The New England Patriots‘ rookie minicamp got underway on Friday, and there were several interesting observations. One of the major observations was that rookie Caleb Lomu was strictly getting reps at the left tackle position. This was reported by PatsPulpit’s Brian Hines.
Lomu’s natural spot this season was at left tackle. He played all 12 games at left tackle for Utah in 2025 and allowed no sacks on 357 pass-blocking snaps. He was praised for his punch and the way he fired his hands as part of his game.
Now, it appears as though he is practicing at left tackle for the Patriots as well, as rookie minicamp is in full swing.
Patriots first round pick Caleb Lomu spent the entire practice at left tackle, the position he primarily played at Utah. Lomu has spent the pre-draft process cross-training at both tackle spots and his long-term projection in New England currently falls at right tackle with last year’s No. 4 overall pick Will Campbell holding down the left side.
The Patriots Current Situation On The Line
The left tackle position makes sense for the rookie. The Patriots have a cornerstone at the right tackle position and will Campbell. The team also needs depth at left tackle. Morgan Moses is 35 years old. Moses had a really good season last year for the Patriots, allowing only one sack and generating 29 pressures over 1,002 snaps. He also only had eight penalties the entire season. As it stands right now, the Patriots have their guy at the left tackle spot.
However, age is definitely a factor. The Patriots need to develop Lomu right now. That way, he can be ready to take over when Moses retires. He should definitely be a staple on a line that features a mix of veteran and younger players. For instance, left tackle Will Campbell is entering his sophomore season. Center Jared Wilson is also entering his sophomore season. Mike Onwenu is entering the final year of his deal in the meantime. Alijah Vera-Tucker was signed in free agency to be a veteran presence on a young line. The Patriots have a unique mix of players on the unit.
This minicamp is important for players like Lomu. This can allow them to develop before training camp begins. Training camp is when things go at a quicker pace and can really put rookies to the test. Lomu may have to be tested sooner rather than later, with depth at the right tackle position not as strong as in other areas.
Development Will Be Important For Patriots Rookie
It will certainly be fun to watch and develop over the course of the next couple of weeks. He was viewed as a priority draft pick for the Patriots. They were determined not to let him out of their sight or off their board. Working with offensive line coach Doug Marone should be able to help low move succeed at a high level. It will be important for the Patriots to really establish good habits with the lineman over the next couple of weeks, especially with his first training camp on the horizon.
It will be interesting to see how his work at left tackle correlates to the regular season. Of course, he is still trying to get reps at the position and get his feet wet in the league. With that being said, one has to wonder if he will be ready to take on the challenge of the NFL.
Patriots Rookie Already Taking Over Critical Position at Camp