Patriots trade with Bills to snag Utah's Caleb Lomu in 2026 NFL Draft
Patriots trade with Bills to snag Utah's Caleb Lomu in 2026 NFL Draft
Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAYFri, April 24, 2026 at 3:13 AM UTC
0
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.
Advertisement
1 / 0See 2026 NFL Draft first round picks, from No. 1 to No. 32
1. Las Vegas Raiders – QB Fernando Mendoza, IndianaThe first round of the 2026 NFL Draft brings franchise‑defining moments as teams make their selections from the top of the board.See how picks 1 through 32 came off the clock as the next generation of NFL talent enters the league.
“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.”
Wolf mentioned that “upside” while saying Lomu could play anywhere on the line.
Wolf also reiterated that Campbell will be the left tackle despite his struggles toward the end of his rookie season – after he suffered a meniscus injury.
The Patriots surrendered a fourth-round pick, No. 125 overall, to move up the three spots.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Patriots, Bills make 1st-round draft trade so Pats can take Caleb Lomu
Source: “AOL Sports”
