The 2025 NFL draft was critical to the New England Patriots and new head guy Mike Vrabel, who needed to reconstruct his bottom-of-the-NFL offensive line. Vrabel selected two offensive linemen with premium picks. Both made Pro Football Focus's (PFF's) All-Rookie team for Week 5 of the season. They're the outstanding left tackle Will Campbell, the fourth overall pick in the first round, and left guard Jared Wilson, a third-round pick.
When that happens, and two top rookie draft picks make PFF's top Rookies of the week list, you know you've drafted well. That's especially true if you already knew they're the real deal. In the case of the two Patriots' two young offensive linemen who made the team for Week 5, Campbell and Wilson, take a bow.
Mike Vrabel also deserves big kudos. The Patriots' recent record of drafting offensive linemen is frankly offensive. None before 2025 has worked out for years after wasting multiple higher picks, including a first-rounder. Enter Mike Vrabel, and all that has changed. Amateur hour in personnel has been replaced by a professional and nothing is the same.
Mike Vrabel knows personnel, and it is obvious so far this season
When Mike Vrabel assumed the reins of the Patriots, he had a massive rebuild to undertake, especially of the offensive line and wide receiver rooms. On the O-line, he began in free agency by signing three veteran free agents as more of stopgap solutions. Two, right tackle Morgan Moses and center Garett Bradbury remain as starters. Then he drafted Campbell and Wilson.
Pro Football Focus tabbed the two Patriots' rookies for their Week 5 All-Rookie team.
"Offensive Tackle: Will Campbell, – 70.4 The former fourth overall pick out of LSU made his third PFF Rookie Team of the Week in five weeks. His pass blocking was a big reason the Patriots pulled off the upset in Buffalo: Campbell allowed just three pressures on 40 pass-blocking snaps for a 77.0 PFF pass-blocking grade. Indeed, Campbell hasn’t allowed a sack since Week 1.
"Interior Offensive Line: Jared Wilson, New England Patriots – 51.1 After playing center in college, Jared Wilson quickly won the starting left guard job for the Patriots and made former first-rounder Cole Strange expendable. Wilson has had an inconsistent start lining up next to fellow rookie Campbell, but pass-blocking has been where Wilson is at his best — and that was no different against the Bills. On 40 pass-blocking snaps, Wilson allowed just one pressure, though it did result in a quarterback hit."
Mike Vrabel wasn't able to land a top left tackle in free agency. He needed to hit it big in the draft on the offensive line. Since both Campbell and Wilson have started every game for him on the left side
every game they've been available and are excelling; it's clear that Vrabel aced that part of the draft.
The Patriots' rookie offensive linemen are the future
It's going to take another free agency and draft or two to get the offensive line in top shape for the long haul. Regardless, adding Moses and Bradbury, followed by drafting Campbell and Wilson, has substantially upgraded the offensive line over 2024's languid group.
The O-linemen are still giving up sacks at an alarming rate. The sacks allowed total 17 for the season thus far, including four more against Buffalo. Sacks are big plays, and though they were able to overcome them with only one turnover against the Bills, continuing that trend will be costly.
As the season progresses and the line coalesces, those numbers should drop. In addition, Campbell and Wilson are rookies with only four or five games under their belts. As they aggregate more experience, their games will also reach a higher level.
The arrow is pointing up for the Patriots' offensive line. This is positive for the offense and the team. The O-line makes it all work, and when you have a budding superstar quarterback like Drake Maye on hand, it will lead to big things. Hats off to Campbell and Wilson for making PFF's All-Rookie team for Week 5 and to Vrabel for drafting them. There's a playoff berth waiting for them after the season.