Former Patriot David Andrews Believes Lomu Will Push Campbell For Starting Role

[Real fan 02]

I agree. In fact, he was overhyped prior to injury. While it was encouraging he was "grading well", I saw a lot of shaky play from him and others being covered up by Maye.

Even if Campbell turned out to be a elite last season, the Pats were drafting a T in round 1 because Moses is old and should be replaced. However, the caveat here is that they drafted a guy who's only played LT in college. That's why Campbell's job is being brought up by the media.

This talk wouldn't have come up had the Pats shut Campbell down for the playoffs. Even if they would've shut him down after the Houston game (where they absolutely should've pulled the plug), the narrative would've been different.

Absolutely correct. Last I checked teams played with 2 OTs. So those clamoring for Lomu! Then great! Now you have an inexperienced rookie to protect the franchise QB.. then how would that play out if they thought Campbell struggled late last season!

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Vrabel isnt going add gas to the fire.

You dont draft a LT round 1 if Campbells job is safe.

They didn't "draft a LT", they drafted the highest rated OT. Pats had a critical need at RT. They (and everyone else) expected that Lomu would be gone early, and that a RT would hopefully fall to 31. When the order got flipped, they made the obvious pick of the last remaining top-tier tackle.

Let's say that Campbell was All-Pro last year. Would they still have picked Lomu? The answer is Yes.

 

[Wozzy]

“We want to end up with the best five.” - Vrabel

This ^ is the reality. There's really no need to argue over it.

If Campbell struggles with speed he will move inside, if not now then eventually.

And there's nothing wrong with that, he will likely become a Pro Bowl caliber guard. Vera-Tucker is made of glass and Onwenu is near the end of his contract barring extension. They need guard depth.

You just want five big dominant starting lineman and a 6th or 7th in reserve or in the pipeline developing. How you got there is irrelevant, only that you got there.

 

[Triumph]

They didn't "draft a LT", they drafted the highest rated OT. Pats had a critical need at RT. They (and everyone else) expected that Lomu would be gone early, and that a RT would hopefully fall to 31. When the order got flipped, they made the obvious pick of the last remaining top-tier tackle.

Let's say that Campbell was All-Pro last year. Would they still have picked Lomu? The answer is Yes.

The Pats need to be better than 2025 for this upcoming season. The schedule is absolutely more difficult and the Pats were exposed in the Super Bowl.

I do not expect to reach the playoffs this season if Wolf drafted Lomu to takeover for Moses when he retires in 2027.

 

[Wozzy]

I do not expect to reach the playoffs this season if Wolf drafted Lomu to takeover for Moses when he retires in 2027.

You don't draft rookies under the assumption they'll automatically start, and you can't predict injury.

They drafted Lomu because as a 21 year old sophomore, had he stayed in school another year he might have been the first overall pick... or top five. He had two more years of eligibility.

Over the course of a season anything can happen, you need the best group of players you can find and the Patriots needed line depth. Both Campbell and Lomu have the athleticism to play guard, both of them, Onwenu and Vera Tucker can play tackle.

They're not concerned with who starts where or does what. They have optimal starters already at certain spots and will allow competition, health and situation determine what happens next. Believe that posters here are more concerned about this than the Patriots are, they know they have a great group... and that's all that matters.

 

[n1997y]

I do not expect to reach the playoffs this season if Wolf drafted Lomu to takeover for Moses when he retires in 2027.

How do expectations for 2027 affect the 2026 season?

 

[TheRainMaker]

How do expectations for 2027 affect the 2026 season?

Simple. You aren't getting any use out of your 1st round pick. A big reason why the Pats got to the Super Bowl last season was because Campbell, Henderson and Williams saw significant time on the field.

In the last 10 years, 5 out of 8 teams that lost the Super Bowl made the playoffs the following season. The odds are in their favor, but not out of the realm of possibility. The 2002 Pats missed the playoffs because the schedule turned out to be a gauntlet facing 13 of 16 teams with at least a .500 record. The other major reason why they missed the playoffs was because the defense was atrocious - nobody saw that coming.

