Utah OT Caleb Lomu was drafted No. 28 by the New England Patriots. Here’s what their GM and NFL analysts think of the pick

31 and No. 125 to select Lomu. In the process, the Patriots helped make University of Utah history, as the selections of Lomu and Spencer Fano (No.

9, Cleveland Browns) marked the first time that two Ute players were picked in the first round of the NFL draft. “Ultimately, with Caleb still on the board, we just felt like giving up the extra pick to make sure that we could acquire him was important,” said Patriots general manager Eliot Wolf. In Lomu, the Patriots are getting a player who has proven himself over two years as the Utes’ starting left tackle.

Named to the All-Big 12 first team after the 2025 season, Lomu allowed only eight pressures and no sacks in his redshirt sophomore season in Salt Lake City. The 6-foot-6, 313-pound Lomu has exceptional athleticism for his size and excels when getting to display that, like when he is blocking in space. Per NFL.

com, Lomu’s combine “production score” was the third-best among offensive tackles and helped him move up some draft boards. Lomu’s footwork and technique pop when watching tape. “Big athletes like this are hard to come by, especially later in the first round like this, so don’t want to set him up for any wild comparisons or anything like that, but just really, really happy that we were able to acquire him,” Wolf said.