Caleb Lomu

With the 28th pick in the NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select:

Caleb Lomu. Tackle out of Utah

6’6 313 lbs w/ 33 3/8 inch arm length. 9 1/2 inch hands. 4.99 40 time w/ a 1.74 10 yard split.

When the Patriots selected Lomu, I was not jumping for joy. I wasn’t screaming at the top of my lungs excited. I had even previously said not even 10 minutes before, as the board was winding down and talking available tackles “I don’t see him coming to us, and that I didn’t think he would be a fit.” However, I did have Lomu ranked as my number one Left Tackle. I really really wanted us to take edge and get our much needed pass rusher. I was initially annoyed thinking about all the left tackle discourse that’s bound to follow after this selection. To which I then started thinking why this is actually a good move. Outside of the fact it's protecting our QB. Lets rewind and discuss why I had him as my number one left tackle. What made Caleb and Spencer Fano special. Fano was my number one right tackle as well as tackle overall. Let’s also discuss where I see their vision of Lomu on the Patriots. What Wolf has said about Lomu at his post selection press conference. Ultimately why this pick was a great choice for the Patriots at 28.

Utah

Let's start at where he played, Utah. Coached by Jim Harding (Offensive line coach). Utah cross-trains it's lineman, the guys on their online can line up anywhere. He has positional versatility because of where he played. Though he spent his entire playing tenure at LT, he learned to play anywhere in case it's what’s needed of him. This is something that would be a part of his game to help him translate wherever is needed to the NFL.

Why was he my number one left tackle? I loved watching him and Fano. I began looking into future RTs back in August and began with Fano to study his tape. As I watched Fano impressed by his approach to the position how fluid and effortless he was… then I looked what the whole line was doing around him and there’s Caleb Lomu equally impressing me. I didn’t think he was the most physical, or violent which made me think Lomu wasn’t a fit for us initially. He didn’t allow a single sack all of last year with only 8 total pressures and 4 penalties. I envisioned teams loving his approach, his experience even at his age of 21, and most of all his excellent pass blocking ability. When I made my rankings for both tackle positions, it was centered on who is going to keep Drake on his feet. He is still green especially in the run game, but on a team with a great OLine coach he will develop that part of his game in good time. I felt the chiefs were going to be a perfect landing spot for him, only for the Pats to jump ahead of them and take him. I ranked him as a left tackle because I felt that’s what a team would take him as, which is what he obviously played in college, and didn’t foresee him being someone we’d take. (Strengths and weakness at end of blog)

Why was I hesitant? Why did I push back on the idea of Lomu for us? Why was he not a fit?

I think back to the identity they want to establish of being a violent and physical team, I didn’t feel that was Lomu’s game. I don’t see a big mauler or guy that’s not afraid to be nasty and really wreck shop in the run game. I also don’t like the idea of making guys switch sides if they don’t have significant experience doing so. I preferred targeting edge a much needed position and one I felt would benefit our defense even more, helping disrupt the QB, helping us get over 35 sacks (one of the worst sack rates), and helping our corners making plays. I also selfishly am so sick of the constant trashing of Will Campbell, I feel people forget how good Will performed during the regular season, living with this preconceived notion this guy with short arms just won’t work… well Will changed a lot of peoples opinion on him. Then he got hurt. Returned playing through a torn MCL. Ultimatey just didn’t look the same, even though it was awesome seeing him shut out Nik Benito in Denver. People just hate him and want him moved anywhere but tackle. The media makes this such a big deal, but remained quiet when he performed well. It’s the life of an olineman. When you’re doing well no one says anything, no praise, no flowers, no celebration… but one bad play they hate your guts and want you off the team. All the sports shows the next few months are gonna make this pick an indictment on Campbells deficiency and any sort of failure. I’m over it. The team has stated on numerous occasions now, and even stated after selecting Lomu… CAMPBELL. IS. STILL. OUR. LEFT. TACKLE.

We did NOT take a bad player. This isn’t a Cole Strange way out of left field selection. This is an upside investment, helping a raw young player meet his potential, with plenty of opportunities to get experience on the field.

That being said and upon my reflection, if he’s able to add some more weight, get stronger, come out of his shell and start building confidence to consistently show an aggressive mean streak, start developing and significantly improving his run blocking then this will be a great selection. I do think there’s plenty to work with here!

What is my vision for Lomu?

As I mentioned being cross-trained at Utah, and an ability to play anywhere needed on the line. That being said,

My 2026 vision is this:

The Patriots are going to pair him with Morgan Moses immediately. Where he’s going to be mentored throughout OTAs and throughout camp. We’re gonna lock him in at right tackle, and confirm this is gonna be the fit for him. Moses typically took Wednesdays off during the season as a rest day, so long as Moses remains healthy those Wednesdays are going to be Lomu days. If anyone goes down inside, we’re going to give him the experience to continue to see the field and fill in for AVT/Onwenu. If Will Campbell suffers an injury he can revert back and fill in at his former spot at LT. Lomu is going to serve as our journey man Olineman that will play wherever is needed. If our line like last year is able to remain healthy for the most part, he will continue to develop his game throughout the week. To see the field more he can serve us as maybe an eligible receiver placing him as an additional tight end to help us in the run game. Doug Marrone will want to be hands on and get the most out of Lomu’s development to see to it he’s successful in his new role at RT.

