The batch of rookies from this year's draft class hasn't gotten Patriots fans all that excited, especially in comparison to those taken in the last few years. Granted, some of that is due to already having an apparent franchise quarterback and mostly established starters across the board, but there has been some hype around their most recent first-round draft pick, Caleb Lomu.
Although he isn't expected to be a Year 1 starter, he is showcasing his versatility across the offensive line by jumping from the left and right sides. But he is seemingly being groomed to take over for Morgan Moses at right tackle, which is certainly a good thing.
For much of the offseason, he has made headlines for his performance and what appears to be a seamless transition to the NFL, with some analysts thinking he could steal starting reps from those already in that role.
But the latest update suggests something different, and maybe it was too good to be true, and that's why it's coming crashing down at this point. Regardless, Boston Sports Journal's Greg Bedard recently sounded the alarm about Lomu's development, and it might be time to re-evaluate just how quickly he could play a vital role in the offense.
Caleb Lomu might be falling behind at training camp as the summer progresses
After attending over a week's worth of training camp, the seasoned reporter didn't have the most glowing review of Lomu's most recent performance.
In fact, he had the complete opposite to say, claiming that the rookie has started to fall behind, even trending in the wrong direction, and that's a major concern for someone who is supposed to become a vital part of the offensive line's future.
“It’s safe to say Caleb Lomu is trending in the wrong direction. He has lost 5 1-1 reps decisively in the last 3 practices…that’s a boatload.”
While it's not entirely unexpected for a rookie to have ups and downs at training camp, there is a bit more pressure on a first-rounder to perform at a high level immediately, prompting plenty of concerns about how ready Lomu is going to be for the season ahead.
He's fortunate to be in a position where he isn't needed right away and was drafted more as a future anchor of the offensive line than as an immediate contributor. Hence, his setbacks aren't as worrisome as they otherwise would be.
But at the same time, with practices ramping up, hearing that he's falling behind could become more of an issue if it continues, and that could lead the Patriots to look at free agents for some more trusted depth on the line.
That would be the worst-case scenario, and from how good Lomu looked in the spring, there's a chance he can turn things around fairly quickly, and that's the hope. Otherwise, there might be a new hurdle the team will have to overcome, and it's far from what they need after a season that ended with a weak performance from their linemen.
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