The New England Patriots had a clear imperative in the 2025 NFL draft: to improve their offensive left tackle position, among others on the O-line. They had eschewed adding a left tackle in free agency and set themselves up for a rude awakening unless they hit the position hard in the draft.
Mike Vrabel knew that not adding left tackles to the team had cost the Patriots their 2024 season before a ball had even been kicked off. Being the professional he is, it was a given that Vrabel wasn't about to let that foolish error cloud his chances in 2025.
Vrabel knew he had to add big-time to his O-line in free agency and the draft. In free agency, he said at least two solid starters in right tackle, Morgan Moses, and center Garrett Bradbury. He then followed up those additions in style in the draft by immediately remedying his left tackle void, and PFF has lauded that action in style.
PFF has the Patriots at the top of the list in protecting the quarterback after Day One of the draft
Pro Football Focus is about the best in the business in terms of football analytics that makes sense. Their valuation of the Patriots' first pick in the 2025 NFL draft, LSU's left tackle Will Campbell's addition to the Pats, has to be well-regarded.
PFF's ratings of who did best to protect their quarterback on Day One of the draft had the New England Patriots at the top of the list. Here's what PFF said about the addition of Will Campbell to anchor the Patriots' offensive line,
"Few teams struggled more in pass protection last season than the Patriots, who finished with a 52.3 team pass-blocking grade, the second-worst mark in the NFL. First-year quarterback Drake Mayefaced pressure on 37.4% of his dropbacks, one of the league's worst marks.
"Will Campbell should help stabilize that unit. The LSU left tackle started as a freshman in the SEC and didn’t surrender a single sack on true pass sets throughout his college career. He gives Drake Maye and New England a long-term solution at one of the game’s most important positions for years to come."
They also pictured the huge Patriots' new left tackle and Drake Maye-protector at the top of their article on this topic. That was high praise for Mike Vrabel, whose first Patriots draft pick is being heralded as an outstanding one.
Will Campbell is a huge building block for the Patriots' offense
Such praise is nice to hear, especially from an outfit as well-respected as PFF. But even more important is what Campbell will bring down on the field to impact the 2025 fortunes of the revitalized New England Patriots team and franchise.
If anyone doubted who's running the show at Gillette Stadium, that first pick should dispel it. In 2024, the Patriots didn't have an NFL-ready left tackle, the second most important position on the team after the quarterback, even on the roster. They suggested they could shoehorn two right tackles into that critical spot. It failed miserably, as expected.
Vrabel's action in using the very first draft pick of his tenure on a left tackle is a clear indication of his break with the past personnel failures and his knowledge of the game. Adding Campbell, not the glitziest pick, of course, but one of utmost importance to the success of his football team, broke those ties irrevocably. Vrabel is running the show, and it's evident to all.
PFF's point confirms that the Patriots are finally on track with personnel. They had a massive need to protect their quarterback, and they addressed it immediately and demonstrably with their first pick of the Mike Vrabel era. It portends well for the team's future. There's a professional in charge, which showed immediately in 2025's free agency and now in the draft. Things are looking up.