The Bills ultimately received the 31st and 125th overall picks but did not select in the first round, instead trading down multiple times and holding the 34th overall pick heading into day two. The trade highlighted the Patriots’ willingness to accelerate their assessment of a potential starting-caliber blocker.
Lomu’s college resume positions him as a versatile addition for New England. At Utah, he started all 12 regular-season games as a redshirt freshman in 2024, posting just two sacks and 17 pressures on 425 pass-blocking snaps, earning Freshman All-American honors from The Athletic. In 2025, he again started 12 games, delivering zero sacks and eight pressures on 357 pass-blocking snaps, and earned First-Team All-Big 12 recognition.
With NFL-ready size at six-foot-six and 313 pounds, Lomu provides positional flexibility the Patriots value. He has logged extensive experience at left tackle (1,582 snaps, 24 career starts), plus snaps at right tackle and practice-time guard, offering the team options at right tackle opposite Will Campbell or interior flexibility elsewhere. The move also adds depth behind Morgan Moses, who, at 35, remains productive but could benefit from a longer-term plan at right tackle as Lomu develops.
Overall, Lomu’s profile fits a Patriots framework that prioritizes depth and versatility along the offensive line. If he develops into a starter, New England could benefit from a long-term solution at right tackle while preserving Moses’s continued contribution and flexibility across multiple positions. The early indication from the organization suggests they are optimistic about what Lomu can bring to the unit.
