Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel had a mammoth task on his hands to rebuild a roster that was among the NFL's worst. It was no easy task. Both sides of the ball were weak and needed massive infusions of new and better players.
Fortunately, in 2025, the team had Vrabel, who is not only one of the NFL's best coaches but also a master roster builder. Vrabel spent six years in Tennessee as head coach and knows the league and its personnel requirements inside and out.
One fact he is well aware of was reflected in his attention to two key units in the offseason, the offensive and defensive lines. It all begins in the trenches, and Vrabel gave both major infusions of talent. One key position, left tackle, was filled by Vrabel using his fourth-overall 2025 draft pick on LSU's Will Campbell. The draft offered none better.
Will Campbell is taking his lumps on the way to the Pro Bowl
Will Campbell has had the great "pleasure" to line up against a budding NFL star defensive lineman in Keion White. The third-year defensive player's development has only been constrained by poor coaching. He's been erroneously used as an edge when his best position is as a down defensive tackle.
White is a pocket-collapsing force of nature when deployed properly inside in a gap. Yet, wherever he plays, he's a tough opponent for any NFL lineman or two, for that matter. On the flipside, Campbell is a rookie, and no matter how good he is or was in college, the NFL is a whole new ballgame. He's seeing that now in training camp.
In his write-up on Day 10 of Patriots training camp, Mark Daniels of Masslive comments on the Campbell/White match-ups that will greatly benefit the Patriots.
"When the pads are on, Keion White battles with Will Campbell every practice – and it hasn’t always been great for the rookie. During the Patriots first day of pads, White knocked the Patriots No. 4 pick on his butt two times in what was viewed as a ‘Welcome to the NFL’ moment. On Monday, White explained how those moments haven’t derailed Campbell and instead have left him impressed with the rookie left tackle. 'The biggest thing for Will is his willingness to learn and ability to sometimes get beat, but not hold your head down,' White said."
Will Campbell is getting tested by top defensive opponents
Campbell is getting a rough baptism of fire by being pitted against players of the ilk of White, edges like Harold Landry III and K'Lavon Chaisson, and maybe even Christian Barmore and Milton Williams. All are challenges for the talented yet inexperienced rookie.
The good news is that, as White notes, Campbell has no sense of entitlement. He's intent on learning from his teammates and his mistakes. White is a no-nonsense guy who speaks his mind and tells it as he sees it. His candor may be a bit problematic at times, but when he speaks so positively about Campbell's desire to get better by consulting veteran teammates, it's a very healthy sign, indeed.
Campbell is doing all the right things as a rookie to try to get ready for the rigors of an NFL season. He's mining White's advice and also latched onto 14-year veteran NFL tackle, Morgan Moses, as a mentor. He couldn't have done any better. All signals are go for Campbell to take off as an NFL left tackle. The guess is he's ticketed to the Pro Bowl sooner rather than later. It all begins shortly.