NE Caleb Lomu
NFL player. Position: Offensive Tackle. Team: NE.
Quick Facts
- Position: Offensive Tackle
- Team: NE (New England Patriots)
- Draft: 28th overall (1st round), 2026 NFL Draft
- College: University of Utah
2026 Outlook
Caleb Lomu was selected 28th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots after the team traded up from the 31st pick. A natural left tackle from the University of Utah (spending 98% of his snaps in that role), Lomu enters his rookie campaign as a swing backup behind Will Campbell (LT) and Morgan Moses (RT). The Patriots' plan is to have Lomu develop as a backup in 2026 before eventually taking over right tackle in 2027 when the 35-year-old Moses ages out. This timeline could accelerate depending on training camp performance and potential injuries. At 22 years old (only 11 months younger than fellow first-rounder Will Campbell), Lomu has a long window to develop into a franchise cornstone tackle. His flexibility—potential to play either tackle spot or even guard—gives the Patriots optionality in their long-term offensive line construction. (per Patriots offensive line, reset with first-round pick Caleb Lomu in the mix)
SI analyst Justin Melo ranked Lomu 35th among the top 50 draft picks, below other first-round offensive linemen like Max Iheanachor (Pittsburgh) and Kadyn Proctor (Miami), citing his unclear path to starting time in 2026 and developmental trajectory (per Patriots Rookies Get Less-Than-Ideal Placements In Latest Rankings).
Role / Depth Chart
Offensive tackle. Swing backup behind Will Campbell (LT) and Morgan Moses (RT) in 2026. Entered training camp competing for starting reps. Early August 2026: Lomu and Marcus Bryant taking reps at left tackle with the first-team offensive when Campbell was sidelined, indicating readiness to step into starting role if needed (per Patriots injury updates: Mike Vrabel shares latest on Will Campbell, three others). Flexibile enough to potentially shift to guard if interior line depth takes injuries, providing the Patriots with positional optionality in their lineman rotation (per Patriots Appeared to Avoid Disaster With Pair of OL Injuries).
Recent News
- 2026-08-07 — Getting first-team reps at LT during training camp with Will Campbell sidelined (Patriots injury updates: Mike Vrabel shares latest on Will Campbell, three others)
- 2026-05-28 — Patriots plan for rookie tackle Caleb Lomu comes into focus at OTAs (Patriots plan for rookie tackle Caleb Lomu comes into focus at OTAs)
- 2026-04-24 — Patriots offensive line, reset with first-round pick Caleb Lomu in the mix (Patriots offensive line, reset with first-round pick Caleb Lomu in the mix)
- 2026-06-12 — Way-too-early Patriots roster projection after spring practices (Way-too-early Patriots roster projection after spring practices)
- 2026-04-20 — 2026 NFL mock draft: Jordan Reid's predictions for 257 picks (2026 NFL mock draft: Jordan Reid's predictions for 257 picks)
- 2026-06-09 — Patriots Mandatory Minicamp Primer: Roster Battles, Rising Rookies and Players To Watch (Patriots Mandatory Minicamp Primer: Roster Battles, Rising Rookies and Players To Watch)
- 2026-05-04 — Browns' Shedeur Sanders among 26 NFL veterans on thin ice after 2026 draft (Browns' Shedeur Sanders among 26 NFL veterans on thin ice after 2026 draft)
- 2026-04-23 — Chicago Bears select safety Dillon Thieneman from Oregon with No. 25 pick in 2026 NFL... (Chicago Bears select safety Dillon Thieneman from Oregon with No. 25 pick in 2026 NFL...)
- 2026-04-19 — 4 veterans Titans could put on notice with early 2026 NFL Draft choices (4 veterans Titans could put on notice with early 2026 NFL Draft choices)
- 2026-03-30 — 2026 NFL mock draft: Miller's pick predictions for Rounds 1-7 (2026 NFL mock draft: Miller's pick predictions for Rounds 1-7)
- 2026-06-03 — Patriots OT Will Campbell's Offseason Recovery Has Critical Roster Implications (Patriots OT Will Campbell's Offseason Recovery Has Critical Roster Implications)