The New England Patriots traded up to 28th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft and selected Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu. How will he fit into the offensive line room in Foxboro? We'll examine.
The New England Patriots made a splash in the waning moments of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, trading up from 31st to 28th overall with the Buffalo Bills to select Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu.
New England moved up to 28th overall to select Lomu in the trade, while Buffalo received the Patriots' 31st and 125th overall selections in return.
Tackle was identified early in the offseason as a key position of need for New England, with several prospects linked to the team during the pre-draft process. Throughout the course of the night, those prospects flew off the board early — with six tackles selected in the first 21 picks of the draft.
Lomu, who started at left tackle for the Utes, was the 27th highest-graded overall prospect on the consensus big board heading into round one, and the sixth highest-graded offensive tackle. As the seventh tackle taken, he represents the final option in the first “wave” of offensive tackle prospects with consensus first round grades — with a precipitous drop-off to projects on late Day 2 and into Day 3 of the draft.
The Patriots prioritized fortifying the offensive line in front of Drake Maye during free agency. Now, that continues through night one of the NFL Draft.
How does he align with the team’s needs? Let’s take a closer look.
Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
© Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn ImagesCaleb Lomu started at left tackle for Utah the last two seasons after redshirting as a freshman in 2023. He specializes as an athletic pass protector that uses active hands and quick feet to gain solid positioning and posture to sustain blocks.
In 2025, Lomu allowed no sacks, two hits, and six hurries in pass protection, earning a pass blocking grade of 82.1 (28th of 632 FBS tackles, per PFF). He shows great core strength to maintain pad level through pass blocking reps, times his punches well to grasp onto and control edge rushers, and rarely gets caught off-guard by opposing twists and stunts.
Lomu showcased his great balance and short area quickness on tape and at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he measured in at 6’6 ¼”, 313 lbs., with 33 ⅜” arms, ran a 4.99 second 40-yard dash with a 1.74 second 10-yard split, and jumped 32.5” in the vertical jump and 9’5” in the broad jump. He also impressed with a smooth outing in the on-field drills in Indianapolis.
While Lomu’s profile pairs well with New England’s newfound affinity for plus-sized athletes along the offensive line, questions surrounded his play strength and finishing ability through the whistle.
At just 21 years old with two years of starting experience, Lomu is a high-ceiling project as a right tackle with no immediate pressure to start. He enters a room led by Morgan Moses, who will provide mentorship while the Patriots continue to round out Lomu's game and develop him into a future starter along the offensive front. Lomu brings additional value as a swing-tackle and tackle-eligible on day one.
Looking Ahead
Now that the first round has concluded, New England will look to fill other spots on the roster that require an infusion of youth and depth for the coming years. With the offensive line set-up for long-term success, the Patriots may now pivot to adding more immediate contributors along the defensive line and skill position groups.
What players or positions are you looking to see the Patriots target when the NFL Draft resumes tomorrow and Saturday? Where are the greatest remaining areas of need to fill out depth on the roster?
Let us know in the comments section below, and stay tuned for more draft coverage in the days to come on Patriots Roundtable.
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