Patriots sign first-round OT Caleb Lomu to four-year, $18.2M rookie deal
The New England Patriots officially signed their first-round pick on Monday. Caleb Lomu, the offensive tackle out of Utah selected No. 28 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, is under contract on a four-year rookie deal worth $18.2 million with a $9.7 million signing bonus and a $4.5 million average annual value.
The Patriots traded up to land Lomu, sending the No. 31 pick and a fourth-round selection to the Buffalo Bills to move up three spots and ensure he didn’t come off the board before New England was on the clock. It is the second consecutive year the Patriots have invested a first-round pick in an offensive tackle, following Will Campbell at No. 4 overall in 2025.
Lomu, 21, stands 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds. He was a two-year starter at Utah who did not allow a single sack during his 2025 college season, posting an 82.1 PFF pass-blocking grade across 823 snaps.
Patriots signed their first-round pick Caleb Lomu.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 8, 2026
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His known weakness coming out is run blocking, where he graded 62.0 by PFF, which the Patriots flagged internally but considered coachable.
The expectation in New England is that Lomu eventually takes over at right tackle from 35-year-old Morgan Moses.
During the Super Bowl LX playoff run, Drake Maye absorbed 21 sacks, a number that gave the offensive line rebuild urgency heading into the 2026 offseason. Campbell protects the blindside. Lomu is being developed as the answer on the other side.
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