DRAFT Welcome Caleb Lomu OT Utah

[upstater1]

I can only trust that these football minds know that Lomu will end up being a great player - maybe even a 6-8 year tackle. I hope he's great. But, as a philosophy, I would see the 1st round as a place you get starting-caliber talent for your team in year 1.
It's not like we're the Patriots of they dynasty where we were stacked and had systematic incumbent leaders in every spot (except WR).

Tackles are coming out early. They are declaring for the NFL when they are 20 years old. They are coming out with 20 year old bodies. It's not just Lomu. It's Kadyn Proctor who is 20 years old. It's Spencer Fano who just turned 21. Monroe Freeling is 21. Will Campbell had just turned 21. Even Max I. is a 22 year old. Olu Fashanu was very young.

Tackles are declaring for the NFL draft at the age of 20.

This means the vast majority of the really good ones will have a very difficult time ramping up as a starter in their 1st year. Campbell had some difficulty. Fashanu didn't start in his first year but has come on.

Look at the Patriots. We have a 35 year old at RT, that's an act of desperation. We used the #4 pick in the draft to, really, reach for a tackle. Why? Because we were absolutely desperate. (We could've taken Tet McMillan there!). That desperation comes from the utter inability to sign a tackle in free agency or to find a tackle in later rounds. Teams rarely do.

So, we're looking at a position full of 20 year old bodies who are NOT ready for the NFL, and otherwise, you can't grab any tackles who are worth a damn, not later in the draft, not in trades.

And NOT having a tackle makes you absolutely desperate so that when you have the #4 pick in the draft, you find yourself passing on much more talented players.

This is not the way to run a team. Grabbing Lomu coming off the 31st pick in the draft is an absolute masterpiece (and I'm no fan of this team's OL drafting skills, I've been one of the biggest critics)

 

[JoeSixPat]

Agreed, love that pick. But there's some really good depth art guard and center in this draft class, there's a lot of good strong guys available later.

I hope they load up at OL.

It's not crazy to think they could find a starting Center in the 3rd round!

We'll see how he does but for right now, all we can say is that if you liked Wilson at LG you're probably going to love him at C

For my part, I never thought he was all that great at LG

Patriots take high-upside center Jared Wilson from Georgia in Round 3

The Patriots bolstered their offensive line depth with the selection of Georgia center Jared Wilson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

 

[tuckeverlasting]

Solid but not sexy pick certainly needed as we got handled too much in the trenches last year. Dude is already married at 21 so probably a stable down to earth guy, I doubt we see him out on a boat doing some questionable things. As for nastiness in his play demeanor that's something you generally cannot teach but maybe him and Campbell will become buds and some of that will rub off on him.

please don't let russini anywhere near this kid. thank you.

 

[upstater1]

I can't imagine why the Buffalo Bills traded with the Patriots.

A 4th rounder and you just helped your rival grab a potential 10 year starter at tackle? To protect their franchise QB?

Are you nuts?

 

[Wozzy]

It's not crazy to think they could find a starting Center in the 3rd round!

We'll see how he does but for right now, all we can say is that if you liked Wilson at LG you're probably going to love him at C

For my part, I never thought he was all that great at LG

Patriots take high-upside center Jared Wilson from Georgia in Round 3

The Patriots bolstered their offensive line depth with the selection of Georgia center Jared Wilson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

Rookies are always or usually a mixed bag. Wilson's inexperience was his biggest weakness. But with his size and athleticism he'll be unique at the center position. If he has been working his tail off, getting stronger, fixing his mental errors he'll be a strength this season.

I know some heads would explode here if they took a guard in round two, but it would give me a warm feeling if they got one of the top guys like Chase Bisontis or Emmanuel Pregnon. Go big, protect the Drake, build a mauling rushing attack.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Obviously have to follow the draft board and don't pass on someone you LOVE, but I'm inclined NOT to take another OL today. I'd kind of like to see things play out a bit before I invest another high pick there. Can Campbell silence any and all questions about moving to guard this year? Can Lomu get comfortable on the right side? Do they ultimately decide to let Onwenu walk next year? Does Wilson improve kicking inside to Center?

I mentioned earlier, but what if Campbell struggles at LT such that he needs to kick inside to LG and Lomu ends up playing LT with AVT moving across to RG? Now you need a RT. But if Campbell/Lomu lock in as future bookends, now you need a RG if you let Onwenu walk. Or maybe you'd just want to keep Onwenu and now both Guard/Tackle are filled. And I'd hate to draft a center high and have to make Wilson a backup if he's a good enough center (since he doesn't look suited for guard).

Again, if you see a guy with an all pro projection staring you in the face, take him and deal with it later. But I'm just not inclined to draft highly there. I certainly wouldn't pass up a player at another spot I liked as much or more.

 

[TommyD4207]

I can't imagine why the Buffalo Bills traded with the Patriots.

A 4th rounder and you just helped your rival grab a potential 10 year starter at tackle? To protect their franchise QB?

Are you nuts?

They got a free draft pick and saved a couple hundred grand in cap space.
That's how squeezed they are.

 

[DC Patriots]

Sorry for the edge folks. Hope they address edge later in the draft.

Very happy with the pick. Anything to keep Drake healthy and give him time in the pocket.

 

[upstater1]

They got a free draft pick and saved a couple hundred grand in cap space.
That's how squeezed they are.

I understand but if Lomu pans out, we're talking a major drag on their whole enterprise.

