New England Patriots rookies were allowed to come to the facility for the first time on Thursday afternoon. As a result, fans were able to get a chance to see the rookies arriving. The Patriots’ social media team posted a video of rookie offensive lineman and first-round selection, Caleb Lomu, arriving.
Lomu was a highly sought-after player not only in New England, but also the rest of the NFL. The Patriots were determined to get their player, and they were able to do so. They aggressively traded up from the 31st selection to the 28th in a move with the Buffalo Bills. Now, he is ready to embark on the first steps of his NFL career, as noted by the video.
Patriots Rookie Has Excelled Under Pressure
There are some question marks regarding his game. Some do not view Lomu as a traditional offensive lineman. With that being said, he is still a very talented player. He fills a couple needs for the Patriots. For one, Morgan Moses is 35 years old, and may not take over the right tackle spot much longer. Although Moses played well last season, the Patriots need depth at the position.
There are options at the position to be fair. Lomu should undoubtedly help with the depth there. Dametrious Crownover and Marcus Bryant also have the ability to play the position. Cronwnover is a rookie as well, having been drafted by the organization in the sixth round with the 196th overall selection.
With that being said, this puts pressure on Lomu. The rookie has the talent to play right away, and he has played in high-stakes situations. For the most part, he has excelled in them. He allowed only eight pressures the entire year in 12 starts at left tackle. He did not surrender a sack, despite facing some of the best competition in the Big 12.The lineman had an 82.1 pass blocking grade, as well as 98.9 pass blocking efficiency, according to statistics from Pro Football Focus.
The Future Is Now For Patriots
The Patriots certainly have a promising prospect on their hands in Lomu. Now, rookie minicamp will allow him to be able to get adjusted and get prepared for training camp. One of the more intriguing things about all of this is that he will get an opportunity to work with offensive line coach Doug Marrone. The latter improved the Patriots’ offensive line last season, and will look to do the same in his second year at the position.
If anything, this means that football season is getting closer. It’s hard to believe, given that the Super Bowl was only three months ago. However, the Patriots are beginning to look towards their future. The Patriots drafted intriguing rookies this past April, and Lomu is certainly one of them.
This week’s minicamp could provide us with a glimpse into the future of what the offensive line will look like. Lomu played at a high level in college. Now it’s about translating that skill set over to the NFL. If he can play as he did at the collegiate level, the Patriots will have found a gem on their hands.
Caleb Lomu’s First Moments as a Patriot Have Fans Fired Up