Utah’s Caleb Lomu selected by New England Patriots with 28th overall pick, making first-round history for Utes

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Utah Utes running back Dijon Stanley (23) celebrates his touchdown with Utah Utes offensive lineman Caleb Lomu (71) against SUU in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024.
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Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Caleb Lomu became the latest former University of Utah star to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft, when the New England Patriots took the offensive tackle with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2026 draft Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

The Patriots traded up three spots with Buffalo to grab Lomu.

In doing so, it was a historic moment for the Utah program.

He joined fellow offensive tackle Spencer Fano, who was taken earlier in the evening with the No. 9 overall pick by the Cleveland Browns.

It’s the first time the Utes have had two first-round draft picks in the same year.

Lomu (6-foot-6.25, 313 pounds) is viewed as a high-level offensive tackle who still hasn’t reached his ceiling.

“Two-year starting left tackle who is still in the early stages of his development,” NFL.com’s Lance Zeirlein wrote about Lomu. “… His anchor was rarely stressed by power and his athletic recoveries are average. Lomu flashes but is still under construction. His play could improve rapidly with strength gains and additional coaching.”

The Gilbert, Arizona, native was a two-year starter at Utah — he started at left tackle in 24 of the 27 games he played for the Utes, including a redshirt season in 2023.

Lomu was an All-Big 12 first-team selection this past season and a midseason freshman All-American in 2024.

Utah was second nationally in rushing, averaging 266.3 yards per game, in his final year with the program.

He declared for the draft following his redshirt sophomore season.

Lomu is the 12th first-round pick in Utah football history.

He is also the fourth Utes offensive tackle to go in Round 1, joining Fano, Jordan Gross (No. 8 overall to the Carolina Panthers in 2003) and Garett Bolles (No. 20 overall to the Denver Broncos in 2017).

“Lomu must get stronger and continue to develop his technique and grit, but NFL teams are understandably intrigued by his movement ability and ready-to-cultivate left tackle skill set,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said in assessing Lomu’s game in his “The Beast” NFL draft preview.

“His upside points to him becoming an NFL starter.”