Kansas City Chiefs could draft Caleb Lomu with redshirt plan in mind

The Kansas City Chiefs taking an offensive tackle at No. 9 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft shouldn’t be out of the question. However, that player might not be there. With questions around Francis Mauigoa staying at tackle long term, and that, in turn, making Spencer Fano the default tackle No. 1, the Chiefs might not have a great tackle target even if they wanted to draft one at pick 9.

However, the back half of the first round and the early part of the second round have some interesting names that could fall to pick 40 or close to it: Kaydn Proctor, Monroe Freeling, Blake Miller, Max Iheanachor, and Caleb Lomu. All of them have their flaws, but with development, they could grow into starting tackles.

The Chiefs should view Jaylon Moore as a luxury that sets the floor high for their tackle play. Yes, we saw Esa Pole come in and contribute, but we also saw the Chiefs start five different tackles last year. Even with Pole, there is a need for long-term depth. The Chiefs could look for their long-term right tackle in Round 2 or by trading back into the first round. Lomu makes a lot of sense in that role.

To keep close tabs on the 2026 NFL Draft and the top prospects for the Kansas City Chiefs, make sure to bookmark our Arrowhead Addict Big Board. Our custom big board is tailored toward the Chiefs’ needs and thresholds.

NFL Draft Profile: Caleb Lomu, Offensive Tackle. Utah

Age: 21 (on draft day)

Height: 6-6 (listed)

Weight: 308 LBS. (listed)

Tape Exposure: Texas Tech (2025), Baylor (2025), UCLA (2025)

Shades of: Eric Fisher

Caleb Lomu's background

Lomu attended Highland High School in Gilbert, Arizona, where he played mostly left tackle. Rated as a four-star prospect by 247 Sports and the second overall prospect in the state, he committed to Utah. Lomu redshirted as a freshman before earning the starting left tackle position as a redshirt freshman. Lomu earned first-team All–Big 12 honors in 2025. He declared for the NFL Draft on December 16, 2025.

Caleb Lomu's strengths

Movement Skills

Lomu is a gifted athlete for his size. Despite being tall, he’s fluid in his kick step and never looks hurried. Utah uses quite a bit of tackle pull action to use the strengths of him and Fano. He displays the foot quickness and range to extend his set and widen the arc versus high-side rushers.

NFL Frame

Has the classic “basketball build” you like to see in a tackle. Very little bad weight on him and no apparent length concerns on tape. He has plenty of room to add weight and strength at the NFL level.

Technique/IQ

One of his best traits is his hand usage and his ability to adapt. You can see him struggle early in games with players like Romello Height and David Bailey. Yet, he learns their moves and adapts to them, figuring out how to counter their strengths with his own.

Caleb Lomu's weaknesses

Play Strength

There’s a noted lack of power in his game at the point of attack. He doesn’t bring the amount of punch you’d like to see on initial contact and can get walked back by a bull rush. He doesn’t always bring the fight to the rusher and can be impacted by blitzers.

Scheme

With only two years of starting experience in the run-heavy and RPO-heavy Utah offense, he has only 301 true pass sets, categorized as non-RPO, non–play-action pass sets against four rushers or more. Lomu has 800 pass-blocking snaps total in his college career, but two-thirds of those are considered easier pass protection assignments (RPO, screens, and rollouts). For reference, Josh Simmons had 400 true pass sets in his three years as a starter.

Pass Set Inconsistency

Tends to drift too far back in the pocket, making him vulnerable to inside moves. He also bends at the waist at times with his longer frame, causing him to lose the leverage battle.

How does Caleb Lomu fit with the Chiefs?

Lomu has only ever played left tackle at Utah, which raises the question of where he would play for the Chiefs. Would he or Josh Simmons (who played right tackle in college) have to move to the other side? Again, the luxury of developing a tackle with a redshirt year could be the biggest win of the Jaylon Moore contract. It’s also not an automatic lock that Josh Simmons will be ready to go for a full season after his absence from the team last year. Lomu, in the second round on a redshirt year, is getting ahead of a potential need next year and adding depth to a position the Chiefs have struggled with for years.

Caleb Lomu possesses strong body control, balance, and recovery, with quick feet to widen the arc versus speed and reset hands and hips versus power. He moves well in zone runs but needs more consistent pass sets and better play strength in the run game.

Round Grade: Green Chip (second-round pick)