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., describing the National Champion as “an impressive wide receiver with strong ball skills, coordination, and strong hands. He adjusts well to the ball in the air and consistently makes plays after the catch thanks to his agility and toughness. If he continues to develop as a route runner, he has the potential to be an impact starter.”
As Infante noted, the Patriots’ receiving room is in desperate need of star power. The group is currently headlined by recent free agent acquisition Romeo Doubs and third-year breakout WR Kayshon Boutte. The unit also features veteran Mack Hollins and youngsters DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams.
First, adding Brown would take this group to an entirely new level, and, the way things stand now, that possibility appears increasingly likely. According to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter, on Monday morning, “A.J. Brown is likely to become a Patriot post June 1.”
Meanwhile, Cooper, an electrifying young talent, could complete New England’s WR core. As per PFSN’s NFL Draft HQ, the 24-TD WR ranks 4th among wideouts and 29th overall with an 86.87 prospect grade. The site’s user mock draft simulator also places his ADP at 22.9, meaning he could very well land with the Patriots should they trade up.
PFSN NFL Draft Analyst Ian Cummings had this to say about Cooper. “Cooper Jr. is one half of Indiana’s dynamic duo at WR, and like his teammate Elijah Sarratt, it’s entirely possible he’s off the board within the Top 100 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. At 6’0″, 201 pounds, Cooper is a dense, compact pass-catcher with a low center of gravity and effortless explosiveness and vertical stretching.
He can extend seams as a RAC threat with his range and contact balance, and he has the quickness and prying strength to work through adjacent contact — but he also flashes great salesmanship and tempo control as a route runner. Drops can be an issue on occasion for Cooper, and he has room to keep refining his route tree in the intermediate range, but overall, he’s a budding three-level threat with a particular affinity for RAC accumulation and vertical advances.”
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Between star quarterback Drake Maye, a strong run game, solid defense, and what could arguably be the most-improved wide receiver core in the NFL, the reigning AFC Champions should find themselves back in the mix, competing for Super Bowl 61.
