The Patriots selected Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu with their first-round pick (28th overall) in last month's NFL draft.
The Patriots selected Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu with their first-round pick (28th overall) in last month's NFL draft.Michael Conroy/Associated Press
FOXBOROUGH — There have been moments over the last few weeks that made it feel like Caleb Lomu was predestined to land in New England.
On draft night, Lomu’s wife, Kitty, made a map with all 32 NFL teams, so the family could predict his professional destination. Guesses were spread across the map, but Lomu’s wife chose New England.
“Everyone in the family could just get a little sticky note and put their guesses of where they thought I was going to go,” Lomu recalled Thursday. “My wife actually chose New England. She was only one who put her name up on the page, and so that was the sign right there.”
And then, on his flight to New England this week for rookie minicamp, he discovered his uncle, Curtis Tanner, was at the controls for the American Airlines flight that brought him to Boston.
“He’s the type of uncle who is going to embarrass you a little bit, so I knew what was coming” Lomu said with a smile after he found out. “Of course, he got on the intercom and started talking.
“I thought he was going to just talk about me, but he brought me up to the front [of the plane] with him,” he added. “ ‘A proud uncle’ was what he was saying. He’s awesome.”
Our 2026 first round pick 👏 pic.twitter.com/ktdQpIfOkH
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 7, 2026
Fate may have played a role in getting him to Foxborough, but it also helped that the Patriots traded up three spots to land the 6-foot-6-inch, 313-pounder out of Utah with the 28th overall pick. The 21-year-old Lomu was first-team All-Big 12 last season for the Utes, and started 24 games at left tackle the last two seasons.
It marked the second consecutive year the Patriots used a first-round choice on an offensive lineman after taking Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick last year.
At his introductory press conference on the turf at Gillette Stadium, Lomu said it’s been “all excitement” since draft night.
“I’m just ready to get here and finally be here and meet everyone; meet all the great people, coaches, players. It’s been all positive,” he said. “It’s been all super amazing, from draft night until this moment.”
.@CalebLomu51 can't wait to get to work 😤@Utah_Football | @Gillette pic.twitter.com/tlCm68pkEK
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 7, 2026
Lomu and the rest of the rookie class will go through workouts this weekend in advance of the OTA sessions with the rest of the roster later this month. So where might he fit on the Patriots’ offensive line? Lomu was mostly a left tackle in college, but does have some practice experience on the right side.
It’s feasible to suggest Lomu’s rookie campaign in Foxborough could be spent as a swing tackle or backup for Campbell and right tackle Morgan Moses.
“Just having to play left in college, that’s kind of what I got comfortable [with] playing those three years,” Lomu said when asked where he’d be the most comfortable. “My first year there, I was kind of swing tackle. I feel comfortable at left, but I’ve also been working at right tackle these past couple months. So I feel just as good on the right side as well.”
Welcome home @CalebLomu51@Gillette | #NEPats pic.twitter.com/LtVJG1glcc
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 7, 2026
There’s also the possibility Lomu might see some time at guard, a point raised by executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf after the draft. Lomu shrugged when asked about that possibility.
“Any position that they need me at, I’m willing to play, and would love to play,” Lomu said. “There’s five guys, there’s five positions, and any position that I can contribute to help the team, I’m going to do that. Just to get on the field and get some playing time, that’s the goal. Whatever position that they need me to play, to be able to get on the field and play, I’m willing to do.”
Lomu said Campbell was one of several players who sent him a “welcoming text” shortly after he was drafted last month, a group that included quarterback Drake Maye.
“I love the energy that he brings to the team, the talent that he has,” Lomu said of Maye. “I’m excited to be able to protect for him and play with him. He’s such a young guy with so much experience and talent, and so I’m excited for that for many years. He’s young. He’ll be here for a long time, you know? I plan on staying here for a long time as well. I’m excited to be able to meet him here soon in person.”
As the session with the media started to wrap up, Lomu gazed up at the Gillette Stadium scoreboard with his image and name and smiled, enjoying the weather and taking in the moment.
“Just a positive first day. It’s awesome,” he said. “But definitely ready to get under that helmet and get ready to play some ball.”
Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.