Patriots Eyed Top Prospect in Draft If OT Target Was Gone: Report

The New England Patriots were keeping an eye on a variety of names throughout the pre-draft process. They ended up taking lineman Caleb Lomu with the 28^th overall pick. However, they also had another wide receiver in mind should he have fallen to the organization. The team was very interested in Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported this.

Concepcion ended up getting selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 24^th overall pick. The Patriots would’ve had to do some additional maneuvering to get him. Instead, he went to Browns’ team looking to get additional weapons as they continue to revamp their offense. As Fowler noted, the Patriots still had interest.

 Eventual No. 24 pick KC Concepcion was a hot name. Had he slipped past Cleveland, New England was believed to be one of many teams that thought highly of him. Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu was the last of the seven top offensive tackles, so it made sense for New England to trade up from No. 31 to 28 for him. There was a sizable drop-off after the top seven.

Concepcion had a history with New England in the pre-draft process. The organization hosted a top-30 visit at the end of March. He was also mocked to New England throughout the pre-draft process.

Interestingly enough, New England did not get a wide receiver in the draft. There are still rumors floating around that A. J. Brown might be a member of the New England Patriots. The Philadelphia Eagles did select a wide receiver as they selected Makai Lemon with the 20^th overall pick, after trading up three spots with the Dallas Cowboys.

Concepcion would have been a solid pickup for New England. He shone at the collegiate level, and had a fantastic 2025 season.  The playmaker had 61 catches for 919 yards and nine touchdowns. He led the Aggies in all major receiving categories.

The playmaker also proved to be an effective punt returner, recording 25 returns for 456 yards and two touchdowns. He led the SEC in punt return yards and ranked third nationally. He also was able to record 440 yards after the catch, showcasing his explosiveness and playmaking ability.

Potential Cause For Concern With Patriots Rookie

NFL draft experts have raised concerns with  Lomu. Nevertheless, it was clear that the Patriots were able to get their player that they targeted. Concepcion would have given the Patriots a playmaker at wide receiver. However, the Patriots needed offensive line depth, especially with left tackle Morgan Moses currently 35 years old. The Patriots needed depth on the offensive line, and they were able to get it with Lomu. The latter has a big opportunity to be a part of the future.

Wideout Could Have Been Weapon For Patriots

Nevertheless, it would’ve been fun to see a player like Concepcion in this offense. Hypotheticals are always fun to play, and hindsight is always 20/20. The Patriots made the best pick that they could add 28^th overall, as they look to continue to revamp the offense. This draft had many talented offensive players in it, and Lomu can certainly be counted as one of them.