Evaluating players during the early days of training camp is tricky. That is especially true for offensive and defensive linemen, as the NFL requires teams to go through a five-day acclimation period before live contact is allowed. Without pads, there is only so much you can take away from offensive line play.
So yes, there is an obvious caveat.
But that does not mean these early practices are not valuable. And through the first four days of camp, rookie Caleb Lomu has already caught the attention of his teammates.
“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.”
The Patriots moved up from No. 31 to No. 28 to select the 21-year-old, completing a rare interdivision trade with the Buffalo Bills.
Lomu spent the past three seasons at Utah, starting 12 games at left tackle in each of the last two years. He allowed just eight pressures and zero sacks across 357 pass-blocking snaps last season while earning First-Team All-Big 12 honors. After redshirting as a freshman, he appeared in three games as a reserve before becoming the Utes’ full-time left tackle. In 2024, he allowed 17 pressures and two sacks.
Since arriving in New England, the 6-foot-6, 313-pound rookie has embraced whatever role has been asked of him. He has spent most of camp at right tackle while also seeing reps as a jumbo tight end. During the spring, during OTAs and minicamp, he worked at both tackle spots and even took some snaps at guard.
That versatility is something head coach Mike Vrabel wants to continue exploring as the Patriots figure out the best way to use him this season.
“There are a lot of new things, a lot of firsts out there, and things that show up. Try to get him some jumbo tight end work, and he will play some tackle, he will play some guard. We are just going to look at some versatility and see where he fits and how he can help us,” Vrabel said. “But there will be a lot of things that are going to be new to him and some techniques that are different and run schemes and pass protection. So, he is a willing participant, he is a willing learner. He learns quick. He usually does not make the same mistake twice.”
With Morgan Moses — who turned 35 in March and is entering his 13th NFL season, the most of any player on the Patriots’ roster — having his workload managed throughout camp, Lomu has received additional opportunities. The veteran offensive tackle has liked what he has seen.
“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.”
Moses also pointed out how difficult it is for a rookie to handle multiple positions while adjusting to the NFL.
“He’s done well. He’s eager to learn. He’s a talented guy. He’s a smart guy,” Moses said. “He’s coming in, and he’s playing a combination of different positions. That’s hard to do.”
The real test comes Thursday when the Patriots put the pads on for the first time after Wednesday’s day off. That will provide a much clearer picture of where Lomu stands and how he handles the more physical side of offensive line play at the NFL level.
But through the first four days of camp, Lomu has done exactly what the Patriots hoped to see. He has shown versatility, a willingness to learn, and the ability to adjust quickly, earning praise from both the coaching staff and the veterans around him.
