Whether you subscribe to the idea that sacks are a quarterback stat or an offensive line stat, we know one thing to be true about the New England Patriots: They needed offensive line help in 2026.
And the past tense of that word there is key, because the Patriots traded up in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft to select Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, one of the highest-upside players in this year's draft class. Although the move up the board to get Lomu was a bit surprising, the position group the Patriots attacked was not.
During their playoff run to Super Bowl LX, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was sacked a whopping 21 times. That came after he was sacked 47 times during the regular season. The disaster really came to a head in the Super Bowl, where Maye was sacked six times by the Seahawks.
There's no question that the Lomu pick is coming in direct response to that.
New England Patriots address biggest playoff issue with Caleb Lomu pick
Not only did Drake Maye get sacked 21 times during the playoff run for the Patriots, but he was sacked at least five times in every single playoff game. The number of hits he was taking beyond just getting sacked was alarming, to say the least.
The Houston Texans' pass rush, in particular, really seemed to rattle Maye's cage, forcing him to fumble the ball four times.
The Patriots and general manager Eliot Wolf understand that protection is paramount, which is why the Lomu pick was made. FanSided's Mike Luciano wrote before the draft about the fact that Fano brings the pass protection abilities the Patriots desperately need up front:
"The left tackle on an offensive line that also featured Spencer Fano, Lomu is looking like a quality pass protector who is equally adept both between the ears and on the field. Even with his iffy run blocking, Lomu handles stunts and twists well, and his combination of upper body strength and solid footwork give him a high floor and a higher chance to be a Week 1 starter."
- Mike Luciano, FanSided
Lomu didn't allow a single sack this past season, and at just 21 years old, it's clear that he's only just beginning to scratch the surface of how good he can be. And the Patriots might have to wait patiently for him to crack the starting lineup.
If the vision for Lomu is at the tackle position, he's either going to have to beat Morgan Moses for the starting right tackle job outright, or the Patriots will have to figure out some other way to put their "best five" on the field.
He has outstanding explosiveness and lateral quickness, but Lomu needs to continue to add strength to his frame and get more physical in the running game before he's fully ready for the NFL as a starter.
But the good news is, whenever he is ready, his best strength is his ability to protect the QB.
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