The Patriots’ 2026 draft class came with the usual Day 3 uncertainty, but one pick already stands out as a real long shot to survive roster cuts: Boston College edge defender Quintayvious Hutchins.
New England used six of its nine selections on Day 3, and that part of the class always comes with a tougher climb. The early picks are essentially roster locks, but once the draft gets into the later rounds, every spot has to be earned.
Karon Prunty looks to have a strong shot because of the cornerback depth chart. Dametrious Crownover’s size gives him a path as an offensive line reserve.
Namdi Obiazor landed in a linebacker group that Eliot Wolf has already praised for its depth. Behren Morton also has a real chance, especially with the emergency QB3 role added in 2023.
The two seventh-rounders, though, are facing the steepest uphill battles. Alabama running back Jam Miller and Hutchins both have work to do, and Hutchins appears to be the least likely of the Patriots’ 2026 picks to make the team.
That’s mostly about the numbers in front of him. Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones are the starters at edge, Elijah Ponder is currently the top backup, and Bradyn Swinson has already shown some momentum after a quiet rookie year.
The Patriots also added Jesse Luketa, who spent 2025 on the Rams’ practice squad and had 21 tackles and 3 sacks in 2024 with the Cardinals. With second-round pick Gabe Jacas still unsigned and possibly dealing with injuries that Mike Reiss reported New England didn’t fully realize he had, Hutchins still looks buried - likely sixth on the edge depth chart as things stand.
The selection itself raised some eyebrows, too. Hutchins played four seasons at Boston College and finished with just 5.5 sacks, even though he was on the defensive line for 95.6% of his snaps.
His missed tackle rate in 2025 was 7.7%, which is solid, but his Combine weight of 233 pounds leaves questions about how well he’ll hold up against NFL linemen. His athletic testing didn’t exactly pop either, with Next Gen Stats giving him a 53/99 athleticism grade and his Relative Athletic Score coming in at 5.15 out of 10.
Special teams could have offered a way in, but even there, the path is crowded. Hutchins averaged 110 special teams snaps over four seasons, yet the Patriots lost more than 1,000 special teams snaps with Jack Gibbens, Jahlani Tavai and Marte Mapu gone, and other players look better positioned to absorb those roles.
K.J. Britt, Chad Muma and Obiazor seem likelier to handle that work, while Swinson, Luketa, Kobee Minor and Marcellas Dial also appear ahead of Hutchins as core special teams candidates.
There’s also the matter of a court date on August 28 tied to a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery on a family/household member.
For a late-round rookie, the margin for error is always thin. For Hutchins, it looks especially unforgiving.
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