The New England Patriots traded up to select Utah OT Caleb Lomu in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Where does he fit into their long-term plans along the offensive line? We'll examine.
The New England Patriots entered the 2026 NFL Draft with a long-term need for depth along the offensive line, particularly at right tackle. Morgan Moses had just turned in his first full 17-game season since 2022 at age 34, and while his health was a major positive, the team looked to stay ahead of a pressing need at the position with a developmental player who could eventually step in as the starter and keep Drake Maye protected for the next several years.
With seven offensive tackles carrying consensus first-round grades and a steep drop-off right after that group, New England watched six tackles come off the board in the first 21 picks. Rather than risk losing their top positional target, the Patriots traded up three spots to the 28th overall selection. In a rare in-division deal with the Buffalo Bills, New England sent their original 31st and 125th picks to secure Caleb Lomu before the premium talent at tackle was gone.
At just 21 years old, Lomu entered the draft as a redshirt sophomore after redshirting as a freshman in 2023 and starting the previous two seasons at left tackle for Utah. He profiles as a naturally athletic pass protector who relies on active hands and quick feet to establish and maintain solid positioning through every rep. While he still has room to develop as a run blocker, his rare physical traits and clear long-term development path in Foxboro made this late-first-round acquisition a major win for the Patriots.
In 2025, Lomu received First-Team All-Big 12 honors after allowing zero sacks, two hits, and just six hurries in pass protection while earning a PFF pass-blocking grade of 82.1 (28th out of 632 FBS tackles). Across his two seasons as a starter, Lomu surrendered just two sacks and 23 total pressures. He showed above average lateral quickness, balance and core strength to keep his pad level even, punch timing and counters to reset his hands and control edge rushers, and great awareness to identify and react to changing post-snap assignments against twists or stunts in the passing game.
Lomu’s critics would argue his fit in New England due to a lack of “nasty” finishes to plays — especially on run downs, where his game could serve to improve the most. As a young prospect, Lomu does have reps where his play strength looks somewhat underdeveloped and as a result he can get knocked backward in the running game, but his natural athleticism and pass protecting savvy as a developmental prospect ultimately outweighed those concerns for the team drafting him.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Lomu measured in at 6'6¼", 313 pounds with 33⅜" arms, ran a 4.99-second 40-yard dash (1.74-second 10-yard split), and posted a 32.5" vertical and 9'5" broad jump. He also turned in a smooth on-field workout in Indianapolis and recorded a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.78 out of 10.00 (38th among 1,645 offensive tackle prospects from 1987-2026).
Those elite measurables align well with the Patriots’ preference for acquiring offensive linemen with rare athletic profiles — and unlike his play demeanor, are traits that can’t be coached. With Lomu added to the front line, the brass in Foxboro now have four significant contributors with RAS scores of at least 9.00: Jared Wilson, 9.98; Will Campbell, 9.88; Alijah Vera-Tucker, 9.79; and Lomu, 9.78.
Lomu won't turn 22 until December 23rd, and with only two seasons of starting experience, he arrives as a high-ceiling project at right tackle with no immediate pressure to start. With his history on the left side of the offensive line, he can contribute right away as a versatile swing tackle or tackle-eligible while learning to flip sides behind Moses, giving New England both short-term insurance and a true long-term solution along the offensive front.
In a "break glass in case of emergency" scenario where Will Campbell doesn't work out at left tackle, selecting Lomu also secured a high-level replacement for last year's fourth overall pick. But that won't be plan-A, as team personnel have displayed a steadfast devotion to Campbell's success at left tackle.
Once Lomu came off the board, every top-ranked offensive tackle with projected starting upside was gone. The Patriots’ aggressiveness in trading up early secured a future starter at tackle that brings early value as an insurance plan behind their current lineup and versatility to align as a tackle-eligible in short-yardage sets.
He may not be an immediate Week 1 contributor on a team firmly in a “win-now” window, but Lomu gives New England a legitimate long-term answer up front for Drake Maye — plus valuable swing-tackle flexibility in the short term while Morgan Moses remains on the roster.
Looking Ahead
The Patriots found a potential solution at offensive tackle by trading up in the first round, and continued to maneuver up the board on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Next, we’ll examine the instant impact that Illinois edge rusher Gabe Jacas will have on New England’s defensive front.
Who is your favorite selection by the Patriots in the 2026 NFL Draft? What would you grade their draft? Let us know in the comments section below.
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