Offensive tackle was, without question, the Patriots’ weakest position in 2024. Understandably, a significant amount of resources were poured into the position this year, with the team signing veteran right tackle Morgan Moses in free agency and using the No. 4 overall pick in the draft on left tackle Will Campbell.

The 34-year-old Moses has more than a decade of NFL experience under his belt, having played in 166 regular-season games for three different organizations. He’s seen plenty of players come and go during his time in the NFL, yet when he looks over at the rookie on the other side of the line in training camp, he sees something special.

“The ‘It Factor,’ man,” Moses told Phil Perry on The Next Pats Podcast when asked what’s been most impressive about Campbell. “He has ‘it,’ you know. He’s come out here and he’s, from day one, competed his tail off. And obviously nobody doubted that in his mind that he would come out here and compete.

“But just, you know, when he has rough days, coming back into the classroom or, you know, sitting me aside and we’re talking football and just understanding the things that we — because there might be something that he struggled with that I’m like, ‘Yo, I’m struggling with the same thing, Will.’ And then we’re able to kind of sit down and talk it out and figure out what’s the best situation for it. And so being able to do that, it’s been great for the evolution of the whole room.”

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One of those rough days came on Wednesday, when the rookie found himself on the losing end of a number of battles on the practice field, losing a 1-on-1 rep against Bradyn Swinson and then surrendering two sacks to K’Lavon Chaisson in 11-on-11 work. While it may have looked bad from the outside, Moses said tough days are all a part of the growth process.

“That’s just what practice is for, man,” Moses said. “Practice makes perfect. And you know, we’ve got a great defensive line that we go against every day, and they got a couple of edge rushers over there that give you different looks. And so we’re getting hit from all angles.”

The way things currently look on the O-line, it looks as though Campbell may have a fellow rookie playing next to him in Jared Wilson. The third-round pick played center at Georgia but seems to be finding a fit at left guard for the Patriots.

Perry asked Moses if fans should have some concern about two rookies playing two very difficult, important positions on the offensive line.

“No, no, not at all, man. If those guys get those jobs, they deserve it,” Moses said. “They work their tails off to be able to be in the opportunity to seize those positions.”

For the Patriots, Moses will serve in a bit of a dual role, both as an important player on the end of the line but also as a mentor to help his younger teammates adapt to the league. The latter effort is well underway, with Moses holding “breakfast club” meetings with fellow linemen, meetings that he believes are rather important.

“Because this is raising the IQ of football,” Moses said. “There’s things that I might have saw in practice where like the defense had disguised it and I was a little bit late but I still got on my block, or whatever the case is. And just kind of going over those looks and going over the things that we might have missed in practice or some things or a certain set that we might have struggled with, and having those open dialogues.

“Because if you can get them to see it from a different perspective, you know, besides Coach coaching it, or if I can see Will do something in a different perspective, it all makes us better. So just being able to have those conversations and those open dialogues, where you struggle and where you’re excelling at. it just allows growth for everybody.”

Also in the episode:

Perry shares what’s impressed him the most about Drake Maye so far in camp.

Kyle Williams is already showing his resiliency and ability to bounce back from bad plays

Offensive line update.

Perry previews his potential 53-man roster, including a shocking cut in the receiver room.