Patriots insider names surprising offseason move that's flying under every radar

The New England Patriots certainly made some interesting decisions since suffering a lopsided loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.

From cutting ties with Stefon Diggs to swapping out K'Lavon Chaisson for Dre'Mont Jones to trading a first-round pick for A.J. Brown, the front office hasn't been shy about making some calculated moves to fortify a roster that certainly outperformed expectations a year ago.

Of course, the Patriots also made a notable upgrade to their secondary by signing veteran safety Kevin Byard to pair with promising second-year pro Craig Woodson. And let's not forget about giving former Green Bay Packers wideout Romeo Doubs a four-year, $68 million deal, either.

Yet while those transactions garnered plenty of attention, the move that may pay the most dividends (at least in the long term) didn't happen in free agency or via the trade market. However, it hasn't exactly generated a ton of buzz—at least not since the opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Mike Reiss has interesting pick for Patriots' most underrated offseason move

Longtime Patriots reporter Mike Reiss has seen plenty of high-profile draft picks come through Foxboro over the years. Some have panned out, while others—namely, a brutal run that included Isaiah Wynn, Sony Michel, and N'Keal Harry—failed to live up to the hype.

Thankfully, the Patriots righted that ship last year by putting together an excellent draft class that got contributions from top to bottom.

Although the buzz about this year's crop of rookies isn't quite as high, don't be surprised if that narrative changes sooner rather than later. In fact, Reiss seems quite optimistic about what lies ahead for the crown jewel of the 2025 class: Caleb Lomu.

In a recent post on ESPN, each AFC East team reporter named their organization's most underrated offseason move. Here's what Reiss had to say about the Patriots' aggressive approach to secure the final first-round-caliber offensive tackle left on the board.

Trading up three spots in the first round from No. 31 to No. 28 to select Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu. It's early, but Lomu initially projects as the swing tackle behind Will Campbell (left) and Morgan Moses (right), and he has also taken some snaps at guard.

Lomu was the seventh offensive tackle selected, although the Patriots had him rated higher than that at the position. It took a fourth-round pick to ensure they landed Lomu, which seems like a shrewd move. "I love the versatility," coach Mike Vrabel said.

Obviously, offensive linemen don't make headlines or grab attention quite like wide receivers and quarterbacks. And taking one in the first round doesn't get fans as excited as landing a top-flight playmaker.

However, the Lomu pick—specifically the decision to trade up to get him—was a wise move by a front office that clearly understands the top priority is to keep Drake Maye out of harm's way.

The only question now is: where exactly will Lomu line up?

Will Caleb Lomu force the Patriots to make a decision about Will Campbell's future?

Let's just say drafting offensive tackles in the first round in consecutive drafts is a bit unconventional. However, the Patriots clearly felt they needed to return to that position even after taking Will Campbell out of LSU with the fourth overall pick in 2024.

On the one hand, you could suggest that Campbell's postseason struggles and questions about his long-term fit at left tackle played a role in the team's decision to target Lomu.

On the other hand, you could argue that the Patriots simply saw too much value in bringing in a guy who could just as easily be the long-term replacement for veteran right tackle Morgan Moses.

From a physical perspective, Lomu has the traits you look for in a top-tier blindside protector. He's a long-limbed, athletic pass protector who has better size and length than Campbell, who's widely viewed as a potential All-Pro guard with just above-average upside as a left tackle.

Of course, Lomu is young and needs more time to get stronger in his lower half. But given Campbell's inconsistencies as a pass protector and Moses's age (35), Lomu could end up playing a much bigger role than initially expected. At the very least, he should be the top swing tackle and an extra body to utilize in heavy packages.

Alternatively, the Utah product could prove to be a quick study in training camp and make the conversation much more interesting about who should start at left tackle. If Lomu showcases the consistent ability to keep edge rushers at bay, will the Patriots actually consider moving Campbell to what many believe to be his more natural position?

Or could Lomu ascend quickly enough that the team considers moving on from Moses a year early? That would be a risky move given the lack of established depth at the position.

Either way, the rookie has the potential to shake up the depth chart much sooner than anyone anticipated.

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