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)
Week 5 starting opportunity (Oct 13): Lomu stepped into the starting left tackle role after Will Campbell suffered a knee injury in the second quarter of the Week 5 win over Las Vegas. With Campbell week-to-week, Lomu is likely to remain the starter for at least the next 1-2 weeks against the Jets and beyond, giving the rookie genuine game reps at the position he was drafted to play. (per Patriots' Will Campbell injury update is best-case scenario)
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).
Offensive tackle. Initially positioned as swing backup behind Will Campbell (LT) and Morgan Moses (RT) in 2026. Early August: took first-team reps when Campbell was sidelined with a minor arm injury. Week 5 (Oct 13): stepped into the starting left tackle role when Campbell suffered a knee sprain, and is likely to continue in that role for at least the next 1-2 weeks given Campbell's week-to-week status. While Campbell feels optimistic about returning for Week 6, his practice participation remains limited, suggesting Lomu has earned genuine game reps and will likely start at least one more week against the Jets. Flexible 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 and Patriots' Will Campbell feeling 'good' after suffering knee injury in Week 5).
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)