Now that most of the biggest pit stops of the 2026 NFL offseason are in the rearview mirror, the Patriots have a list of other things to look forward to, one of which just happened last week, which was rookie mini camp.
Although there might not be an incredible amount of excitement around this year's draft class compared to others over the last few years, there is still an interest in how the team will use some of the more notable additions, particularly on the offensive line.
That is especially true with Caleb Lomu, the career left tackle the Patriots took in the first round, who many immediately deemed to be their choice to succeed Morgan Moses at right tackle after the upcoming season. On top of that is Dametrious Crownover, who spent his time at Texas A&M at right tackle with the expectation to be a swing tackle for New England's offense.
However, based on what was seen at minicamp last week, that doesn't appear to be exactly what they have plans for, which might be a good thing, depending on who you ask.
Patriots rookie offensive linemen start out at their given positions rather than their early projected roles
From what was seen on the field in Foxboro, it looks like the offense has a plan for Lomu and Crownover, and it's not what we initially thought.
According to reports, the first-rounder was participating only in drills at left tackle, while Crownover was exclusively on the right, sticking with the position they entered the draft with the most experience.
It makes the most sense, and it might just be where they start out, but we'll see some more flexibility as time goes on. That would be the best-case scenario, since there's no real reason to believe that Lomu will replace Will Campbell at this time, and there hadn't been much discussion about Crownover replacing Moses next year.
Regardless, seeing them play across the line will be crucial to maintaining an improved offensive line for the 2026 season, something Drake Maye hasn't exactly been afforded over the last two years.
That should change in Year 3 for the quarterback, and how the rest of the offseason goes will certainly indicate if the team made the right moves to ensure that happens.
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