For the second consecutive season, the New England Patriots bolstered the offensive line with their first-round picks. They used the No. 4 pick to select LSU star Will Campbell in 2025 and doubled down on that approach by trading up to select Caleb Lomu at No. 28 a couple of months ago.
Clearly, keeping Drake Maye safe is priority No. 1 in Foxborough.
Unlike his fellow Utah Ute Spencer Fano, Lomu went mostly overlooked in the pre-draft process. Fano went No. 9 and will shift to the blind-side protector role, which used to belong to Lomu. Ironically, Lomu will move to right tackle in the pros, at least at first. However, the team has also worked him out at guard and as a jumbo tight end.
Regardless of where he's played, and even though he was mostly a developmental player at first, it looks like he's making a strong impression. Per Audacy's Justin Turpin, his veteran teammates have noticed the hard work, so it wouldn't be shocking to see him create a bit of an OL logjam at some point.
Caleb Lomu draws praise from Patriots' veteran linemen
“Really good player. I like his attitude. He’s not a guy who is going to complain or let his bad plays get to him,” Alijah Vera-Tucker said. “He’s going to move on to the next one. And that’s what you need in this league. He does a good job of just keeping his head down and paying attention. When his role is called, he’ll be ready.”
Lomu gave up a grand total of zero sacks in 357 pass-blocking snaps in his final season in college. He gave up two in the previous campaign, an immaculate record to put together one of the CFP's sturdiest offensive fronts since he took over as a starter.
The Patriots are still fully committed to Will Campbell. His rookie season was a bit of a mixed bag, and there are legitimate concerns about his shorter arms, but for the time being, he'll remain at the top of the pecking order at left tackle.
That said, there's a path for Lomu to get on the field at some point next season. Morgan Moses is aging and the obvious odd man out, but with an additional year left on his three-year, $24 million contract, he can still be a valuable trade chip for teams looking for help in the trenches.
The Patriots are managing the 35-year-old's workload in training camp, creating more opportunities for Lomu to climb the depth chart. The writing is on the wall, and even Moses has taken the rookie under his wing:
“Caleb has been a big addition to our offensive line. Just getting him comfortable and letting him understand that we’re going to work together. We’re going to work together on the field and in the film room, too,” Moses said. “He’s done a great job just coming in and putting his best foot forward.”
Of course, moving on from a veteran to roll with two inexperienced tackles would be a bold gamble, more so for a team looking to return to Super Bowl contention. Still, Mike Vrabel is a player's coach, and he'll reward whoever gives the team a better chance to win, regardless of experience or pedigree.
The Patriots went from not having enough options up front to having a bit too many. Even Alijah Vera-Tucker can play some tackle if Campbell struggles again and shows he might be better suited to move to the interior.
Whatever the case, Lomu's eagerness to learn and determination to give his all, regardless of the position, haven't gone overlooked. He still has to prove himself when it actually counts, but it sounds like he's already ahead of schedule.
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