The New England Patriots rebounded from an agonizing season-opening loss with Sunday's 33-27 win over the rival Miami Dolphins. It was a solid effort from the Patriots to help deliver head coach Mike Vrabel's first regular-season win behind New England's bench, and one player who had a lot of the fan base's attention after the game was Will Campbell.
The 2024 fourth overall pick played a big role in the offensive line's solid performance, as Campbell finished with an 81.3 Pro Football Focus pass block grade after allowing zero pressures. Not only was his impact evident by how much time and space quarterback Drake Maye had, but also by how he wasn't afraid to coach his veteran teammates.
"Will came over to the sideline. He was like, ‘dude, like, you said the same thing to me, bro, like, leave it in the past,’" Patriots tackle Morgan Moses said, via Boston Herald's Doug Kyed. "Obviously, he had his ups and downs last week, but for him to come to the sideline like, ‘Hey, big dog. Like, it happens. You told me that last week, whether it’s Year 1 or Year 12, it happens.'"
Patriots' Will Campbell Is Leading by Example Through 2 Games
It can sometimes take a player some time to find their voice in the league, so the fact that Campbell is already comfortable coaching Moses speaks volumes about his maturity. It's often up to a first-round pick to lead by example, and that's exactly what the former LSU Tiger is doing, even if offensive linemen aren't often seen as a team's leader.
The 2025 season is only two games old, but it hasn't taken Campbell long to prove that the Patriots were right to call his name in April. His 65.1 overall PFF grade is the best mark so far on New England's offensive line, while his 77.7 pass protection mark only trails Garrett Bardbury (88.4) and Mike Owenu (79.0). On top of that, his 65.7 run block grade is the best on the team.
Two games are a small sample size, but it's enough to have Patriots fans excited about Campbell's future. The 6-foot-6, 323-pound protector has all the tools to be an O-line mainstay for years to come, and his next test to prove that will come against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3.
For reference, the Steelers already have the third-best pass rush grade (76.5) while amassing 18.5 QB pressures per game. Needless to say, the Patriots' rookie is in for a big test.
But if he passes with flying colors, New England fans will have even more reasons to believe in the first-year leader.