At this time last year, Mike Vrabel and the Patriots were weighing their options with the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That process took them to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a meeting with offensive tackle Will Campbell.
That trip marked the first time Vrabel and Campbell crossed paths during the pre-draft cycle, and it began with a long BBQ dinner.
“Me and him ate barbecue for four and a half hours and sat down and talked,” Campbell said. “I took them to my favorite spot in Baton Rouge
to eat. They all loved it… It’s called Phils. It’s got all the old LSU jerseys. They’ve got char-grilled oysters, seafood. They’ve got everything. If you’re down there, you need to go.”
“The meal was excellent,” Vrabel added. “A lot of those local establishments take care of the boys down there in Baton Rouge. It was a big spread, a great meal, and I hope to go back there and hang out. We had a good time.”
Campbell made it clear early in the process he wanted to be drafted by New England. He might have ultimately sealed the deal when the work eventually transferred from the dinner table to the practice field in a later meeting between the two.
During an on-field workout in front of an eight-to-nine man Patriots’ contingent, Campbell knew what was at stake. As Vrabel opted to grab his signature chest pad to put the tackle through a hands-on workout himself, he found his opportunity. On one blocking rep, Campbell drove Vrabel to the ground.
“Will wanted to make it known that he wanted to be here by that visit,” Vrabel said. “Not when he visited our place, but when we visited there. It was clear that this was the place that he wanted to be.”
New England ultimately selected Campbell fourth overall, and he went on to start 16 games protecting Drake Maye’s blindside as a rookie. After missing five games late in the season with an MCL injury, Campbell returned in Week 18 and has started every playoff game since. His next start will come Sunday in the Super Bowl against the Seahawks.
Throughout the season, his relationship with Vrabel continued to grow.
“I’ve enjoyed every single moment of this season. Playing for him, I don’t really ever want to have to play for anybody else,” Campbell said. “It’s been the most fun in a football season I’ve had since high school, so I’m super grateful to be here. I I expressed a lot that I wanted to be here for it to happen and the way it went and the relationships that we’ve made on this team and the bonds, it’s been awesome.”