 

[TommyD4207]

I understand but if Lomu pans out, we're talking a major drag on their whole enterprise.

Their window is closed.
They're going to be desperately hurling anything at the wall and hoping something sticks for the next half-decade or until Josh Allen has to retire due to injury, whichever comes first.

After that, is a rebuild. They're in a very desperate win-now place. Whether the Patriots get their next starting RT this year or next year isn't that important to them.

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

I can't imagine why the Buffalo Bills traded with the Patriots.

A 4th rounder and you just helped your rival grab a potential 10 year starter at tackle? To protect their franchise QB?

Are you nuts?

After they stiffed the Pats a few years ago. Pull back a trade to go with another team

 

[VJCPatriot]

Kid sounds grounded and smart. He knows why he gets paid. Here are some quotes from his interview with SI.

JM: You definitely turned heads at the NFL Combine. You have a big wingspan at nearly 83 inches to protect the edge. It pops on tape. How do you use that to your advantage to protect the edge?

Caleb Lomu: Especially for us offensive tackles, arm length and wingspan is so important. It’s not a game changer, but it’s definitely an advantage to have longer arms than your opponent. Using that to my advantage, I use my long reach to reach a player before they can reach me.

It’s a big advantage if I can get my hands on them first. I use that wingspan as a run blocker and in pass protection. It’s especially helpful in pass pro. It helps a lot and I use it to my advantage. It makes me a better player.

I’m glad I have some long arms (laughs). It’s one of the advantages of my game.

JM: Is Caleb Lomu athletic in space, or powerful in a phone booth? If you had to choose one…

Caleb Lomu: I would probably say athletic in space. You’ve seen me get out there and move well in space. That’s very important at offensive tackle. Of course it’s important to be super powerful inside as well. I just think you get paid to protect the quarterback on those third and longs in this league.

Those are the money plays. I would describe myself as a very good athlete in space.

JM: What was your favorite play to run in the playbook this past season then? Something you got excited about hearing in the huddle? Break down that for me. I love hearing this answer from an offensive tackle.

Caleb Lomu: My favorite play was called 129 [inaudible]. It was this little pin-pull action we had in our playbook. We were a big gap scheme team this past season. We wanted to get our big boys in space.


Sports Illustrated Lomu interview link: Caleb Lomu is Gaining NFL Draft Traction In a Way That Could Change Everything

 

[Hugepatsfan]

OT is a premium position

The player they took had a 1st round grade

Even if he might not start as a rookie, the position is clearly a need next year and beyond with Moses' age/contract situation, not to mention Campbell still being a ? at LT to SOME degree

They liked the player enough to not only take him but move up for him


I'm not a scout. I don't pretend to be. But just based on the above factors, hard for me to get upset about the pick. The logic is sound to me. Maybe they whiffed on evaluating him as a player or him in comparison to others. We'll see how that goes. But for a draft night evaluation, it's good by me.

 

[TommyD4207]

Kid sounds grounded and smart. He knows why he gets paid. Here are some quotes from his interview with SI.

JM: You definitely turned heads at the NFL Combine. You have a big wingspan at nearly 83 inches to protect the edge. It pops on tape. How do you use that to your advantage to protect the edge?

Caleb Lomu: Especially for us offensive tackles, arm length and wingspan is so important. It’s not a game changer, but it’s definitely an advantage to have longer arms than your opponent. Using that to my advantage, I use my long reach to reach a player before they can reach me.

It’s a big advantage if I can get my hands on them first. I use that wingspan as a run blocker and in pass protection. It’s especially helpful in pass pro. It helps a lot and I use it to my advantage. It makes me a better player.

I’m glad I have some long arms (laughs). It’s one of the advantages of my game.

"Next, on Felger and Mazz - New First Round Tackle Caleb Lomu HATES Will Campbell!"

 

[dliverey44]

RS Sophomore. Needs to add some strength, but still young. Some didn’t like the pick (as is usually the case) but he was the last of top level tackles available. Like the pick.

Early in the draft process he was a common pick to the Pats but over time he kept moving up and was deemed out of reach. Overall this was a tremendous pick for us, especially if Campbell gets hurt again. I trust Lomu moreso than I did Lowe or currently Hudson.

 

[VJCPatriot]

"Next, on Felger and Mazz - New First Round Tackle Caleb Lomu HATES Will Campbell!"

I'm just glad he has legit left tackle wingspan and athleticism.

Of course we need to see how Lomu looks in camp first but he might turn out to be a long term solution for us.

 

[TheRainMaker]

In addition to needing a RT for 2027, this pick was actually Will Campbell insurance. He was very shaky as a rookie and got bullied by the better rushers constantly getting pushed back into Maye. This was swept under the rug by most fans and media because: they were winning and PFF gave him favorable grades.

Not shutting him down after his injury raised way too many questions post Super Bowl. Lomu is playing either side this season.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Lomu's night overshadowed by Vrabel's scandal smh!

Yeah, Vrabel looked devastated when he was talking to him.

 

[Huckleberry1]

In addition to needing a RT for 2027, this pick was actually Will Campbell insurance. He was very shaky as a rookie and got bullied by the better rushers constantly getting pushed back into Maye. This was swept under the rug by most fans and media because: they were winning and PFF gave him favorable grades.

Not shutting him down after his injury raised way too many questions post Super Bowl. Lomu is playing either side this season.

Campbell wasn't " shakey" as a rookie, he was playing really well until the knee injury.