Patriots left tackle Will Campbell is entering a crucial second season, and head coach Mike Vrabel noted his growth in maturity this spring.
"I think just maturity," Vrabel said Thursday about the kind of growth he has seen from Campbell. "I think he's studying the game. He's trying different things. Spring is the time to try things. The quarterback's not going to get hit, the touchdowns don't count, we talked about that earlier. So, he's working on different sets, working on different techniques."
New England picked Campbell with the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He had a solid rookie season, playing in 13 games and ranking 32nd among 89 tackles, 23rd in pass blocking and 39th in run blocking according to Pro Football Focus.
However, Campbell suffered an MCL sprain in Week 12, causing him to miss four games. When he returned, he began to struggle. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Campbell allowed a total of 29 pressures in four postseason games, including 14 in Super Bowl LX.
Campbell was placed in a difficult position during the playoffs. He was recovering from an injury and had to face some of the best defensive lines in the NFL. The playoffs are not like the regular season, where a few games can lack competitive intensity. Campbell's injury, combined with opposing talent and the rookie wall, likely all caught up to him.
Now Campbell will have a chance to reset and look forward to the changes he will make in his sophomore season.
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