The New England Patriots eked out a big-time win in Buffalo against Josh Allen and his Bills, 29-26 in Week 4 of the NFL season. In the process. Mike Vrabel said emphatically that they got right back in the race for the AFC East title.
Yet one flaw remains: the offensive line's consistent underperformance. It's time to focus on the right side.
The Patriots extended backup offensive lineman Ben Brown's contract in the offseason. The Raiders signed Brown to their practice squad in 2024. He is what he is: a backup-quality player, proving to be just fine against Buffalo, starting in place of the injured Mike Onwenu and Greg Van Roten.
But he's not the only offensive lineman who's not making the grade. The entire O-line is underperforming. They gave up 21 pressures on quarterback Drake Maye, a career high 21 for him. Brown's right-side linemate, Morgan Moses, isn't doing enough either.
The New England Patriots have a right side offensive line problem
Revamping an offensive line that surrendered 47 regular-season and 21 postseason sacks in 2025 was a major 2026 offseason priority. The Patriots did far too little.
They brought back four starters from that 2025 unit (Jared Wilson moved from left guard to center), when they needed a major overhaul. Elijah Vera-Tucker was the only starter added at left guard, and he hasn't distinguished himself much so far.
The O-line still can't open holes for the backs on offense (Vera-Tucker's supposed forte), and the pass blocking still has quarterback Drake Maye scrambling for his life far too often. That was clear against Buffalo.
It's a situation fraught with danger, as the Patriots learned in 2025, when Maye's postseason shoulder injury wrecked any chance they had of winning the Super Bowl.
The Patriots smartly drafted Caleb Lomu, a Utah Offensive left tackle, in the 2026 draft's first-round. Finally, he's getting more reps, but mostly as a tackle-eligible. It's not enough. He should start at right guard over Brown at a minimum, or be inserted at right tackle over Moses. It's time.
Lomu allowed zero sacks in 2025 for the Utes. Pass-blocking is his forte, and while the NFL isn't the Big 12 Conference, Lomu has the size and talent to start now.
Next season, Lomu will be the Patriots' right tackle, unless the team decides to move current left tackle Will Campbell to guard. Buffalo's Greg Rousseau torched Campbell, and the jury is still out on whether he has the wherewithal to excel at left tackle in the NFL.
If not, Campbell can easily slide inside to guard, and Lomu, a college left tackle, can start in his place.
For now, though, starting Lomu at right guard is the Patriots' best play for 2026. Let's see if they have the perspicacity to realize it. The prime imperative, as always, is to protect the franchise, Drake Maye.
It may just be too much to ask of them to actually make that type of sound decision with Lomu.
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