28
Caleb LomuT
New England Patriots. 4-year deal worth $18,922,478.
Signing bonus
$10,221,800
Guaranteed
$18,922,478
Year one, paid
$11,106,800
Year one, kept
$5,487,761
Whole contract, after taxes and the agent: 50% of the headline.
Where the money goes
Every 2026 NFL rookie earns the same $885,000 base salary in year one, paid in 18 weekly game checks. After taxes that is about $28,104 a week, during the season only. The real money for a pick like this is the $10,221,800 signing bonus, which lands as one lump sum.
Bonus checks are withheld at a flat 22% federal on the first $1 million and 37% above that, plus Medicare and state tax. Many states tax a signing bonus only where the player lives, which is why where a rookie lives the day it is paid can matter.
These figures assume he lives in Massachusetts, files single, and pays a standard agent fee. Change any of that in the calculator to see your own version.
Quick answers
How much is Caleb Lomu's rookie contract?+
Caleb Lomu, pick 28 in the 2026 NFL draft, signed a 4-year contract worth $18,922,478 with the New England Patriots, including a $10,221,800 signing bonus.
How much does Caleb Lomu take home after taxes?+
About $5,487,761 of the $11,106,800 paid in the first year, and about $9,538,801 of the full $18,922,478 contract, living in Massachusetts and paying a standard agent fee. Estimates for education.
Contract figures from Spotrac, Over The Cap, and Hoops Rumors (2026). Take-home is a KeepMyCheck estimate using 2026 tax rules. Not affiliated with the player, team, or league. Education only.