The Patriots spent the offseason trying to shore up an offensive line that needed help, and that push has already created a tricky situation for first-round pick Caleb Lomu.
New England’s move to add versatile lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker points to a starting five that now includes Jared Wilson at center, with the rest of the group staying intact. That setup leaves Will Campbell’s long-term spot at left tackle still open to debate, which is part of why the Patriots used their first-round pick on Lomu.
But there’s a catch: Lomu is projected to be a backup swing tackle, not an immediate starter. With Campbell expected to stay on the left side and Morgan Moses locked in at right tackle, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton went as far as to tag Lomu as a bust before Week 1.
That’s not exactly the kind of label a rookie wants hanging over him before he’s played a snap, and Moton’s reasoning is rooted in the depth chart. As he put it:
"So, if Campbell and right tackle Morgan Moses are healthy, Lomu won't see the field. He doesn't have notable experience at guard and didn't take reps on the interior during the spring.
Unless New England changes its tune about Campbell's status as a starter, Lomu will be a wasted pick for at least this year."
It’s a harsh forecast, but one that lines up with how the Patriots appear to view Lomu right now. He was drafted as a depth option with the upside to become a starter later on, and there has been talk about him eventually replacing Moses after the upcoming season.
That would give New England long-term answers at both tackle spots, which is why the pick still makes sense on paper. The downside is obvious, though: using a first-rounder on a player who may not be in the starting lineup until Year 2 is not usually the kind of return teams want.
Still, Moton’s prediction seems aimed more at Lomu’s immediate role than his NFL future. If things break a certain way, Lomu could eventually step in for Campbell at left tackle. Or he could end up as Moses’ successor if Campbell keeps the job on the left side.
Either way, the Patriots’ offensive line questions are still very much alive, and Lomu’s path to the field is not as straightforward as a first-round pick usually hopes for.
In Other News...
Bruins Front Office Shakeup Just Sent A Bigger Message
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Just as notable, the organization is also making changes upstairs, the kind that usually says as much about direction as any lineup tweak. Add in Matej Blumels decision to head back to Czechia on a four-year deal with HC Sparta Praha after four seasons in North America, and it is clear this is a Bruins offseason with more moving parts than usual, even before the bigger questions around the roster and front office fully settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Just Got A Concerning Sign About This Offseason
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The bigger concern is what the offseason still does not answer. A recent ranking of the leagues offseason improvements placed the Bruins 17th, a reminder that the work done so far may not be enough if the team is serious about pushing back into contention. Boston still looks like it could use more help at right-shot defense and down the middle, and unless those gaps are filled, the Bruins may enter the season with more questions than the moves have solved. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Bring Back Connor Clifton And Fans Know This Debate Too Well
Connor Clifton is back in Boston on a two-year deal, a familiar kind of move for a Bruins blue line that has long leaned on players the staff already knows. Cliftons first run with the club gave him a reputation as a depth defenseman who could handle playoff minutes, and his history here still matters because Boston has seen him in bigger moments than the average bottom-pairing option.
The question, of course, is whether this is the kind of familiarity that actually moves the needle or just another safe bet from a front office that has often preferred the known quantity. Cliftons path through Buffalo and Pittsburgh only sharpened that debate, and his return leaves the Bruins once again weighing experience against the possibility of a younger, higher-upside answer on the back end. [Read more 🡒]