In the weeks leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, although there was a lot of speculation about what position the Patriots would prioritize in the first round, most analysts believed it would likely be another offensive lineman, presumably a player who could become their next starting right tackle.
That's the path they went down when they chose Caleb Lomu, even though he played left tackle throughout his college career. He had unique versatility that made him a prime swing-tackle option, and he emphasized that he had been training on the right side during the pre-draft process.
Regardless, fans weren't exactly thrilled with the selection, as Lomu appeared to be the last tackle available, and that's why the Patriots chose him.
However, that's not exactly true, according to GM Eliot Wolf, and from the work that Lomu has put in during OTAs and minicamp, it's clear that the Patriots got a good player, not just the one that fell into their lap.
Considering the magnitude of the position he plays and how crucial it was for the group to be upgraded after falling apart in the playoffs and the Super Bowl, Lomu's development will be integral to their success this upcoming season and in the long term.
Fortunately for them, he's already thriving and looking ready to take over a starting role sooner rather than later.
Caleb Lomu is proving the naysayers wrong with a strong showing at Patriots' minicamp
During the spring, Lomu has moved across the offensive line at practice, shifting from left to right and demonstrating he can play any position they ask him to.
It has provided a major relief to fans who questioned if he was the right player to take in the first round, and he's only looking even better after seeing how he plays and hearing his determination to do whatever it takes to be the best lineman he can be.
“I came in with the mindset of, ‘Wherever they need me, wherever they put me, I’m going to work at that position and do what they ask of me. So that’s what I’ve been doing here.
I’ve been switching around a lot, just doing whatever. They throw me in wherever, I just go and play. It’s also helped a lot with the playbook, understanding each side, left and right side in the playbook. It really helps me just know more in depth.”
Lomu's performance has caught the attention of even more people this offseason because Morgan Moses hasn't participated in practices often, allowing the rookie to get more reps than he otherwise likely would.
He's gone so far as to say that playing on the right side "feels natural" now, and his flexibility is becoming one of the best traits of his game.
That's what has stood out the most to the coaching staff, to the point that Mike Vrabel couldn't help but gush about what he's seen from Lomu so far.
“(Lomu) is getting a lot of reps. I love the versatility... He learns quickly, usually doesn’t make the same mistake twice. And it is different, so the guys that you are trying to put in different places and say, ‘You have got to get as much reps on the left as you do on the right,’ that’s important. So, he has done a nice job of that.”
Clearly, taking a bit of a risk on Lomu is already proving to be worth it for the Patriots, and this is just what we've seen from him in the spring.
He will presumably continue training over the next several weeks ahead of training camp, and once he returns to Foxboro, he will be ready to build on what he's already shown.
That's exactly what the offense needs, and Lomu might become far more valuable than anyone anticipated he would as a rookie, and that's exciting. The offensive line looks to be massively improved, which should make the offense as a whole even better than it was in 2025, which was already impressive.
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