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A little more than two weeks remain before the New England Patriots begin training camp on July 25, as The Providence Journal continues its weekly, in-depth look at the most interesting position groups on the roster.
This week is a look at the offensive line:
The 2025 fourth overall pick went into last season with high expectations, not only because of his high draft slot but because he would be starting at the most important position on the offensive line — left tackle.
During his rookie season, Campbell, just 21 years old when drafted, was tasked with protecting the blindside of franchise quarterback Drake Maye. Adding that expectation to the already immense pressure he faced just for being the fourth overall pick might have, in hindsight, been asking for too much.
The Patriots at this time last season were viewed as fringe playoff contenders, so any slip-ups Campbell had during the season would have been viewed as part of the developmental process. Then the Patriots started winning more games, and they were gaining more national attention, which meant more scrutiny for those aforementioned slip-ups.
Campbell gave up five sacks, which ranked 64th out of 89 tackles, and allowed 26 pressures, ranked 43rd, in the regular season, according to Pro Football Focus. A performance that definitely deserved some criticism. But when the Patriots ended up winning 14 games, winning the AFC East and earning the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, that criticism became more pronounced as the team prepared to make its eventual Super Bowl run.
The playoffs are where players often kick it into another gear and can make fans and analysts forget about a lackluster season. Campbell was unable to do that, most likely due to the MCL sprain he suffered against the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 23.
A Grade 3 MCL sprain is classified as a complete tear or rupture and the recommended recovery time is 12 weeks or longer, according to Mass General Brigham. Campbell returned to the field in six weeks and the Patriots might have paid the price for a speedy recovery.
Campbell allowed 29 pressures in the postseason, the most ever recorded by Next Gen Stats (since 2016), including 14 in the Super Bowl, the most allowed by any player in the 2025 season.
It was an awful performance that caused many to question whether Campbell could continue playing at left tackle or if he should be moved to guard.
The answer to the question is simple: Campbell will start the season as the Patriots’ left tackle, barring something catastrophic.
Despite all the deserved criticism from local radio show hosts and analysts, Campbell is just 22 and just faced the hardest stretch of defenses that any playoff team has ever faced. All four of the Patriots’ opponents were ranked in the top 10 in terms of points allowed, according to Pro Football Reference.
For a team that surpassed even the highest of expectations last year, Campbell seems to be the only player who didn’t receive praise but accrued the harshest criticism. Expect Campbell to learn from his mistakes and come back with a vengeance as he looks to prove all the doubters wrong.
Moses heads into his 13the season and second with the Patriots after signing a three-year, $24 million contract in the 2025 offseason. He is by far the oldest projected starter on the offensive line and thus acts as a veteran presence for a young position group while also not becoming a liability at the right tackle position.
Moses allowed just one sack during the regular season, but did allow 29 pressures, according to PFF. The 29 pressures ranked him 53rd among all tackles in the regular season.
Despite those lowlights, Moses started all 17 games for the Patriots last season. In his last four seasons, Moses has missed just six of a possible 68 games. If availability truly is the best ability, then Moses, despite his age, is a pivotal part of the Patriots’ offense next year.
Only two of the projected starters on the offensive line — Moses and offensive guard Mike Onwenu — played a full year last season. The Patriots are likely to need another full season from Moses if they want to keep the offense operating as it did last season without having to rely on another rookie tackle in Caleb Lomu.
Onwenu is the longest-tenured Patriot on the offensive line as he heads into his seventh season. He has been a staple for the Patriots at right guard and there’s no reason to assume that will change.
He’s the other veteran presence on this line that can also help the young players on the entire team understand the culture and how to deal with playing in a media market such as Boston.
He allowed two sacks all of last season while allowing 21 pressures, and in the postseason, Onwenu got even better as he allowed zero sacks and hits during the team’s four games, according to PFF.
Onwenu’s place on the field is about as secure as possible. As he heads into the final year of his deal, the former sixth-round pick could have his best season yet.
Vera-Tucker signed with the Patriots for three years and $42 million in a contract that’s heavily laced with incentives based on his ability to stay on the field. He had spent five years with the Jets
He missed all of last season with a torn triceps that he suffered in practice on Sept. 4. Injuries have been the focal point of Vera-Tucker’s career, as he played just 43 games across five seasons. Vera-Tucker has only played double-digit games in a season twice — 2021 and 2024.
In 2024, he had a pressure rate allowed of 2.4%, which was the fourth lowest among all guards, according to PFF. He also had a PFF grade of 77.7, which ranked 10th for all guards.
Vera-Tucker has the potential to be one of the biggest steals of the offseason, while also plugging a massive hole at left guard for the Patriots, so long as he can stay on the field. But that’s the $42 million question: Can Vera-Tucker stay healthy?
The Patriots really hope so, and maybe a change of scenery and a new medical staff will be able to fix that issue. If so, the Patriots might have found their left guard of the future, as Vera-Tucker is just 27 years old.
Lomu was drafted out of the University of Utah with the 28th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. He stands at 6 feet 6 inches and weighs 313 pounds.
