The New England Patriots had large expectations once they chosen offensive lineman Will Campbell with the No. 4 total decide within the 2025 NFL Draft. Campbell was supposed to function Drake Maye’s blindside protector, maintaining the way forward for the franchise protected from opposing go rushers.
While Campbell did an honest job of that in the course of the common season, issues utterly fell aside towards the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60. Campbell allowed an astounding 14 quarterback pressures in the course of the contest, per Next Gen Stats. That was essentially the most allowed by any participant in a single sport the whole 2025 season, together with the playoffs.
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After that efficiency in (*14*), the 22-year-old Campbell declined to speak to the media, per the Boston Globe.
Campbell was reportedly requested to speak a number of instances, however declined earlier than leaving the locker room.
It’s not the very best search for the rookie, who had an particularly robust time all through the playoffs. During the postseason, Campbell ranked 29th out of 30 tackles in pass block win rate, per Ed Werder. Campbell positively performed a task in Maye getting sacked 21 instances in the course of the staff’s 4 postseason video games.
But to put all of the blame on Campbell can be silly. The rookie did not play effectively, however he was removed from the one member of the Patriots’ offensive line who faltered down the stretch. Guard Jared Wilson additionally rated out poorly over the 4 postseason video games, per Werder.
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While Campbell’s efficiency stood out Sunday, he wasn’t the sole reason the Patriots gave up six sacks and two interceptions. Seattle’s protection was ferocious, getting stress towards primarily each member of the Patriots’ line the whole night. All of that mixed to pace up Maye and make him uncomfortable, main to some missed passes and dear errors.
Campbell’s struggles additionally could have been overstated relying on which superior metric proprietor you belief. Pro Football Focus’ metrics listing Campbell with three pressures allowed in Super Bowl 60. He nonetheless struggled, however possibly not as a lot as Next Gen Stats initially recommended.
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Figuring out precisely what went fallacious for Campbell ought to be a significant focus for the Patriots over the offseason. Campbell wasn’t depressing within the common season, rating because the thirty second left sort out within the NFL in accordance to PFF’s metrics. It was a promising sufficient efficiency that followers may envision a future the place Campbell improved in his second season and ranked inside the high half of the league at his place.
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But after his immense struggles within the playoffs, the Patriots may have to re-evaluate Campbell’s future. When Campbell was popping out of the draft, some questioned whether or not he would maintain up as a sort out within the NFL due to his short wingspan. Is a place change a actuality following Campbell’s poor postseason, or will the Patriots proceed to present religion in him as a sort out?
The improvement places a fair greater damper on the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss. The complete staff acquired uncovered in Super Bowl 60, however no participant discovered themselves below the microscope greater than Campbell, the staff’s first-round decide.
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Campbell, in fact, is exceptionally younger and should not be written off after a poor stretch towards among the greatest go rushers within the NFL. If something, his struggles are a reminder that the Patriots have been by no means supposed to be this good so shortly, and that the staff nonetheless has work to do to solidify itself as as Super Bowl contender subsequent season.