The New England Patriots knew they wanted to bolster the offensive line in the 2025 National Football League Draft and did so by selecting left tackle Will Campbell.
Campbell is going to be a piece to hopefully protect quarterback Drake Maye for years to come. He and the team reportedly agreed to a fully guaranteed four-year, $43.66M deal on Tuesday afternoon, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
"The Patriots and No. 4 pick LT Will Campbell have agreed to terms on his four-year, $43.66M fully guaranteed rookie contract with a $28.39M signing bonus and Campbell has signed it," Rapoport shared on social media.
Campbell may not be a flashy playmaker like someone like Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, but he fills a significant hole for the Patriots and he will have an immediate impact on this team this season.
After the draft, he was compared to four-time Pro Bowler Dion Dawkins by ESPN's Matt Miller.
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"Matt Miller's pro comp: Dion Dawkins," Miller said. "Post-Draft Analysis. Protecting quarterback Drake Maye was always the biggest priority for the Patriots early in this draft. They were 31st in pass block win rate last season (50.9%). Campbell's toughness, instincts and agility at left tackle make him an ideal candidate to immediately step into the fray after being a three-year starter in the SEC. Campbell was my No. 2 offensive lineman behind Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr., but he's a good fit for New England's vision under new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels."
It's hard not to root for this kid. Now, the business side is done and the complete focus can be right on the practice field.
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