The New England Patriots have a lot going on at the moment, and that includes a potential shuffle along the offensive line. Last week’s camp saw first-round Caleb Lomu exclusively take reps at left tackle, and it may be a sign that Will Campbell could eventually be moving inside to guard after a troubling end to his rookie season.
But while Campbell’s future at tackle may be up in the air because of Lomu’s presence (and Lomu may not stick at left tackle), he may have an unexpected competitor in sixth-round pick Dametrious Crownover.
The Texas A&M product adds depth along the Patriots' offensive line heading into the upcoming season, and his projection as a fourth- or fifth-round pick made him one of the best steals in the draft, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.
“Another gigantic tackle, Crownover keeps his massive frame under control off the edge and brings real potential as a run blocker,” Brugler wrote in an article on Monday morning. He’s another player who could perform immediately as a swing tackle before blossoming into something more.”
Dametrious Crownover could be another threat to Will Campbell’s future at tackle
Crownover lasted until the sixth round of the draft, but he put together some solid tape before a rough final season at Texas A&M. According to Pro Football Focus, Crownover posted an overall grade of 77.0 during the 2023 season and 75.3 during the 2024 season.
He was even better in pass protection with 31 pressures and one sack allowed in 540 pass-blocking snaps between the two seasons, but things unraveled during the 2025 campaign.
A 65.2 overall grade showed how much Crownover slipped during his final season but so did his pass protection numbers that saw him allow 27 pressures and two sacks in 407 pass-blocking snaps. Even more alarming was that his 11 penalties were almost double the previous three seasons combined (6).
Still, Brugler had Crownover ranked as his No. 14 offensive tackle thanks to his raw tools, and it could leave him as a developmental project on the right side. Morgan Moses is entering his age-35 season, and if Father Time comes crashing down on him, Crownover will have his opportunity to validate those claims and add questions about Campbell’s future.
If Lomu stays at left tackle during the full-squad workouts, it could leave Campbell looking for a new home. While right tackle could be an option, the Patriots might want to get Crownover on the field if he shows the upside they’re expecting.
If both tackle spots are filled, guard may be his best option. But even that gets complicated with the arrival of free agent Alijah Vera-Tucker.
A lot needs to happen for this to play out, and it could be that there was a good reason why Crownover lasted until the sixth round. But if he’s the sleeper Brugler believes, it brings some very difficult conversations that could affect Campbell’s future.
Add us as a preferred source on Google