The New England Patriots trading up in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft was not expected by a lot of experts Thursday night, but they had an opportunity to take one the best offensive tackles in the class and didn’t want to pass on it.

It’s hard to blame them, too.

The Patriots sent the No. 31 overall pick and a fourth-round pick (No. 155 overall) to the Buffalo Bills for pick No. 28. which they used to select Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu.

Lomu is an exciting talent and plays with plenty of athleticism. He can play both tackle spots, although the most ideal position for him long-term in New England is probably right tackle.

The Patriots selected left tackle Will Campbell with the No. 4 overall pick in last year’s draft. Now they have two young tackles who could protect franchise quarterback Drake Maye for a decade.

What do experts think of the Patriots trading up a couple spots and taking Lomu?

Here’s a roundup of first-round draft grades.

Grade: A-

“The Patriots had a glaring need at offensive tackle, a premium position, and were able to land one of the top seven in this draft class with their first pick. The expectation in Foxboro was that they’d be out of luck on the tackle front, so kudos to them for trading up to get the last tackle standing.

“A 21-year-old with room to grow — both physically and as a finisher — Lomu will need some time to develop, but he’ll get exactly that with Morgan Moses and Will Campbell projected to start.

“Had the Patriots lucked into Clemson’s Blake Miller or Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor, this would be a straight “A,” but Lomu’s rare physical skill set and the scarcity of the position he plays makes this about as ideal a pick as New England could’ve made with the way the board fell.”

Grade: A+

“To get a tackle with Lomu’s tape in pass protection at 28 overall is nothing short of a steal. He falls here because he needs to get stronger, more consistent, and play with more edge, but he goes to a great spot to develop himself in all three areas. He has special feet and hand usage on tape to be their future starting tackle.”

Grade: A

“This pick can be a two-for-one upgrade for the Patriots. Lomu can slide in as a legit long-term left tackle prospect and allow Will Campbell to play elsewhere along the offensive line if that’s what they choose to do. The Patriots desperately needed to upgrade their frontline play after getting sledgehammered by the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, and this pick should help them get better up front.”

Grade: A-

“Really good value here. I had Lomu graded about even with Miller and maybe a tick higher than Iheanachor, as Lomu should be ready to start at right tackle immediately opposite Will Campbell. This gives the Patriots two very athletic tackles who are plus run blockers.

“Lomu isn’t a flashy player, but he gets the job done. He’s very versatile, and he could play right or left tackle, and maybe even guard. The 49ers (who traded down from 27 to 30) also might’ve been looking to select an offensive tackle, so I don’t hate the trade-up. Nice pick.”

Grade: B+

“The Patriots’ offensive line was exposed in the Super Bowl, so it’s not a big surprise that they looked to bolster that group here. The Pats sent the Bills a fourth-rounder (125th overall) to move up three spots and grab a high-upside offensive lineman in Lomu.

This pick immediately raises the question of whether last year’s first-rounder, Will Campbell, will be making a move from the left tackle spot to guard. But at least for now, early indications are that Lomu, who played on the blind side in college, could get early reps on the right side. Wherever he ends up, Lomu might need to get stronger to sustain blocks better in the run game, but he’s a nimble-footed athlete who will help New England keep Drake Maye upright—and nothing is more important for this team.”

Grade: A-

“New England had to address the offensive line after a poor showing in the Super Bowl. Lomu needs to get stronger and is still growing as a run blocker. His footwork in pass protection is definitely good enough to start in the league. And if Will Campbell continues to struggle outside, he could move to guard and allow Lomu to take a shot on the blind side.”

Grade: B

“That’s two first-round offensive tackles in two years for the Patriots. The hope is that Lomu plays better as a rookie than Will Campbell. Will Lomu move to the right side or bump Campbell there? Super Bowl 60 exposed the need for the Patriots to improve the offensive line.”

Grade: C

“Don’t view Caleb Lomu’s selection as a response to Will Campbell’s poor showing in the postseason. Instead, Lomu is a developmental project who will likely replace Morgan Moses at right tackle when he’s ready.

“Right now, Lomu isn’t ready. The underclassman has huge growth potential. He could even take over at left tackle if Campbell continues to disappoint. Right now, he should be viewed exclusively as the long-term plan as Campbell’s bookend.”