Lomu is currently viewed as backup on the offensive line. He was drafted as a left tackle but has the ability to play both sides. Lomu is a developmental pick and this is a perfect situation for him.
He is likely to sit behind and learn from Moses for a good portion, if not all, of this season. There is no reason to rush Lomu into a starting role unless he truly earns it in training camp or if an injury happens.
With Vera-Tucker’s injury history looming over the Patriots, Lomu might be called into action earlier than expected. An injury to Vera-Tucker is likely to force the Patriots to put Lomu in to fill the left or right tackle spot and potentially push Campbell inside to guard. That’s obviously not an ideal situation, but there’s a reason training camp exists. The Patriots should use training camp as an opportunity to develop him at his natural position, while also getting him comfortable playing at guard and right tackle if the team feels he’s a more effective fit there.
The Patriots could view Lomu as a right tackle of the future when Moses eventually retires or regresses due to age, or the left tackle of the future if Campbell continues to struggle, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also view him as a solution if an injury problem were to arise.
Lomu’s reps during training camp and where head coach Mike Vrabel places him on the offensive line during 7-on-7’s and 11-on-11s are going to be followed closely by media and fans alike. During mandatory minicamp, Lomu took reps at right tackle with the starting lineup and lined up at left tackle with the second stringers.
Wilson heads into his second year after being drafted in the third round in 2025 and looks to improve upon a rough season.
In the regular season, Wilson gave up four sacks, seven quarterback hits and 28 pressures as a left guard. In the playoffs, he gave up four sacks and 13 pressures, both of which ranked last among all qualified guards in the postseason, according to PFF.
On the bright side, Wilson will play his natural position of center after the team traded away Garrett Bradbury to the Chicago Bears for a 2027 fifth-round pick. This should result in a massive improvement for Wilson in terms of performance. He can also be insulated from potential mistakes due to Vera-Tucker and Onwenu’s blocking abilities.
Wilson, like Campbell, is young, and moving back to his natural position on the line should help him in terms of his development. In training camp, Wilson will be going up against Milton Williams and Christian Barmore during blocking reps. They are two of the best in the league at the defensive tackle position and thus a great way for Wilson to develop the blocking skills necessary for the Patriots’ much tougher schedule this season.
The Patriots’ offensive line is still a bit of a mystery, especially on the left side. If Vera-Tucker can stay healthy, and Campbell and Wilson continue to develop from abysmal first seasons, the Patriots may have one of the top offenses in the league once again, and Maye might have another MVP-caliber season.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: A look at the Patriots' offensive line before training camp
Continue reading...
This week is a look at the offensive line:
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Will Campbell
The 2025 fourth overall pick went into last season with high expectations, not only because of his high draft slot but because he would be starting at the most important position on the offensive line — left tackle.
During his rookie season, Campbell, just 21 years old when drafted, was tasked with protecting the blindside of franchise quarterback Drake Maye. Adding that expectation to the already immense pressure he faced just for being the fourth overall pick might have, in hindsight, been asking for too much.
The Patriots at this time last season were viewed as fringe playoff contenders, so any slip-ups Campbell had during the season would have been viewed as part of the developmental process. Then the Patriots started winning more games, and they were gaining more national attention, which meant more scrutiny for those aforementioned slip-ups.
Campbell gave up five sacks, which ranked 64th out of 89 tackles, and allowed 26 pressures, ranked 43rd, in the regular season, according to Pro Football Focus. A performance that definitely deserved some criticism. But when the Patriots ended up winning 14 games, winning the AFC East and earning the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, that criticism became more pronounced as the team prepared to make its eventual Super Bowl run.
The playoffs are where players often kick it into another gear and can make fans and analysts forget about a lackluster season. Campbell was unable to do that, most likely due to the MCL sprain he suffered against the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 23.
A Grade 3 MCL sprain is classified as a complete tear or rupture and the recommended recovery time is 12 weeks or longer, according to Mass General Brigham. Campbell returned to the field in six weeks and the Patriots might have paid the price for a speedy recovery.
Campbell allowed 29 pressures in the postseason, the most ever recorded by Next Gen Stats (since 2016), including 14 in the Super Bowl, the most allowed by any player in the 2025 season.
It was an awful performance that caused many to question whether Campbell could continue playing at left tackle or if he should be moved to guard.
The answer to the question is simple: Campbell will start the season as the Patriots’ left tackle, barring something catastrophic.
Despite all the deserved criticism from local radio show hosts and analysts, Campbell is just 22 and just faced the hardest stretch of defenses that any playoff team has ever faced. All four of the Patriots’ opponents were ranked in the top 10 in terms of points allowed, according to Pro Football Reference.
For a team that surpassed even the highest of expectations last year, Campbell seems to be the only player who didn’t receive praise but accrued the harshest criticism. Expect Campbell to learn from his mistakes and come back with a vengeance as he looks to prove all the doubters wrong.
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Morgan Moses
Moses heads into his 13the season and second with the Patriots after signing a three-year, $24 million contract in the 2025 offseason. He is by far the oldest projected starter on the offensive line and thus acts as a veteran presence for a young position group while also not becoming a liability at the right tackle position.
