What drafting Caleb Lomu in Round 1 means for the Patriots
At No. 28 overall, the Patriots turned to the Utes product.
LAWRENCE, KS - NOVEMBER 28: Utah Utes offensive lineman Caleb Lomu (71) before a Big 12 football game between the Utah Utes and Kansas Jayhawks on November 28, 2025 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, KS. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The 2026 NFL draft got underway up front for the New England Patriots. The war room in Foxborough selected Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu at pick No.
28 overall in the first round on Thursday night. That was the call after moving up in an AFC East trade that sent the rights to No. 31 overall and No.
125 overall to the Buffalo Bills. Here’s an initial look into why and what’s ahead. At 21, a two-year starter on the blindside Lomu, who turned 21 in December, checked into three games during his first fall at Utah.
From there, the former four-star recruit out of Arizona’s Highland High School went on to start all 24 of his appearances at left tackle for the Utes. First-team All-Big 12 honors were collected in 2025. No sacks were, however, with just a pair of quarterback hits let up.