Patriots Taking Caleb Lomu In First Round Was Risky, Though They Didn't Have Choice originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriotsselected offensive lineman Caleb Lomu with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Lomu, who ended up being the ninth offensive lineman off the board, is the third offensive lineman taken by the franchise in the first round in the last five years, joining Will Campbell (2025) and Cole Strange (2022). The Patriots moved up in order to obtain his services, sliding up three picks by sending No. 31 and No. 125 to the Buffalo Bills.
Lomu's full draft profile can be found below, along with quotes from experts, the team, and... well, me:
Caleb LomuPosition: OTHeight: 6' 6"Weight: 313 lbsHand: 9 1/2"Arm: 33 3/8"Scouting Combine: 4.99 (40), 32 1/2" (Vertical), 113" (Broad)
THIS MOMENT 🥹@CalebLomu51 | @Utah_Footballpic.twitter.com/aDRJprfFky
Lomu must get stronger and continue to develop his technique and grit, but NFL teams are understandably intrigued by his movement ability and ready-to-cultivate left tackle skill set. His upside points to him becoming an NFL starter. - The Athletic's Dane Brugler
Watching Will Campbell struggle in Super Bowl LX and realizing Morgan Moses is 35 years old, it felt as if offensive tackle was a very important position for the Patriots in Round 1. Lomu's experience is exclusively on the left side, and he didn't give up a sack last season, but there's an opportunity to try him on the right side if he can add strength in his lower body. As a run blocker, he's a work in progress, but as a pass protector, he's incredibly clean. A redshirt season might be in his future, but he could be the team's long-term play at right tackle. - ESPN's Matt Miller
Two-year starting left tackle who is still in the early stages of his development. Utah's run game leaned heavily on movement and misdirection, preventing Lomu from firing out and showing his power. His run blocking trails his pass protection, but improved pad level and a nastier demeanor could close the gap. In protection, he shows good balance with adequate foot quickness, landing quick, well-timed punches and using a firm grip to control rushers once he’s in. His anchor was rarely stressed by power and his athletic recoveries are average. Lomu flashes but is still under construction. His play could improve rapidly with strength gains and additional coaching. - NFL Media's Lance Zierlein
"I'm really excited about the player. He's young. He's experienced. He's athletic. He's a great kid. Frankly, I was a little surprised he was still available." - Eliot Wolf
"Will (Campbell) is our left tackle." - Eliot Wolf
"They're on the rise. It's amazing. Drake Maye is such a talented quarterback, and I'm so excited to be able to work with him every day." - Caleb Lomu
PLAYER BREAKDOWN: Lomu almost never looks out of place, which is a testament to his surprisingly refined approach and his ability to quickly recover when he does find himself out of position -- two skills that allowed him to finish with eight total pressures and zero sacks allowed during his final collegiate season.
If you want to compare him to the rest of the class, he ranks among the best short-area athletes and has the movement skills to become elite in pass-protection at the next level, though his functional strength and ability to move people in the running game are rather subpar. I'd like to see him add some significant size to his lower half, as a stronger base would raise that ceiling and make him a better fit for the move to right tackle -- which typically calls for guys to play downhill and drop the anchor more often than the other side.
PICK BREAKDOWN: Lomu is, in fact, a good player at a premium position.
The Patriots were never going to get someone who could compete for reps right away, but given the way the board fell, they ensured themselves an opportunity to address one of their two biggest needs with a player who will eventually give them high-quality play -- though the spot in which he does it is still being figured out. New England seems just fine with allowing him to develop behind their current crop of starters, with anything more than a redshirt season being a bonus -- which knocks down our letter grade quite a bit.
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