Patriots trade up, select Utah OT Caleb Lomu with 28th overall pick

FOXBOROUGH, Mass — The New England Patriots opted to trade up in the first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, picking a player to help boost their offense.

With the No. 28 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Patriots selected Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu.

In exchange for trading up for the 28th overall pick, the Patriots send No. 21 as well as a fourth-round pick (No. 125) to the Buffalo Bills. This was the second time the Bills moved down in the first round, first trading with the Houston Texans a few picks prior.

Offensive tackle was a need for the Patriots as they are planning for the future, needing a right tackle to eventually take over for the 35-year-old Morgan Moses.

While Lomu played left tackle in college, they clearly see him as versatile, with him projected to come in as a swing tackle and provide depth behind Moses and Will Campbell before eventually taking over as a starter. At 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds, Lomu had 22 starts in the last two seasons.

In Dane Brugler's The Beast, he's described as an "above-average athlete" who can make an impact in pass protection as well as 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," Brugler wrote. "In the run game, he explodes out of his stance to cover ground and fit on targets, both backside and out in space."

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