The New England Patriots entered the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft with some clear needs to be addressed. Tops among them were the defensive edge and the offensive tackle position, two spots that have established starters in place but lack long-term perspective.
Toward the tail end of the first round, the Patriots added such perspective to the latter of the two spots. Trading up from the 31st to the 28th overall selection, the team of head coach Mike Vrabel selected Caleb Lomu out of the University
of Utah.
How does his addition impact the offensive tackle group in particular as well as the O-line as a whole? Let’s find out.
Patriots offensive tackle depth chart
Will Campbell (66): Even though Campbell struggled down the stretch in 2025 after returning from a knee injury, the fourth overall pick in last year’s draft still had a strong overall rookie season. It is why he will remain as the Patriots’ left tackle even with Lomu added to the mix. And considering that Campbell is still only 22 years old — i.e. only 11 months older than Lomu — he will continue to further develop into the franchise cornerstone he was selected to be.
Morgan Moses (76): The Patriots signed Moses to a three-year, $24 million free agency contract last offseason to solidify the right side of the line. That is what he did in 2025, and that is what he will continue to do in 2026. That said, his long-term outlook is unclear given that he turned 35 in March. Moses was brought in with the expectation of being more of a stop-gap option at the position and somebody New England will have to replace eventually within two or three years. Adding Lomu puts the team on track to do so.
Caleb Lomu (—): Lomu is a natural left tackle, having spent almost 98% of his career snaps at Utah in that position. The Patriots see some flexibility in him, however, which is why he will spend his rookie campaign as a swing backup behind Campbell and Moses before eventually taking over for the latter as right tackle in 2027. There is a chance that timeline is accelerated depending on both players’ performance in training camp and preseason as well as potential injuries happening, but that appears to be the rough schedule for now.
Marcus Bryant (52): A sixth-round draft pick last year, Bryant started his rookie campaign as the top backup to Morgan Moses at right tackle. As such, he saw action in three games. However, he eventually lost his spot on the game day roster to Thayer Munford Jr, who provided more flexibility as a backup alongside Vederian Lowe. With Munford Jr. remaining unsigned and Lowe now in San Francisco, Bryant again is in a position to compete for the fourth spot on the depth chart this summer.
James Hudson III (68): The Patriots signed Hudson to a one-year deal in free agency, and he has five NFL seasons as well as 20 career starts under his belt. He will not push for a starting role in New England, but instead will compete with Bryant and others for that fourth and possible final spot on the roster. As far as fourth-string tackles go, he offers superb experience and positional versatility — two things that Caleb Lomu does not have upon entering the NFL.
Sebastian Gutierrez (61): Gutierrez is on his seventh team in five NFL seasons. He spent 2025 on and off the Patriots’ practice squad and at this stage in his career projects as little more than a camp body who provides emergency depth. Realistically, he will have to fight for a practice squad spot again this training camp.
Lorenz Metz (72 | international exemption): At 6-foot-9, Metz is the tallest player on the Patriots’ roster. He also does technically not count against it: the German-born lineman counts as an international player and as such carries an exemption. If he looks the part over the summer, he could very well earn a 17th practice squad spot.
With seven tackles on their current roster, the depth chart seems relatively full at the moment. That does not mean there won’t be additional turnover — if a chance to add another young tackle presents itself later in the draft, the Patriots likely would not say no — but it is certainly no longer the priority it was entering Thursday night.
Patriots projected offensive line
In the long term, Lomu’s addition has a transformative effect on the Patriots offensive line: he will take over as their right tackle at some point, or potentially even serve as security at left tackle should Will Campbell’s playoff issues turn out to be more than injury fallout. For now, however, he enters the team as a backup.
As a consequence, the projected depth chart now looks as follows:
- LT: Will Campbell, Caleb Lomu, James Hudson III, Lorenz Metz
- LG: Alijah Vera-Tucker, Ben Brown, Caedan Wallace
- C: Jared Wilson, (Ben Brown)
- RG: Mike Onwenu, (Ben Brown), Andrew Rupcich, Mekhi Butler
- RT: Morgan Moses, (Caleb Lomu), Marcus Bryant, Sebastian Gutierrez
As it already was into the draft, the top-level group is very much set for the upcoming season. Will Campbell and Morgan Moses will be the starters at left and right tackle, respectively, with Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson and Mike Onwenu manning the guard and center spots; Lomu and Ben Brown will be the top backups at tackle and along the interior.
The biggest questions about the O-line concern the fourth tackle spot between Marcus Bryant and James Hudson as well as a potential fifth spot in the middle behind top backup Ben Brown. The group’s future is also fairly uncertain with Campbell still only a sophomore, Vera-Tucker having an extensive injury history, Jared Wilson not yet having played center in the NFL, Mike Onwenu on the final year of his contract, and Moses 35 years old.
Ultimately, though, the Patriots have made their intentions clear at tackle. They will put their trust in Campbell and Moses in 2026, and likely Campbell and Lomu from 2027 on.
