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Patriots Draft Tackle Caleb Lomu 28th Overall

5/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The New England Patriots chose tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
At a May 7, 2026 press conference at Gillette Stadium, owners Robert and Jonathan Kraft gave Lomu a jersey.
The Patriots obtained Lomu by trading their 31st-overall and 125th-overall picks to the Buffalo Bills, a tackle.
Lomu flew to Boston on American Airlines flight 2701 where pilot Curtis Tanner announced him and presented a pin.

History

Historical Context

The Patriots’ recent 2025-26 draft trades echo a pattern dating back to the 1971 NFL draft, when the then-Boston Patriots used the first overall pick on Heisman winner Jim Plunkett (the draft was held Jan 28-29, 1971). The franchise has chosen first overall five times—including Drew Bledsoe in 1993—and has made 73 first-round selections, a legacy that shapes its modern asset-leveraging strategy.

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Story summary

The New England Patriots chose tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
At a May 7, 2026 press conference at Gillette Stadium, owners Robert and Jonathan Kraft gave Lomu a jersey.
The Patriots obtained Lomu by trading their 31st-overall and 125th-overall picks to the Buffalo Bills, a tackle.
Lomu flew to Boston on American Airlines flight 2701 where pilot Curtis Tanner announced him and presented a pin.

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