The offensive tackle class in the 2026 NFL Draft is not considered a strong one. There are several players who could step in and start right away, however there’s generally considered to be a drop-off after the initial group of tackles.
Utah left tackle Caleb Lomu is on the periphery of the offensive tackle conversation. Depending on the board, he could be a sleeper who should be a part of the upper tier of tackles, or he could be the best of the lower tier. The New York Giants have their tackle bookends locked in for the immediate future, and probably aren’t considering one right now.
But could they consider Lomu as a developmental tackle? At the very least, we should be aware of him in case he lands with a division rival.
Prospect: Caleb Lomu (71)
Games Watched: vs. UCLA (2025), vs. Texas Tech (2025), vs. West Virginia (2025)
Red Flags: None
Measurables
Strengths
Best traits
- Versatility
- Play strength
- Mobility
- Run blocking
Caleb Lomu is a good-sized, athletic, and versatile offensive tackle prospect. He has good size for the position at 6-foot 5 ¾ inches, 313 pounds, with 33 ⅜ inch arms and 9 ½ inch hands.
He’s also a good all-around athlete with solid quickness and agility, balance when engaged, and play strength. He also has experience at both tackle positions, as he was primarily Utah’s left tackle, but also moved to right tackle in jumbo packages in short yardage situations.
Lomu is able to execute both zone and man-gap blocking schemes, though he seems a bit better fit as a down-hill blocker on man-gap runs. He does a good job of engaging defenders with leverage, extending his arms and seeking their chest plate, then uncoiling to drive them back. He blocks with good toughness and has enough strength to drive edge defenders off the ball.
He also has good-enough feet to mirror most of the pass rushers he saw at the collegiate level. He plays with a wide base, allowing him to absorb bull rushes with the minimum ground lost, and doesn’t over-stride his kick-slide so he can redirect to account for inside rushes.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Consistency
- Experience
- Technique vs. speed
Lomu is a well-rounded tackle prospect, however he also isn’t a finished product just yet.
He still needs to play with greater consistency in pass protection, particularly against speed rushers. Lomu can be a bit prone to lunging or dipping his head against athletic defenders, making it relatively easy for them to slip his blocks. He can also stop his feet against them, which in turn stops his hands, allowing them to take control of the rep.
Lomu is a good athlete, but not quite an elite one. That narrows his margins for error, and increases the importance of playing with excellent technique against NFL caliber pass rushers. In particular, he doesn’t quite have the quick, light feet possessed by the best tackle prospects and can appear to lumber a bit on occasion. He’s also a relatively inexperienced tackle as a red-shirt sophomore and has just two years of starting experience.
Game Tape
(Lomu is the Utah left tackle wearing number 71. This is a condensed game and you will need to skip past Texas Tech’s possessions.)
Projection
Caleb Lomu projects as a developmental tackle at the NFL level.
Lomu’s experience on both sides suggests that he can be developed to be either a left or right tackle at the NFL level. He may only top out as a swing tackle, but even so quality and versatile depth is a valuable thing at the NFL level.
Some teams may view Lomu as a potential guard convert thanks to his frame and play strength, however he should be given the opportunity to win a starting job at tackle first. Lomu’s potential starting upside should get him selected by the end of the third round, and he has the potential to be a good value pick for a team with the environment to develop him.
Does he fit the Giants? Probably not
Final Word: A later Day 2 pick.
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