The New England Patriots have made their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft and it came earlier than anticipated. After trading up from the 31st to the 28th overall selection with the Bills, the reigning AFC champions selected Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu.
In order to move up the board, the Patriots invested their original first-round pick at No. 31 as well as the 125th pick in Round 4.
Lomu, 22, spent his entire three-year college career at Utah. After playing only three games with no starts
during his redshirt freshman campaign, he took over as the Utes starting left tackle in 2024 and never looked back. Over his final two seasons in college, he started all 24 games he appeared in and along the way earned freshman All-American and first-team All-Big 12 honors.
Adding Lomu to the mix means that the Patriots have now selected a first-round offensive tackle in back-to-back drafts. Last year, they brought in Will Campbell with the fourth overall selection to take over their left tackle spot.
While Lomu was a left tackle in college, the expectation is that he will eventually be developed into Morgan Moses’ successor at the right tackle position.
The Patriots are next on the clock at pick No. 63 in the second round.
