The New England Patriots entered mandatory minicamp week with two members of their rookie class still unsigned, but on the eve of their first practice locked up one of them. Caleb Lomu, who was selected 28th overall in the first round in April, put his signature under a four-year rookie pact worth almost $19 million.
Its value is not the only reason why the deal differs from the rest of the Patriots’ rookie contracts. Let’s take a closer look.
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Base value: $18,922,478
Maximum value: $18,922,478
Guarantees: $18,922,478
Base salary: $5,254,136
Roster bonus: $3,446,542
Signing bonus: $10,221,800
2026 (age 21):
Base salary: $885,000
Signing bonus: $2,555,450
Salary cap hit: $3,440,450
2027 (age 22):
Base salary: $1,050,000
Signing bonus: $2,555,450
Roster bonus: $695,113
Salary cap hit: $4,300,563
2028 (age 23):
Base salary: $1,165,000
Signing bonus: $2,555,450
Roster bonus: $1,440,226
Salary cap hit: $5,160,676
2029 (age 24):
Base salary: $2,154,136
Signing bonus: $2,555,450
Roster bonus: $1,311,203
Salary cap hit: $6,020,789
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As opposed to all the other rookie deals handed out by the Patriots after the draft, Lomu’s is guaranteed in its entirety. This is standard practice for players selected in the first round, as is the inclusion of a fifth-year option, which in this case would be for the 2030 season.
New England would have to decide in the spring of 2029 whether or not to make use of it, just like it did with 2023 first-round selection Christian Gonzalez earlier this offseason. If the fully-guaranteed option gets exercised, its value would be determined based on Lomu’s playing time and potential Pro Bowl recognition over his first three years in the NFL.
As for the structure of the deal itself, it is rather straight-forward. The base salary increases each year, while the $10.2 million signing bonus is prorated over the length of the pact. From 2027 on, a roster bonus is also added to the mix — another difference when comparing his deal to the rest of New England’s draft pick pacts, which only consist of salaries and signing bonuses.
Lomu, unlike his fellow draft picks selected from the second through seventh round, is furthermore ineligible to earn a so-called proven performance escalator. This means that his cap impact in 2029 is already set, and will not be subject to change based on his prior contributions to the team.
Lomu will become eligible for a contract extension after the 2028 season.
