49ers take Caleb Lomu. Again. In another NFL.com mock draft

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: Caleb Lomu of Utah poses for a portrait during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images) | Getty Images At this point, Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu might as well be on the San Francisco 49ers’ roster already. This time, it’s NFL.

com’s Mike Band putting San Francisco in the Utah offensive tackle’s corner with their first-round pick. If you’ve been following along with the mock draft season — and at this point it really is the new March Madness — you already know the drill. Lomu is a first-round talent with legitimate pass-blocking chops and run blocking that still needs some cooking.

Here’s what Band says about the pick: Offensive line stands out as one of San Francisco’s clearest needs after the free agency frenzy, especially with no clear long-term succession plan in place behind Trent Williams, who turns 38 in July and is currently in something of a contact standoff. Lomu would give Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch a high-upside tackle to develop behind the All-Pro left tackle while also reinforcing a front that looks thinner than it has in years. Look, I don’t hate Lomu as a prospect.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the pass protection is real, and that matters. But here’s the wrinkle — this is Kyle Shanahan’s offense. The run game isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s the whole foundation.