Promising Patriots rookie confesses he’s far from satisfied with this season

Mike Vrabel had a massive job to do when Robert Kraft hired him to be the Patriots' top football guy. One of the biggest needs was his offensive line. He drafted LSU's star left tackle, Will Campbell, with the fourth-overall pick in the 2025 draft. In the third round, he drafted Georgia center/guard Jared Wilson.

Each has started all 10 regular-season games. However, Wilson feels "unsatisfied" with his rookie season.

While Wilson may not have been perfect, he's a massive upgrade over the 2024 left guards trotted out by the 4-13 Patriots. In addition, expect Wilson to ultimately be slotted in to play center in 2026 or 2027. That's a better position for him at his smaller size of 6'3" and 310 pounds. Yet if he reaches 325, he can play guard long term.

Wherever he ultimately winds up playing, Wilson was another stellar pick by Vrabel, and his starting in every Patriots' 2025 game thus far validates that fact. And, if he's dissatisfied with his performance (as a rookie starting every game on a 9-2 team?), it is testimony to the character and determination of this former Georgia Bulldog.

Jared Wilson's attitude is a reflection of a Mike Vrabel specialty

When Mike Vrabel was hired on January 12, 2025, he wanted to establish a new culture at Gillette Stadium. It was going to be all-for-one and one-for-all, or out the door. And he's orchestrated that from the outset. A 50 percent or so roster turnover reinforces that fact.

Now one of his prized rookies is making it clear that just being good isn't enough on Mike Vrabel's Patriots, and being satisfied is never enough. And top pundits are taking notice.

This is an attitude from a rookie third-round pick, a premium pick, who's blown away all the competition at his position (including a former first-round pick). He's started every game at a position he didn't play much at all last season at Georgia, guard. Despite that, he wants more, to be better, and that's exactly what Vrabel wants to hear.

Jared Wilson epitomizes the "new" New England Patriots, and it's a welcome sight

Having two rookie starters on the left side, the key side protecting the quarterback, in this case, the franchise quarterback, Drake Maye, could be considered risky. And certainly, the O-line's having surrendered 36 sacks in 11 games is not exactly textbook.

Yet, both Campbell (a likely All-Rookie first-teamer and maybe Pro Bowler) and Wilson have been superb.

Campbell has dispelled any of the foolish short-arm/narrow/shoulder arguments and immediately stepped into the top offensive line role protecting the Patriots' most valuable asset, Drake Maye. He's been outstanding. Wilson has also done a solid job, and his best game was his last against the Jets, ranking fifth-best on the Patriots' offense by PFF that day.

The arrow is pointing up for the 2025 Patriots' rookies and the team as they head for the playoffs, and who knows what else. Among the most solid performers are Campbell and his linemate, Jared Wilson. After the quarterback, it's the offensive line that determines the fate of an NFL team. In the Patriots' case, having Campbell and Wilson on the left side is a winning combination.