Moses allowed just one sack during the regular season, but did allow 29 pressures, according to PFF. The 29 pressures ranked him 53rd among all tackles in the regular season.
Despite those lowlights, Moses started all 17 games for the Patriots last season. In his last four seasons, Moses has missed just six of a possible 68 games. If availability truly is the best ability, then Moses, despite his age, is a pivotal part of the Patriots’ offense next year.
Only two of the projected starters on the offensive line — Moses and offensive guard Mike Onwenu — played a full year last season. The Patriots are likely to need another full season from Moses if they want to keep the offense operating as it did last season without having to rely on another rookie tackle in Caleb Lomu.
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Mike Onwenu
Onwenu is the longest-tenured Patriot on the offensive line as he heads into his seventh season. He has been a staple for the Patriots at right guard and there’s no reason to assume that will change.
He’s the other veteran presence on this line that can also help the young players on the entire team understand the culture and how to deal with playing in a media market such as Boston.
He allowed two sacks all of last season while allowing 21 pressures, and in the postseason, Onwenu got even better as he allowed zero sacks and hits during the team’s four games, according to PFF.
Onwenu’s place on the field is about as secure as possible. As he heads into the final year of his deal, the former sixth-round pick could have his best season yet.
You must be registered for see images attach
Alijah Vera-Tucker
Vera-Tucker signed with the Patriots for three years and $42 million in a contract that’s heavily laced with incentives based on his ability to stay on the field. He had spent five years with the Jets
He missed all of last season with a torn triceps that he suffered in practice on Sept. 4. Injuries have been the focal point of Vera-Tucker’s career, as he played just 43 games across five seasons. Vera-Tucker has only played double-digit games in a season twice — 2021 and 2024.
In 2024, he had a pressure rate allowed of 2.4%, which was the fourth lowest among all guards, according to PFF. He also had a PFF grade of 77.7, which ranked 10th for all guards.
Vera-Tucker has the potential to be one of the biggest steals of the offseason, while also plugging a massive hole at left guard for the Patriots, so long as he can stay on the field. But that’s the $42 million question: Can Vera-Tucker stay healthy?
The Patriots really hope so, and maybe a change of scenery and a new medical staff will be able to fix that issue. If so, the Patriots might have found their left guard of the future, as Vera-Tucker is just 27 years old.
You must be registered for see images
Caleb Lomu
Lomu was drafted out of the University of Utah with the 28th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. He stands at 6 feet 6 inches and weighs 313 pounds.
Lomu is currently viewed as backup on the offensive line. He was drafted as a left tackle but has the ability to play both sides. Lomu is a developmental pick and this is a perfect situation for him.
He is likely to sit behind and learn from Moses for a good portion, if not all, of this season. There is no reason to rush Lomu into a starting role unless he truly earns it in training camp or if an injury happens.
With Vera-Tucker’s injury history looming over the Patriots, Lomu might be called into action earlier than expected. An injury to Vera-Tucker is likely to force the Patriots to put Lomu in to fill the left or right tackle spot and potentially push Campbell inside to guard. That’s obviously not an ideal situation, but there’s a reason training camp exists. The Patriots should use training camp as an opportunity to develop him at his natural position, while also getting him comfortable playing at guard and right tackle if the team feels he’s a more effective fit there.
The Patriots could view Lomu as a right tackle of the future when Moses eventually retires or regresses due to age, or the left tackle of the future if Campbell continues to struggle, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also view him as a solution if an injury problem were to arise.
Lomu’s reps during training camp and where head coach Mike Vrabel places him on the offensive line during 7-on-7’s and 11-on-11s are going to be followed closely by media and fans alike. During mandatory minicamp, Lomu took reps at right tackle with the starting lineup and lined up at left tackle with the second stringers.
You must be registered for see images attach
Jared Wilson
Wilson heads into his second year after being drafted in the third round in 2025 and looks to improve upon a rough season.
In the regular season, Wilson gave up four sacks, seven quarterback hits and 28 pressures as a left guard. In the playoffs, he gave up four sacks and 13 pressures, both of which ranked last among all qualified guards in the postseason, according to PFF.
On the bright side, Wilson will play his natural position of center after the team traded away Garrett Bradbury to the Chicago Bears for a 2027 fifth-round pick. This should result in a massive improvement for Wilson in terms of performance. He can also be insulated from potential mistakes due to Vera-Tucker and Onwenu’s blocking abilities.
Wilson, like Campbell, is young, and moving back to his natural position on the line should help him in terms of his development. In training camp, Wilson will be going up against Milton Williams and Christian Barmore during blocking reps. They are two of the best in the league at the defensive tackle position and thus a great way for Wilson to develop the blocking skills necessary for the Patriots’ much tougher schedule this season.
The Patriots’ offensive line is still a bit of a mystery, especially on the left side. If Vera-Tucker can stay healthy, and Campbell and Wilson continue to develop from abysmal first seasons, the Patriots may have one of the top offenses in the league once again, and Maye might have another MVP-caliber season.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: A look at the Patriots' offensive line before training camp
Continue reading...
