Will Campbell had you fooled last year. Before the MCL tear derailed his postseason, the Patriots right tackle was playing well enough to suggest Year 1 competence. Then the playoffs happened, and suddenly everyone forgot he'd actually done his job in the regular season. That's the brutal mathematics of football in New England: one bad stretch can erase months of solid work.
Here's what matters: Campbell is a foundational piece for Mike Vrabel's offensive line, and if the Patriots want another Super Bowl run, he has to prove last season's collapse was an outlier, not a preview. Through the early going this offseason, the signs are encouraging. Campbell looks sharper, more confident in his footwork. That's not nothing. The offensive line is supposed to be a strength under Vrabel, and Campbell's role in that equation can't be understated.
The real test, though, is whether he can sustain it. Year 2 jumps are real in this league, especially for young tackles navigating the gauntlet of edge rushers. Campbell has the tools. He has the coaching. What he needed was the reset, and he appears to have taken it seriously. Morgan Moses is handling the other side, and if Campbell can stay healthy and consistent, the Patriots suddenly have a legitimate foundation on the front five.
This isn't about one player carrying the load. It's about depth and durability. Campbell's success this season directly impacts how Drake Maye develops in the pocket, how effective the run game becomes, how much pressure Vrabel can dial up defensively knowing his quarterback has time. One position player, cascading effects.
The postseason nightmare will fade if Campbell proves it was a blip. And right now, in August, he's trending the right direction.