Patriots rookie OT Caleb Lomu makes position preference clear

New England Patriots rookie offensive lineman Caleb Lomu has been preparing to play at both right and left tackle ahead of his first NFL season.

The 2026 first-round draft pick was seen playing predominantly on the left side at rookie minicamp, but that could change when he joins the veterans for practices. Will Campbell is currently the Patriots' starting left tackle. The initial expectation was that Lomu would be the long-term replacement for 35-year-old right tackle Morgan Moses.

However, things could get interesting if he beats Campbell out in training camp. The Patriots could be forced to make a tough decision.

Regardless, Lomu is ready to play wherever the team needs him.

“I just feel myself as a tackle just in general, left or right side," Lomu told reporters. "Just having to play left in college, and that's kind of what I got comfortable to, just playing those three years at left tackle at Utah. My first year there, I was kind of a swing tackle. So I feel comfortable at left, but I've also been working at right these past couple of months. So feel just as good on the right side as well. Either tackle position, I'm happy to play and feel comfortable playing.”

A potential training camp competition is a good problem to have for the Patriots.

At the very least, the team will have a young swing tackle capable of serving as an emergency Plan B option on both the right and left side.

The Patriots are clearly serious about not only improving their starting offensive line, but they have also worked hard to create reliable depth to turn to when injuries happen. Of course, there's also the very real possibility that Lomu proves himself to be more than a backup on the NFL roster. He very well might be an immediate starter.

Follow Patriots Wire on  and .