The New England Patriots selected offensive lineman Caleb Lomu with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Lomu, who spent his collegiate career at Utah, was the ninth offensive lineman selected in the first round, clocking in behind the Cleveland Browns’ Spencer Fanu (No. 9), New York Giants’ Francis Mauigoa (No. 10), Miami Dolphins’ Kadyn Proctor (No. 12), Baltimore Ravens’ Olaivavega Ioane (No. 14), Detroit Lions’ Blake Miller (No. 17), Carolina Panthers’ Monroe Freeling (No. 19), Pittsburgh Steelers’ Max Iheanachor (No. 21), and Houston Texans’ Keylan Rutledge (No. 26).

Lomu, a two-year starter, is considered an above-average athlete that uses his quickness to stay in front of speed rushers and reach interior defensive lineman in the running game. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote that he “struggled to play with consistent aggression or leg drive as a run blocker” during his two seasons as a starter, though he “has consistent snap timing, with the mirror quickness to stay in front of wide speed and the body control to catch his balance and recover.”

The Patriots consider him the right tackle of the future, once again backing 2025 first-round pick Will Campbell.

“Will’s our left tackle,” Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said, per team-provided video.

New England traded up in order to get their guy, sending No. 31 and No. 125 to the Buffalo Bills. Wolf’s staff will have nine picks to work with across the remainder of the weekend: No. 63, No. 95, No. 131, No. 171, No. 191, No. 198, No. 202, No. 212, and No. 247.

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