After putting together a fairly solid rookie campaign in 2025, the conversation surrounding Patriots left tackle Will Campbell has shifted into new territory due to his postseason performance. His return from injury was at the perfect time for the offense, but the way he played was dramatically different than what we saw during the regular season.
It has prompted a campaign by some suggesting Campbell should move to guard, citing his often-discussed arm length and some technique issues that surfaced during the Super Bowl. Some retired tackles have come out offering to help Campbell improve his performance, but there might be something else the Patriots might consider now.
Although Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf have both stated they intend to keep Campbell at his position and work on his improvement this offseason, the news of Trent Williams' potential availability might throw a wrench into the mix.
The 37-year-old is nearing a standstill with the Chiefs over his contract, and there is a potential that Kansas City will have to move on from the 12-time Pro Bowler. That makes him available for the Patriots to sign.
With five-time All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams scheduled to carry a $39 million cap number this season, he and the 49ers currently are struggling to find a contractual solution, per league sources. If the two sides can’t bridge their differences in their standoff, Williams… pic.twitter.com/gJlCpTHSlz
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 24, 2026
He's certainly not the long-term solution they want at the position, since he is 37, but he could be a mentor for Campbell and their starter next year if the Patriots believe they're close to making another Super Bowl.
The Patriots might, at the very least, consider Trent Williams if he becomes available
Left tackles of Williams' caliber almost never become available, so that makes it easy to believe the Patriots would, at the very least, have some interest in bringing the veteran to New England. They would be foolish not to have the conversation.
But would it be a wise choice? Probably not.
While Williams would be an immediate upgrade given his impressive career accomplishments and experience in big-time games, it would be a significant blow to Campbell's confidence to replace him after a rookie season that only appeared to derail after he returned from injury.
He probably wasn't 100% ready to come back, or didn't realize he had more work to do before being cleared to return, which impacted his performance. But that shouldn't take away from the solid job he did for much of the regular season, and he has plenty of time to improve his skills to be the long-term starter at left tackle for the Patriots.
Williams would be an incredible addition if this were five years ago, not when they're just one year removed from drafting their expected franchise tackle. Not to mention, trading for Williams would require a massive offer, on top of taking on a big cap hit, and they're not necessarily in a space to have one player take up that money of the available money.
Still, it won't be surprising to hear if the Patriots inquire about Williams' availability if things continue to stall with the Chiefs. We'll have to wait and see what happens.