Can this defense match what they did in 2025?

Does the OL play better than they did in 2025 and especially in the playoffs? After SB42 and his ACL tear in 2008, Tom had some odd PTSD behavior in the pocket ducking and taking sacks when nobody was nearby. That stopped about 2014. The point is, Maye is going to get antsy in the pocket with teams game planning to put Campbell on the sled drill to push into Maye. That will be something to keep an eye on.

 

[n1997y]

I do not expect to reach the playoffs this season if Wolf drafted Lomu to takeover for Moses when he retires in 2027.

How do expectations for 2027 affect the 2026 season?

Simple. You aren't getting any use out of your 1st round pick.

I just can’t see it that way. Here’s the problem: the last two first round picks were OTs. The only way I see us getting use out of both of them is Lomu replacing Morgan Moses in 2026 not 2027. I just can’t see Lomu replacing Campbell at LT and Campbell moving anywhere else on the OL. That’s just too crazy. It means either Campbell moves to LG and disrupts their big FA OL acquisition, or he moves to RG so he’s changing sides as well as position to make a change at a position that was the most stable across the entire OL last season.

When they drafted Lomu in the first round it meant that either this year’s first round pick or last year’s first round pick would not be playing a big role this season. One or the other will be odd man out.

The rest of your comments are true, and very germane to discussing whether the Pats make the playoffs this year. But they don’t really have anything to do with whether Lomu was drafted to replace Moses in 2027, nor how that would make the Pats unlikely to make the playoffs this year.

A big reason why the Pats got to the Super Bowl last season was because Campbell, Henderson and Williams saw significant time on the field.

In the last 10 years, 5 out of 8 teams that lost the Super Bowl made the playoffs the following season. The odds are in their favor, but not out of the realm of possibility. The 2002 Pats missed the playoffs because the schedule turned out to be a gauntlet facing 13 of 16 teams with at least a .500 record. The other major reason why they missed the playoffs was because the defense was atrocious - nobody saw that coming.

Can this defense match what they did in 2025?

Does the OL play better than they did in 2025 and especially in the playoffs? After SB42 and his ACL tear in 2008, Tom had some odd PTSD behavior in the pocket ducking and taking sacks when nobody was nearby. That stopped about 2014. The point is, Maye is going to get antsy in the pocket with teams game planning to put Campbell on the sled drill to push into Maye. That will be something to keep an eye on.

 

[captain stone]

No Push in the run game from Bradbury.. pass pro was solid..Push in run game as bad as Dorchester traffic.. Especially on 3rd and short.

I use Morrissey Blvd almost exclusively to get where I need/want to go... In one direction, Castle Island; in the other, the Neponset Circle Bridge into Quincy...

 

[captain stone]

Is exactly why Vrabel's said what he said he wants guys to get stronger and Matt light is same body type as Campbell and had a dam good 10 year career with " short" arms as they say.. here are some elite OTs with the short arm syndrome to some.

Wingspans?

EDIT: Sorry, Woozy beat me to it!

 

[captain stone]

Prior to Campbell getting hurt in the Bengals game we saw NONE of this BS talk.. he chose to play compromised post injury and it's given all the haters even some on patsfans.com a reason to say see I told ya! .. Campbell will be fine! Ask his coach...

More blah-blah-blather from Mister Loyalty Uber Alles. Es macht Nichts.

 

[captain stone]

Teams usually play with 2 OTs...

Yeah Caleb Lomu wan't drafted here to play Right Tackle.

 

[State]

Caleb Lomu has LT written all over him.
Just like Will Campbell has LG.
It’s a length issue.
Both are nearly identical in height. And although Lomu’s arms are a tad over an inch longer, his wingspan is a little over five inches longer, 82 3/4” v. 77 3/8”. That’s helpful in pass protection.

Don’t forget that Campbell’s wingspan ranks dead last for OTs since records were first kept in 2011.