There is no doubt and no denial that it would have been a revelation if the Patriots had taken Ashton Jeanty as the fourth pick overall. Think LaDainian Tomlinson, only stronger. That being noted, Will Campbell appeared as the Patriots’ first pick in numerous mock drafts here and elsewhere. There was/is no problem whatsoever with that.

It’s an A+ pick made in Football Camelot for someone who has been screeching about having no left tackles on the team. Campbell was the best offensive lineman and best left tackle in the draft, all the hype about Missouri’s Armand Membou notwithstanding. He was and is a right tackle. (Note: The Pats’ seventh-round pick from Missouri, Marcus Bryant, relegated Membou to the right side at Mizzou on top of all that. Think about that for a minute.)

In the first episode of the Patriots’ new documentary series, “Forged in Foxboro,” Campbell shares his mindset as the quarterback’s lead protector. This provides fascinating insight into the mindset of this Patriots rookie, who is already firing up his teammates with this mentality.

Will Campbell is talking the talk and at LSU he walked the walk

Mike Vrabel wants all his players to be challenging and competitive. Will Campbell is both, and he’d better be to play left tackle in the NFL. You’re up against the best pass rushers in the league. You play on an island, and it’s you versus the defensive end or edge, or the quarterback will be flat on his back.

Campbell was quoted recently on what it takes to play on the offensive and defensive line and how he sees his role as the protector of the quarterback. This quote should bring a smile to every face in Patriot Nation. Here’s what the big young rookie had to say, and if you remember that far back, it’s John Hannah-esque for sure,

“It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and whenever you’re going out there, it’s either you or him, and I want it to be me every time. You have to love violence to be able to play on the offense and defensive line. And that’s something that I like.”

There’s a lot of meat on the bone of that quote, so let’s look at what it represents and what Patriot Nation will see when the real football begins. If you’ve been clamoring for years (hand-raised) for a top young left tackle, you’ll be happy to hear this.

Will Campbell talks like an Alpha Dog, expect him to back it up on the field

As one who feels most rookies should be seen and not heard most of the time, I believe this may be a situation where both may be in order. Will Campbell is a 6’6″, 320-pound mass of dominating offensive tackle. He also happens to be the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft. If that pick isn’t ready to talk the talk and then back it up by walking the walk, you have big problems. In this case, go for it.

Campbell equated football trenches to dogfights. He should know. He was a three-year starter at left tackle at LSU, the best proving ground for the NFL, the SEC football conference. All he did there was become the best tackle and best left tackle in the 2025 NFL draft.

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He also said you have to love violence, of course, in a football sense. Football is a smash-’em-up game. He’d better be OK with that aspect because, in the NFL, he’ll be roughing it up on every play he’s on the field. And, he said he doesn’t just like it, he loves it.

He knows it’s a one-on-one battle every play with the other guy who wants to roll over or by you, while you’re looking to pancake him while he’s at it. Two people in the Patriots world should like this more than any others. One is Mike Vrabel, who’s bet the proverbial farm that Campbell will be that Alpha Dog leader on his newly revamped O-line.

The other is his quarterback, Drake Maye. Maye suffered through the 2024 season with no NFL-class left tackle, nor almost any other capable O-lineman. He took the heat and suffered 34 sacks. Maye must be thrilled with Campbell’s take-no-prisoners attitude. He should be. It’s exactly what you want him to say and everyone else to hear. After all, it’s the NFL and a dog-eat-dog world.