Pats Pulpit
One year after selecting an offensive tackle in the first round of the NFL Draft, the New England Patriots did it again. Following a short trade-up with the Bills, the reigning AFC champions added Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall pick.
Unlike his 2025 counterpart Will Campbell, Lomu did not join the Patriots’ starting lineup the very moment he set foot in Foxborough. However, the long-term expectation is still the same: like Campbell on the left side, the Utah product was added this year to provide stability on the right — even though his rookie campaign might not look the part.
Name: Caleb Lomu
Position: Offensive tackle
Jersey number: 74
Opening day age: 21 (12/23/2004)
Measurements: 6’7 1/4”, 313 lbs, 9 1/2” hand size, 33 3/8” arm length, 82 3/4” wingspan, 4.99s 40-yard dash, 32 1/2” vertical jump, 9’5” broad jump, 25 bench press reps, 9.77 Relative Athletic Score
NFL: New England Patriots (2026-) | College: Utah (2023-25)
Playing football since his childhood, Lomu attended Highland High School in his hometown of Gilbert, AZ. He saw action at both tackle and guard, and as a senior was named the top offensive lineman in the state. Eventually, he was rated as a four-star recruit and received scholarship offers from multiple high-profile programs such as Michigan, Oregon or USC. However, he opted to join Utah.
In three seasons as a Ute, Lomu saw action in 27 games with 24 starts. He redshirted as a freshman after appearing in three games, and from his second season on was a fixture on the team’s offensive line: he started 12 games each in 2024 and 2025, earning freshman All-American and first-team All-Big 12 honors in those respective seasons.
Despite having two years of eligibility left, Lomu decided to leave school in 2026. One of the top offensive tackle prospects in the draft, he was selected 28th overall in the first round by the Patriots, as noted above.
Strengths: Lomu combines good height and adequate length with a buildable frame. He also offers an explosive athletic skillset: he is quick out of his stance and has good foot speed and general range as a pass protector. He has impressive patience in 1-on-1s against pass rushers and the grip strength to keep them engaged throughout his reps. He is nimble on his feet without compromising his balance or foundation, allowing him to mirror defenders and perform quick kickbacks to force them wide.
Lomu also also can recover quickly while staying level, and has a good feel for where pressure is coming from; he adjusts his position without much effort. A fluid a athlete, he is an effective second-level blocker who quickly gets to his landmarks in the run game. His quick feet allow him to be used on a variety of reach and pull blocks, and he has the versatility to line up on both the left and the right side of the offensive line.
Weaknesses: More tall than...
