Will Campbell and Mike Vrabel have an admiration for each other that became evident over the last couple of weeks leading up to the NFL Draft. After spending a lot of time together throughout the process, Vrabel said he knew Campbell was their guy after visiting him last week.
The New England Patriots selected Will Campbell fourth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. After spending a ton of time scouting, visiting, and one-on-one time together, the Patriots landed the player they wanted all along, and it’s a mutual feeling from Campbell as well.
It was essential to rebuild the offensive line and to protect second-year quarterback Drake Maye after an abysmal performance from them last season. In doing so, Mike Vrabel added veterans Garrett Bradbury and Morgan Moses to add experience and depth to the offensive line with two players who can step in and be starters.
The biggest need among the offensive line was left tackle and it’s been a need that legitimately started in 2021 when Trent Brown and Isaiah Wynn would switch sides of the line over the course of two and a half seasons. The inconsistency along the line is unacceptable and it’s something that needed to be addressed immediately, which Vrabel said back in February to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“You look at the teams that are able to protect the quarterback and dictate the flow of the game offensively, making sure that up front we’re sound, we’re strong, whether that’s through free agency or through the draft.”
True to his word, Vrabel made sure to do both: he signed top free agents and picked the top player in the NFL Draft at the position. It’s a match made in heaven between Vrabel and Campbell, two peas in a pod, according to Campbell, who genuinely wants to be on the Patriots.
Take a moment and think: when was the last time a player wanted to be on the Patriots after both Tom Brady and Bill Belichick left the franchise?
One of the things Vrabel said he wanted to do was change the culture and create an environment with the right players focused on winning football games the right way. Campbell is already proving this goal to be true and working, despite only being a rookie.
Ahead of the Draft, Campbell joined Kay Adams on her Up&Adams Show for a quick interview. He was asked point blank about the buzz around him with the Patriots and Vrabel leading up to the Draft. He said that he really likes the Patriots and Vrabel:
“I like them. But we’ll see what happens. They have a great organization, a great staff, coach Vrabel and those guys over there, they’ve done tremendous work in this league. I’ve had great interactions with them throughout this entire process.”
When he was asked about Vrabel, Campbell had a full smile and his eyes were wide with complete trust and admiration for Vrabel. This was his response when Kay Adams asked what Vrabel is like:
“He’s [Vrabel] cool, he’s my kind of guy. … he’s just like me.””
The feeling was obviously mutual, considering that Patriots GM Eliot Wolf went to Baton Rouge to visit Campbell during Week 5 of LSU’s season for a one-on-one visit, which shows that Campbell has been the guy for a long time coming. He shared the story with the local media after the draft.
“This is where I’ve wanted to be since the start. Eliot Wolf came to my practice probably Week 5 of the season, and I told him this is where I wanted to be. … I’ve had great interactions with everybody throughout the process, a lot of them private workouts, 30 visits, just being up there getting to meet everybody. It’s just where I wanted to be, and I’m just super excited to get there.”
Campbell goes on to explain why he wanted to be drafted by the Patriots, saying coach Vrabel is the big reason along with the winning history of the franchise.
“I just think the culture. The New England Patriots logo speaks for itself. I believe in the guys in that locker room, I believe in the quarterback, and Coach Vrabel is my kind of guy, he’s all ball, no “BS” and that’s what I want to play for.”
Over the course of the Draft process, Vrabel and Campbell spent a lot of time together. I can’t say for certain, but it’s arguably the most time he’s spent with a prospect. Listening to Albert Breer after the pick was made, he said that he talked with a team that said “after meeting Campbell, they think Vrabel is going to ask him to move in with him.” The admiration the two have for each other is evident and it’s great to see.
The narrative on Campbell throughout the entire process was that his arms are too short to be a true left tackle in the NFL. Despite many people turning their heads at the idea of it, Vrabel didn’t care and trusted himself to evaluate Campbell on the tape and in person.
Campbell played 38 games and logged 2,553 snaps at left tackle during his career at LSU, which wasn’t anything to look away from in Vrabel’s eyes. He looks at the SEC as the best conference in college football with players who are going to be drafted in the first round and become starters in the NFL. Vrabel looked at this as if Campbell is doing it against them in college, then he’ll be able to do it in the NFL.
This pick was important to get right and I think the Patriots absolutely nailed it. Vrabel addressed the media after the Draft and the first thing he said was that Campbell is a “foundational piece”, continuing to express the importance of an offensive line and protecting the quarterback.
It’s also important to keep in mind that an offensive line and quarterback are attractive to veteran free agents. Vrabel is upgrading the team by retooling the roster, adding good character players, coaches, staff, and creating a culture that is focused on winning and football.
As Maye progresses as a quarterback with a solid offensive line in front of him, New England is going to become a free agent destination once again, as Vrabel continues to rebuild his team. He’s going to be the reason players want to come play for the Patriots.
Campbell is a cornerstone player and, if all goes well, he’ll be with Vrabel and the Patriots for his entire career.