Long term 2027 and beyond:

Lomu will become our RT. Campbell will continue to improve and remain our LT. We will have 2 athletic tackles with good size and will be able to help us in the run after further development from both w/ the new additions to help our run game with Julian Hill a blocking TE and Reggie Gilman at Fullback. We do not know the long term future of Onwenu but he is still a very good player, was our most consistent player on the line last year. For this exercise without having all the answers or some crystal ball let’s say we continue to keep Onwenu.

Our starting lineup would be:

Will Campbell LT

Alijah Vera-Tucker LG

Jared Wilson C

Mike Onwenu RG

Caleb Lomu RT

That’s a very solid group of athleticm on the outside meets power in the middle, with an intelligent young center playing his natural position.

The goal is to keep Maye on his feet, keep Maye healthy and protected, and finally help consistently establishing the run and creating lanes to move the ball.

What was said by the team and Eliot Wolf about this selection?

• “3 year player 2 year starter. He’s still 21 years old. Played mostly on the left side. We feel he has the athletic ability, talent, strength and upside to play anywhere on the line. Big athletes like this are hard to come by. Really happy we are able to aquire him.”

• “Will is the left tackle and as I said Caleb has some versatility. His pro day works out he showed he can work the right side. He’s very athletic I don’t see either side is a problem for him.”

• “Looking to get him stronger”

• “Active on phones, with Caleb still on the board we felt like giving up an extra pick to acquire him

• Was important, the fact we were able to get him where we did was pretty cool”

• “Best player available for us and found an unlikely trade partner and were able to get him”

• “Morgan Moses is a trememndous leader and a great resource for young players, and look Caleb is young he’s got a lot of things he’ll need to learn. Had a great offensive line coach in Jim Harding at Utah”

• “Testing was excellent, we actually cancelled our 30 visit because we didn’t believe he was gonna factor in for us. Some of the things at the pro day: athletically the feet, the ability to play Right tackle. Zoom meetings showed his intelligence and versatility to play more than one spot.”

• “We Had a first round grade on him”

• “Family oriented. The people at Utah spoke very highly of his character”

• “I don’t think Mike had the opportunity to put hands on him, I’m sure that’ll be one of the first things Mike does whenever Lomu gets here. We worked him out and had scouts there (pro day) all positives”

• (On playing inside at 6’6) “I think it’s possible, we’d have to see when he gets here. In terms of physical and athletic stand point I don’t see why he couldn’t.

Final Thoughts

Putting my pride aside. The draft is unpredictable, I was wrong on what I expected out of this draft selection and what they’d consider taking. I told you the reader in my previous blog “Pick 31 What’s The Move”(a good read if you haven’t checked it out yet) that pick 31 it’s gotta be a pass rusher. I didn’t anticipate us trading up. I didn’t anticipate us taking a tackle thinking they’d all be gone before us. I definitely didn’t anticipate taking a LT to flip sides and move to RT. I’ve seen it fail numerous times but more so when a RT flips to LT, who also didn’t have the experience doing so. That’s not the case here. Learning more of the why he was selected and remembering the school he came from that coached his versatility to play anywhere it does make sense taking a chance on Lomu. Protect your biggest investment Drake Maye. They’re not in a rush to start Lomu right away. This is an investment pick. Morgan Moses is a professional and he understands the leadership and guidance he provides to players as we saw with his relationship with Will last season. Lomu as young as he is he can blossom, perfect his game this season without having to see the field, but his versatility will help them use him anywhere that’s needed if something were to happen to a guard/tackle. The upside is absolutely there I’m glad they took someone that I had highly ranked to be the eventual successor to Morgan Moses. I’m excited to see his development and what he becomes!

I give the pick an A

Strengths

• Excellent pass blocker

• Solid athleticism

• Technically sound good fundamentals

• Explosive first step

• Great awareness

• Great communication with his fellow lineman

• Processes stunts/twists/late blitzers exceptionally well

• Hand technique is deadly. Makes first contact, bear trap like grip. If he gets a hold of you it’s over.

• Footwork quick, fluid. Perfect kick slide.

• Versatility cross-trained to line up anywhere guard/tackle.

• Solid recovery ability able to reposition and redirect away from QB if losing first initial contact.

• Stays upright doesn’t get jumpy/eager when facing a twitchy speed rusher. Locks in on his fundamentals and addresses the attack before it becomes a problem.

• Good anchor.

Weaknesses

• His frame as it stands currently, he needs to fill in more he looks thin compared to his teammates on the line. He’s still young and can fill in more through time.

• Needs to build more strength to prepare against NFL competition. Core strength, and arm strenghth to be able to consistently combat some of the best pass rushers in the league.

• Run blocking is his biggest area to improve on. Significant drop off comparing his pass protection to his run blocking. This can improve especially as he fills in his frame and builds more strength. He currently excels being the protector of the pocket but doesn’t have the aggressive attack and strength to take on stout D Lineman in the run. His athleticism helps him get to the second level very well but creating a lane is inconsistent.

• Arm length (33 3/8s)…. Genuinely doesn’t bother me one bit but some will immediately freak out seeing anything under 34. His technique and playstyle with his body makes up for any length issue. Not even really noticeable on film.

• Not so much a weakness but a small c concern. Switching sides will be able to handle it? History shows tackles who switch sides is 50/50 they will succeed. To retort this concern. 1. Potential redshirt year, get him on a spot on the line and keep him there in this case RT 2. Utah gave him the tools, training, and preparation to play wherever he is needed.

Welcome to the team Caleb Lomu

Thanks so much for checking out the blog! feel free to review my postitonal rankings, my big board of patriots fits and anything else listed below. Follow me on X @paperwavesde for the next blog announcement!