The New England Patriots were not in the mood to wait around on Thursday night. They swung a first-round trade to move up and grab Utah left tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, capping a busy run of deals and zeroing in on long-term help on the edge. Lomu arrives in Foxborough after two seasons starting at left tackle for the Utes, carrying a reputation for length and smooth athleticism.
Over the last two years, Lomu started 24 games at left tackle and earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2025, a season in which he allowed just two sacks, as reported by FOX13. The outlet also notes he chose Utah over offers from Michigan and USC out of high school, redshirted his first year on campus and then settled in as a mainstay on Utah's offensive line.
Patriots Trade Up To No. 28
To get Lomu, New England moved up three spots, sending the No. 31 pick and a fourth-rounder (125th overall) to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for No. 28, according to NBC Boston. As the first round played out, the Patriots used the jump to address a pressing need along the offensive line.
Scouting Profile And Combine
Scouts have highlighted Lomu's fluid movement and ability to mirror rushers, with NFL.com pointing to his balance, quickness and overall athletic profile as traits that project well in pass protection. Sports Illustrated's pre-draft interview also drew attention to his combine performance, including a 4.99-second 40-yard dash at roughly 313 pounds, and Lomu told the outlet he views himself as "athletic in space," a quality teams covet on the edge.
What It Means For Utah And New England
For Utah, Lomu's departure leaves the Utes looking to replace a two-year starter who helped anchor the left side of their line, according to local coverage from FOX13. In New England, the selection brings in a high-ceiling tackle prospect to develop behind veteran right tackle Morgan Moses, who appears on the team roster, and injects more competition along the edges, per the roster page on Patriots.com.
Next Steps
Lomu is set to report for rookie minicamp and offseason work with an opportunity to earn snaps as he adds strength and adjusts to the pro game. Evaluators expect a development curve but see starting potential in his future, according to pre-draft reporting. For now, the move underscores that New England was willing to pay a trade premium for a tackle it views as a long-term answer on the offensive line.
