The New England Patriots drafted Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall pick in the first round. Now, some insiders are raising concerns about the offensive lineman’s play style.
Lomu was taken via a trade with the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots moved up to get their guy. Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf believed the offensive lineman would not be there for the Patriots to select. That is why the organization was so aggressive when it came to drafting him.
Patriots Rookie Raising Some Concerns
The Utah product has all the measurable goals and talent to be successful. However, there are some concerns about his style of play. Phil A. Perry spoke on CLNS Media’s Patriots Press Pass podcast earlier this week and dove into detail about the concerns.
“I think you’d prefer a little bit different football make-up.” “Just about anybody that I’ve talked to, that has met him, or interviewed him, or scouted him this offseason said the same thing… That’s kinda the consensus… But, it could still be a great pick.”
Lomu measures in at six-foot-six, 314 pounds. His arm length is 33 2/3 inches, which puts him in the 23rd percentile of tackles. He has a 9.5 hand size and an 82 ¾ wingspan. The wingspan in particular is near the bottom of offense of tackles, as he ranks in the 62nd percentile. That being said, measurement is not the only mark of his game, and he can play at a high level.
Patriots Rookie Can Still Play At High Level
The offensive lineman won several accolades throughout his career at Utah. Lomu was named to the All-Big 12 First-team in 2025 after he started all 12 games at left tackle. He allowed zero sacks in over 350 pass-blocking opportunities. He was named a Freshman All-American in 2024 by The Athletic in his first season as a starter.
In addition to individual accolades, his teammates received accolades as well. He was part of the Utah offensive line unit that made the midseason Joe Moore Award Honor Roll last year. The line also received recognition from the Big 12 Conference. They were named the Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week four times during the 2025 season.
The skill is definitely there for the lineman. Measurements are certainly something to pay attention to. However, his overall skill set could outweigh any measurements. The height is certainly there for him to be successful, and so is the overall skill.
When it comes down to it, the Patriots need depth on the offensive line. Many have suggested that Lomu could fill in for Will Campbell, the latter of whom struggled last season. However, this seems more like a pick for a backup to Morgan Moses. He is 35 years old. With that being said, Moses is still a dependable tackle. This could allow Lomu to develop while Moses plays out the remainder of his career.
Expert predictions and projections are always fascinating to listen to. That being said, the real test will come on the field. There are still plenty of reasons to be excited about the selection, and it will be interesting to see how he does.
Patriots Rookie Sparks Concern Amid Mixed Scouting Reports