Patriots trade with Bills to snag Utah's Caleb Lomu in 2026 NFL Draft
The New England Patriots traded up in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the Buffalo Bills to take Utah tackle Caleb Lomu 28th overall.
FOXBOROUGH, MA — The New England Patriots were thought to either take an edge rusher at No. 31 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft or try to trade out of the first round entirely. Instead, the Patriots moved up.
After the Houston Texans traded with the Buffalo Bills , swapping the 26th and 28th picks, respectively, the Pats swung a deal with their AFC East rival to move up three spots to 28. New England selected Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, bolstering the unit charged with protecting franchise quarterback Drake Maye. The Patriots took left tackle Will Campbell fourth overall and have a youthful counterpart on the other side of the line as immediate insurance for right tackle Morgan Moses, a valuable veteran signing in 2025 for the team that reached Super Bowl 60 last season.
To start, Lomu – who projects as a high-upside, above-average athlete – can be a swing tackle his rookie season. “He’s young. He’s experienced.
He’s athletic. He’s a great kid,” vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said. “Frankly, I was surprised he was still available – that’s why we moved up.