The New England Patriots moved up three spots in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to land Utah star OT Caleb Lomu. It was yet another move to bolster the offensive line and keep Drake Maye out of harm's way.
The Patriots signed veterans Alijah Vera-Tucker and James Hudston to strengthen the trenches. So, watching them give up assets to add another tackle to the mix sends a clear message: They're expecting a major turnaround.
That means the writing is on the wall for Morgan Moses. They're still committed to Will Campbell at tackle, so adding Lomu to the mix might mean that they know that Moses may not even finish his contract in Foxborough.
Morgan Moses is Getting Older, and the Patriots Have His Replacement
Moses will be 35 next season. He's signed through the 2027 season, but the Patriots can release him after 2026 and will only be on the hook for $1.4 million in dead money, according to Spotrac. They can also even find him a trade suitor as a place-holder for a team needing a veteran tackle.
Of course, this doesn't have anything to do with his performance. Last season, Pro Football Focus gave him a respectable 74 overall grade, which ranked 27th among 89 eligible OTs. He ranked 17th as a run-blocker (77.1), and he only allowed five QB hits and one sack in 621 pass-blocking snaps.
That said, the Patriots seem convinced that Campbell can be their left tackle for years to come. And even if that's not the case, they can always move Vera-Tucker to that spot and shift Campbell to the inside.
Lomu is a natural left tackle, but there's no way they will give him that role right out of the gate after using a top-five pick on Campbell just a year ago. It's more likely that they want him to sit for a year while he makes the transition to the right. He'll get to learn from a proven veteran like Moses before taking his spot next season.
Granted, this was somewhat predictable. The Patriots are getting younger, and Moses wasn't going to be a part of their long-term plans anyway. They know they will face a much tougher schedule this season, so it makes sense to keep him around for just enough time to protect Maye while his replacement gets used to life in the NFL.
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