New England Patriots select Utes OT Caleb Lomu 28th overall in NFL draft
Apr 23, 2026, 8:51 PM | Updated: Apr 24, 2026, 11:27 am
Utah football's freshman left tackle Caleb Lomu. Photo by Joel Davidson
PITTSBURGH — Utah’s offensive line didn’t just see one lineman selected in Thursday’s opening round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Not long after the Utes’ Spencer Fano became the 11th player selected in the first round in program history, Caleb Lomu made it a dozen when the New England Patriots selected the offensive tackle with the No. 28 overall pick during the first round of the NFL Draft.
A strong pass blocker who measured at 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds at the NFL Draft Combine, Lomu arrived in Salt Lake City three years ago and earned a starting position at left tackle after redshirting ahead of the 2024 season.
He went on to earn All-Big 12 first-team honors as a sophomore in 2025, when Lomu allowed just eight pressures and zero sacks in 357 pass blocking attempts, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Pats traded the No. 31 and No. 125 picks to the Buffalo Bills to select Lomu at No. 28, marking the first time in Utah program history a duo have been selected in the first round of the same draft.
Patriots select Caleb Lomu in 2026 NFL Draft
The NFL Draft was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from April 23–25. The event was televised on ESPN, ABC, and the NFL Network.
With the 28th overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft, the @Patriots select @Utah_Football offensive lineman Caleb Lomu! 🙌#NFLDraft #GoUtes
📸 Deseret News pic.twitter.com/oyoZNBJZ5E
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 24, 2026
Lomu is the 48th offensive lineman from Utah to be taken in the draft, and the school’s fourth first-round selection since 2022.
The former Utes star will join a Patriots team that posted a 14-3 record in 2025, including a first-place finish in the AFC East and a berth in the AFC championship game behind rising quarterback Drake Maye.
About Caleb Lomu
Originally from Gilbert, Arizona, Lomu attended Highland High School, where he was a four-star prospect according to 247 Sports.
He was ranked as the second-best prospect from the state of Arizona, the 14th-ranked offensive lineman, and the 164th overall prospect in the country.
Lomu played just three games as a true freshman, seeing snaps on offense and special teams.
In 2024, he would get the starting left tackle spot with the Utes and never looked back. In 2025, Lomu started every game, allowing zero sacks and just six hurries.
Lomu was named to the All-Big 12 First Team last season.
Caleb Lomu at the NFL Scouting Combine
- Height: 6′ 6 1/4″
- Weight: 313 lbs
- Arm: 33 3/8″
- Hand: 9 1/2″
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.99 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.74 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 32.5″
- Broad Jump: 9′ 5″
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