The New England Patriots began their 2026 NFL draft in superb style, addressing all three of their most pressing needs with their first three picks. Offensive tackle Caleb Lomu filled their top need. Edge Gabe Jacas hit their second most pressing one, and tight end Eli Raridon hit their third.
While Raridon was somewhat of a reach, addressing all of their top three needs with the first three picks was an object lesson in how to draft, taking the best player available at your positions of need. Mike Vrabel was in the room, and it showed.
Now, the top two picks have been rated highly by ESPN's Matt Miller in his "the 100 best picks, steals, fits" in the draft.
On Day 3, however, with Vrabel out of the picture, the draft reverted to a more 2024-esque version. Yet, some observers felt that getting one of the top offensive tackles (the last on the board in the draft) with pick No. 28 and then landing a top sack-producing edge with their second pick (both after trading up) couldn't have gone much better.
The two players were Patriots first-round pick offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, who was rated as Miller's 39th-best, and edge Gabe Jacas, who came in at No. 74. However, they were rated; the Patriots traded up for both, and they are terrific fits.
At least from the Patriots' perspective, they were the best players available at the team's top two positions of need. It's the draft strategy of a winner.
ESPN's Matt Miller see fits for both of the Patriots top two draft picks
Caleb Lomu fit the Patriots' top need perfectly. The 2025 team was paper-thin at offensive tackle, as was evident when rookie left tackle Will Campbell went out with a knee injury. Talk about moving Campbell inside to guard persists, though Vrabel says he'll play on the left.
Lomu has position versatility. He can immediately assume the swing tackle role. He was a superb left tackle at Utah and will easily slot in on the less demanding right if the 35-year-old Morgan Moses can't play.
Miller succinctly summed up the offensive line's situation with Lomu on board,
"The Patriots' offensive line was beat up in the Super Bowl. The team added reinforcements in the draft via Lomu and sixth-rounder Dametrious Crownover. The question will be where the coaching staff uses Lomu and Will Campbell, last year's first-rounder. Like Campbell, Lomu exclusively lined up at left tackle in college.
So someone is moving...The left side of the line will look different regardless, with free agent Alijah Vera-Tucker slotting in at guard. Lomu might slide to the right side and learn from 35-year-old Morgan Moses for a season."
Lomu was the perfect fit to slot in at whatever tackle position Vrabel sees fit. An injury to either Campbell or Moses will leave Lomu, a top pass protector, to fill in. Lomu surrendered zero sacks at left tackle for the Utes in 2025.
Protecting the Patriots' franchise quarterback, Drake Maye, is important, and Lomu knows that sacks prevented are plays extended and does it brilliantly.
Miller also commented on the great fit for Vrabel's defense that edge Gabe Jacas brings to the table.
"Jacas was one of the top picks of Round 2 based on scheme fit and need, as the Patriots needed to boost the edge even after adding free agent Dre'Mont Jones. Jacas has big-time power and the athletic tools to be an edge-setting defender.
With a background as a stand-up linebacker at Illinois, Jacas reminds me of Matthew Judon...Jacas is ready to make an impact on a defense that needed to get younger and faster after relying heavily on veterans with one-year deals last season."
Lomu addressed the Patriots' sack-prevention imperative by allowing no sacks in 2025 in the Big 12 Conference. You can't do much better than that. He fits an offensive line that gave up 2025 sacks by the bushel-full to a tee. Jacas is, similarly, a perfect fit. In 2025, he produced 11.5 sacks.
Vrabel knows that hollow stats like quarterback hurries and hits are helpful, but it's sacks that are play-enders and game-changers. Jacas delivers sacks, exactly what the Patriots needed on the edge.
With those attributes in mind, it's no wonder that Miller had Lomu and Jacas in his top 100. The only question is why they weren't rated higher? Both fit what this Patriots team needed like a glove. The team addressed its top two positional needs brilliantly.
While the rest of the draft wasn't as inspiring, Lomu and Jacas were as good as it gets when you're drafting at No. 31.
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