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MORSE: Patriots Make a Questionable Selection of Caleb Lomu in the First Round

Patriots Trade Up for Caleb Lomu: Analyzing the First-Round Tackle Pick and Its Implications

Mark Morse

April 24, 2026 at 4:30 am ET

MORSE: Patriots Make a Questionable Selection of Caleb Lomu in the First Round

(PHOTO: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

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The Patriots traded up with Buffalo, exchanging their 1^st round pick and 4^th round #125 for Buffalo’s 28^th overall selection. They selected Caleb Lomu, who was the last remaining Tackle with 1^st round grade.

Caleb Lomu Left Tackle Utah 6’6.2” 313-pounds, 4.99 40, 25 Reps on BP

I am not in love with the selection of Lomu but I don’t mind the trade up to fill what the Patriots considered a major need. There is depth at the EDGE position, but it won’t last past Day 2. The Patriots may have to trade up again into the mid 2^nd round to get an EDGE player they will be happy with. By Dane Brugler’s ranking of the EDGE position, there are 10 players with 2^nd round grades left on the board.

The selection of Lomu raises several questions. Are the Patriots uneasy about Will Campbell’s ability to play Left Tackle? Can Lomu move from the Left side to Right Tackle? If Lomu can, he will give them valuable position flexibility as a swing tackle and possibly the replacement for Morgan Moses.

Lomu was a two-year starter at Utah with 24 total starts. He played Left Tackle but is expected to shift to the other side as a backup to Morgan Moses and an eventual starter once Moses retires. He is insurance if Moses retires early or is injured during the season.

These are the reports on Caleb Lomu:

This is what Dane Brugler had to say about Lomu. “A two-year starter at Utah, Lomu was the left tackle in former offensive coordinator Jason Beck’s run-focused, RPO-based scheme. After redshirting and developing his body in 2023, he took over the Utes’ blindside duties the past two seasons and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2025 (zero sacks allowed). Spencer Fano shifted from left tackle to right tackle once Lomu entered the starting lineup. Lomu is an above-average athlete, which shows both in pass protection and the run game. He has consistent snap timing, with the mirror quickness to stay in front of wide speed and the body control to catch his balance and recover. In the run game, he explodes out of his stance to cover ground and fit on targets, both backside and out in space. However, he struggled to play with consistent aggression or leg drive as a run blocker — NFL power will be eye-opening for him. Scouts are also concerned with the lack of high-level edge rushers he faced in 2025 (his Texas Tech tape was a shaky performance and showed his youth). Overall, 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.”

Brugler had Lomu as the #5 Tackle in this draft class and the #25 overall player.

NFL Draft Buzz had this to say about Lomu: “The 2025 season was where Lomu separated himself from the pack. Across another full 12-game slate, he cleaned up his pass protection to the tune of zero sacks allowed and just eight pressures on 357 pass blocking snaps, pushing his PFF pass blocking grade up to 82.1. That earned him First Team All-Big 12 recognition and a spot on both the Outland Trophy and Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watch lists. Utah’s offensive line collectively earned Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week honors four times and landed on the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll. Lomu was the anchor of a unit that put up 587 total yards against Colorado (including 422 on the ground), 532 at West Virginia, and 518 against Cal.”

Scouting Report: Strengths

Explodes out of his stance with a first step that belongs on a tight end, not a 313-pound tackle. His initial burst consistently beats defensive ends to the landmark in both pass sets and pull schemes.
Hands land early and land hard in pass protection. Once he latches onto a rusher’s chest plate, the fight is over. Watch the Colorado tape and count how many reps end the moment he gets a grip.
Stays square and upright through the entire pass rush sequence, never dropping his eyes or lunging forward, which robs speed rushers of the false movements they depend on to set up counters.
Processes twists, stunts, and delayed blitzers with a calm awareness that belies his limited starting experience. His communication with interior linemen on exchanges looks natural, not coached-up.
Kick slide is smooth, controlled, and covers serious ground in a hurry. His Combine confirmed it: 4.99 forty, 32.5-inch vertical, a 9-foot-5 broad jump, all top-10 among offensive linemen at the event.
Pull blocking footwork is fluid and decisive. He locates second-level targets on the move with the kind of spatial awareness that unlocks gap and pin-and-pull concepts offensive coordinators covet.
Lateral agility gives him a recovery gear that most tackles his size simply do not possess. When he loses a half-step, he gathers and redirects fast enough to turn a lost rep into a stalemate.
The frame at 6-6 has visible room for another 15 to 20 pounds of functional weight through the chest, shoulders, and lower half. He is a physical projection play with a real foundation already underneath him.

Mike Renner of USA Today had this comment on Lomu: “Lomu is a graceful pass protector whose hand usage is exceptional. That combination is exactly what you want when projecting a tackle to the next level. The main concern is his ability to anchor against power right now. That’s a trait that can improve, however. Smooth footwork and technical soundness give him a high floor as a left tackle prospect.” Renner had Lomu ranked as the 13^th ranked player overall.

Daniel Jeremiah had Lomu ranked as the #30 player overall and just ahead of Max Iheanachor. This is what Jeremiah had to say about Lomu. “Lomu lined up at left tackle for the Utes. He has an ideal frame with room to add more weight/strength. In pass protection, he has average foot quickness and plays a little upright. Yet, he consistently stays square and does a nice job reworking his hands to avoid allowing defenders to pry open his shoulder. He has excellent feel and awareness against stunts/games. In the run game, he lacks knock-back power, but he fits up cleanly and stays attached. He takes proper angles to the second level and stays off the ground. Overall, Lomu does need to add some core strength, but he has the rest of the ingredients to be a solid starting tackle at the next level. “

Rob Rang of Fox Sports had this to add about Lomu: “Rang: This is a really interesting selection by the Patriots, as Lomu played the past two seasons at left tackle for Utah. That’s where 2025 first-rounder Will Campbell played for New England just last year. Lomu currently lacks the physicality to play the right tackle position, so this selection could portend Campbell moving to guard. I like Lomu’s upside, but I see him being a year away from really contributing. “Rang gives the Patriots a “C” grade on the trade and selection of Lomu.

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About Mark Morse

Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.