The New England Patriots moved up in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23 and took Utah tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th pick, then used the selection to keep building the wall in front of Drake Maye. New England traded from 31 to 28 to get him.
The pick fit the Patriots' plan. They drafted left tackle Will Campbell a year ago, and Lomu gives them another young piece to try to bookend the offensive line for years to come. For now, he could sit behind veteran right tackle Morgan Moses, but the investment is clear: the Patriots wanted a tackle who could grow with Maye and help stabilize a front they believe has to carry a bigger load.
That is why Nick Baumgardner called it a good value and said Lomu should be ready to start at right tackle opposite Campbell. Baumgardner also said the Patriots now have two very athletic tackles who are plus run blockers, and that Lomu is not a flashy player but gets the job done. The traits stand out. Lomu is viewed as an above-average athlete in pass protection and the run game, with consistent snap timing and mirror quickness to stay in front of wide speed. He also explodes out of his stance to cover ground and fit on targets in the run game.
There are real questions, though. Scouts were concerned about the lack of high-level edge rushers Lomu faced in 2025, and his Texas Tech tape was described as a shaky performance that showed his youth. He still needs to get stronger and keep developing his technique and grit. Even so, NFL teams are intrigued by his movement ability and ready-to-cultivate left tackle skill set, and Baumgardner said his upside points to him becoming an NFL starter.
The Patriots entered the draft with 11 picks over the three-day event, and the tackle choice came at a moment when the roster is good but not great, with work still needed at edge rusher, wide receiver and tight end. Their expectations have also changed fast. After last season's run, Mike Vrabel's arrival and Maye's emergence have brought deep playoff talk back to New England, and this pick shows the front office is betting that the line is where that run starts.