The New England Patriots welcomed first-round pick Caleb Lomu on Instagram after trading up to select him 28th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. This move addresses the team's offensive line needs as current players may be leaving soon.
Mentioned in this story
New England Patriots tackle Caleb Lomu
Patriots O-Linemen Use Instagram To Welcome First-Rounder Calem Lomu originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A trio of Patriots offensive linemen wasted little time in welcoming first-round pick Caleb Lomu to New England.
The Patriots on Thursday traded up with the Buffalo Bills to select Lomu, an offensive tackle out of Utah, with the 28th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The move addressed a clear need, as right tackle Morgan Moses seemingly could move on after next season, and left tackle Will Campbell might have just one more season to prove he doesn't belong at guard.
Shortly after the Patriots delivered the pick, Campbell, Jared Wilson, and Caedan Wallace all used Instagram to react to Lomu's drafting.
Campbell: "Let's get it."
Wallace: "Welcome home!"
Caleb Lomu is an offensive tackle from Utah, drafted by the New England Patriots with the 28th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Patriots traded up to select Lomu to address their offensive line needs, particularly with potential departures of current tackles Morgan Moses and Will Campbell.
Lomu's selection indicates the Patriots are looking to strengthen their offensive line, especially as current players may be nearing the end of their tenure with the team.

See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
Wilson: "Yessir."
Lomu is far from a finished product. He must get stronger, and he faces long odds at earning a starting role over Campbell or Moses next season. In all likelihood, he'll begin his career as a backup swing tackle and jumbo tight end.
But injuries happen, and so do training camp breakouts. The ideal outcome is for Lomu to spend next season developing behind the scenes, but it wouldn't take much for him to play earlier than expected.