The Patriots moved up three spots to draft Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu on Thursday night. (AP photo)

The New England Patriots were looking for their future right tackle – so much so Thursday night they traded with a division rival to get him in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

New England dealt their first round pick at No. 31 and the first of their two fourth round selections at No. 125 to Buffalo to grab 6-foot-6, 313 pound Utah offenive tackle Caleb Lomu.

Ironically, the Patriots didn’t think he’d be available to the point when they cancelled his 30 visit.

Lomu was a First Team All-Big 12 this past year, was an Outland Trophy candidate and is said to be quick with strong hands, and has a good enough football IQ to read the blitz.

“I’m a very technical player, I study the game really hard, I want to be real smart out there,” Lomu said. “Football is a very physical game but it’s a very cerebral game.”

Lomu red-shirted after playing just 25 snaps in 2023, and was a Freshman All American at left tackle in 2024.

“He played mostly on the left side, but we feel he has the athletic ability and strength, upside to play anywhere on the line,” Patriots Executive VP Eliot Wolf said. “Big athletes like this are hard to come by. Really happy we were able to acquire him.”

While Lomu is versatile, this by no means opens the door for a move away from Will Campbell as the Patriots starting left tackle, apparently.

“Will’s the left tackle,” Wolf said. “Caleb has the versatility, some of the pro day events he had he was on the right side.”

Wolf watched as offensive linemen were going off the board,and was surprised Lomu hadn’t been one of them. Six of the offensive takcles went in the first 21 picks

“We were very active on the phones,” Wolf said.”With Caleb still on the board, giving up the extra pick to acquire him we felt was important. ..

“We were calling around and were able to find a trade partner – maybe an unlikely trade partner, and were able to make it work.”

Tonight the Patriots as of now will pick near the end of the second round (No. 63) and third (No. 95).

“It’s going to be a lot like tonight,” Wolf said. “We’re going to have to watch a lot of names come off the board before we can make something happen.”

Meanwhile, all are happy with what happened last night, as Lomu is glad the Patriots selected him after passing up on a visit.

“Their team is going to fight for the playoffs every single year,” he said. “That’s the type of team I want to be on.”