There’s still plenty of mystery about the Patriots’ plan on offense. But there’s a clear path at the right tackle spot: Morgan Moses leads, and Caedan Wallace develops.
The Patriots signed the 34-year-old Moses as a clear plug-and-play starting right tackle, one of their most pressing needs on either side of the ball. Behind Moses is Wallace, a second-year pro out of Penn State that dealt with injuries and uncertainty throughout his rookie season. The Patriots reportedly intend to develop Wallace specifically as a right tackle, after trying him on both the left and right in 2024.
But Moses enters the equation as a no-brainer to start in the short-term, and set a strong example for the tackles under him on the depth chart. Moses is embracing the mentor part, as he immediately becomes the Patriots’ most experienced overall offensive lineman.
“When you’re competing, whether it’s in any facet of life, when you’re able to teach somebody and show them things and you’re able to learn in that room, it makes everybody better because that guy behind you is getting better every day,” Moses said in his introductory press conference last Thursday in Foxboro. “So you can’t be a complacent player and be that same person. You’ve got to show up every day and make yourself better.
“So when you have that mentality for a room, especially for an offensive line because we operate as one, five equals one, we never leave the field.”
Moses credited veteran All-Pro tackle Trent Williams for helping him become a better player during their five seasons together in Washington. Though Moses has bounced around the league in recent years, he’s continued to dependably start at right tackle, earning high marks for both his run-blocking and pass protection.
The veteran fills an immediate need for a beleaguered Patriots offensive line on the field, but he stands to deliver value off the field, as well. It’s not just at tackle, but on the interior, that the Patriots O-line is developing younger players. Moses is looking to be the teacher to them that Williams was to him, once the linemen gather in the locker room and at team meetings.
“Bringing that mentality as an older guy in the locker room and just bringing guys along and showing them the way is going to be a great deal for us,” Moses said.
None of this solves the Patriots’ major need at left tackle. Vederian Lowe, Demontrey Jacobs, and Caleb Jones are the only other tackles even on the roster as of this writing. Lowe still projects as the starting left tackle, but the Patriots would be best suited upgrading that spot, with Lowe as a backup or camp competition at best. Options are slimming in free agency, with LSU tackle Will Campbell looming as the possible fourth overall pick for the Pats in the 2025 draft.
If the Patriots do decide to shoot for a left tackle among the rookie class, Moses would at least play a strong leadership role for rookies off the field. And there’s hope that Moses can aid in Wallace’s development into a potential long-term answer on the other side.
The Pats are still short on plans for improving their offense this off-season, but Moses and the right tackles paint a clear picture.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.