With less than two weeks before the 2026 NFL Draft, our annual Community Mock Draft is getting closer to the end of the first round. As a reminder, our Community Mock Draft is where 31 of our most loyal commenters are acting as general manager of 31 different teams, while Erik Schlitt manages the Detroit Lions. So if you want to be a part of this exercise next year, be sure to join our community and be an active participant!
The San Francisco 49ers are on the clock with the 27th overall pick in the first
round. Representing the 49ers this year is commenter Lions4life1124.
Before we get to the pick, head to our 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker. There you’ll find the previous 26 picks, along with links to each article and a grade for each pick, as decided by you, the readers. Don’t forget to cast your vote for each pick with the poll at the bottom of the articles.
Now, onto this pick:
With the 27th pick in the 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select Caleb Lomu, offensive tackle out of Utah.
Here’s Lions4life1124 explaining the pick:
The San Francisco 49ers are looking for a succession plan to their future Hall of Fame tackle Trent Williams. So the run on offensive tackles continues as at pick number 27 the fifth tackle comes off the board in the form of Caleb Lomu an offensive tackle out of Utah. With this pick they get one of the true left tackles projected to be picked early in this draft.
Lomu (21) is a redshirt sophomore with 22 college starts under his belt. While watching film on Lomu, you can’t help but see his quick feet for the big man that he is—with a RAS score of 9.88 that ranks him 19th out off all tackles since 1987. This score is higher than his teammate Spencer Fano, who went to the Lions earlier in this draft. The biggest knock on Lomu is his play strength. Cited as more of a positional blocker who doesn’t displace defensive lineman enough to be considered a great run blocker. With that said, his athleticism helps him being able to get position and he is great at pulling around and finding his man. His pass blocking however is excellent. Allowing zero sacks, only two QB hits and six hurries in his final year at Utah he’s a great blindside protector.
The only question is that with Trent Williams still being a great player and the 49ers recently extending right tackle Colton McKivitz, some may say this is a luxury pick and in some ways it is. But with Williams turning 38 before the season starts and niners currently in contract restructuring negotiations with him (again), it’s just a matter of time they are in a big need for a replacement. I believe that guy will be Lomu a young athletic tackle ready to learn from an all time great until it’s his time to play.
Time to grade the pick. Vote in the poll below and share your expanded thoughts in the comment section:
