New England Patriots select offensive tackle Caleb Lomu from Utah in first round of NFL Draft

The New England Patriots selected offensive tackle Caleb Lomu from Utah with the 28th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night.

The Patriots traded up from 31 to select Lomu to boost their offensive line. They sent that selection and a fourth round pick to the Buffalo Bills to move up to 28.

Lomu is 21 years old, weighs 313 pounds and is 6'6". He played two seasons with Utah, starting 24 of 27 games. 

The Patriots' offensive line struggled to protect quarterback Drake Maye in the playoffs last season. Lomu did not allow a sack last season. 

"Drake Maye is such a talented quarterback. I'm so excited to be able to work with him every day," Lomu told reporters Thursday night. "I'm going to do everything that I can to protect him."

Lomu said he loves Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel after speaking with him in meetings. 

"He started asking me questions, was getting on me a little bit. Right after he was all smiles, he came up to me, shook my hand, and said 'Really good job,'" Lomu said. "I loved it, he was a very serious guy, and he's an amazing coach, and I can't wait to be able to play for him."

He explained that the Patriots are the exact type of team he wants to be on.

"A competitive team that's willing to work and take that extra step and get that far into the season," Lomu said. "I'm excited to get there and get to work and get the whole thing rolling."

Before the draft started, Vrabel spoke to reporters around 7:30 p.m., hours after new controversial photos with NFL reporter Dianna Russini surfaced. While he did not address his relationship with Russini or the pictures, Vrabel did say that "my previous actions don't meet the standard that I hold myself to."

"I take accountability for my actions and the actions that caused a distraction to the people that I care most about, my family, this football team, the organization, and our fans," Vrabel said.

Vrabel will miss Day 3 of the draft Saturday to attended counseling with his family.

An NFL spokesperson said that the league isn't looking into the matter, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told ESPN that the situation does not fall under the personal conduct policy.

Russini has since resigned from her job as an NFL insider for The Athletic.