The New England Patriots selected offensive tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after trading up three spots with the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Mike Vrabel oversaw the selection as part of the team’s effort to bolster its offensive line.
Vrabel praised Lomu’s adaptability and attitude during the draft. "He’s been an unbelievably coachable player. He’s young, he’s big, he’s athletic, and he’s willing to learn. He’s excited about learning. Where he plays, we want to end up with the five best linemen, and I think he's going to have the ability to play both sides. He’s gonna have the ability to play both sides," Vrabel said.
Lomu is expected to compete for immediate playing time, with the potential to either serve as a swing tackle or unseat 35-year-old Morgan Moses at right tackle during training camp. There is also interest in whether he could eventually challenge Will Campbell for the starting left tackle role.
Vrabel returned to the Patriots as head coach for the 2025 season after being out of coaching in 2024 following his tenure with the Tennessee Titans. Under his leadership, New England improved from a 4–13 record in 2024 to a 14–3 mark in 2025 and reached the Super Bowl.
During the 2026 NFL Draft, Vrabel announced he would miss the final day to seek counseling but returned to the Patriots’ team facility by the following Monday. In remarks made around that time, he emphasized focusing on the present: "I mean, I can only tell you I'm going to be there today. But I can't tell you anything other than I'm gonna be out there today in full force. And I mean that because, you know, who knows what's going to come up? You know, anything can happen. So I'm going to focus on today." Defensive tackle Milton Williams offered a brief assessment of Vrabel’s leadership style, saying, "Same guy. Talking s---, getting guys ready to roll."