The New England Patriots walked off the field after Super Bowl 60 with more questions than answers-especially up front. A 29-13 loss to Seattle exposed some glaring issues, and one of the most talked-about storylines coming out of the game was the performance of rookie left tackle Will Campbell.
Campbell, who had shown flashes during the regular season, struggled mightily against the Seahawks' relentless pass rush. And when you're protecting the blind side in the biggest game of the year, those struggles get magnified.
According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, league insiders are already weighing in on Campbell’s postseason performance-and what it means for his future. Some have even floated the idea of moving him inside to guard, a common suggestion for young tackles who hit early roadblocks. But not everyone is buying that idea.
Five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead offered a different perspective. Armstead, who knows a thing or two about holding down the edge at the highest level, doesn’t believe Campbell’s issues stem from physical limitations like arm length-a common critique for tackles. Instead, Armstead pointed to technique and timing.
“He said it was his set, having issues with power, his timing with punches,” Wolfe shared. That’s the kind of feedback you want from someone who’s been in the trenches and understands the nuances of the position.
Even more encouraging? Armstead is offering to personally work with Campbell this offseason in Dallas.
That kind of mentorship could be huge. Because while the Super Bowl spotlight revealed some cracks, it also came with context: Campbell was playing through a torn knee ligament suffered during the 2025 season. That’s not a minor injury, especially for an offensive lineman who relies on lower-body strength and balance to anchor against bull rushes and redirect edge speed.
The injury doesn’t excuse everything, but it certainly reframes the conversation. Campbell’s issues-especially with anchoring against power and timing his hand placement-are the kind that often improve with reps, coaching, and, most importantly, health.
Armstead believes those flaws are fixable. Wolfe noted that Campbell often looked like he was working backwards, not fully set when defenders engaged him.
That can be a death sentence against elite defensive lines like Seattle’s. But it’s also something that can improve with offseason work and live reps.
One stat that underscores how much the Patriots need to clean things up: they gave up 21 sacks during the playoffs. That’s a staggering number for any team, let alone one that made it all the way to the Super Bowl. Protecting the quarterback-and retooling the offensive line-will be high on New England’s priority list this offseason.
For Campbell, this offseason is critical. He’s got the physical tools, the willingness to play through pain, and now, potentially, the guidance of a seasoned vet in Armstead. The Patriots are betting that the rookie bumps are just that-bumps-and that Year 2 brings a more polished, confident version of the young tackle.
If that happens, New England’s offensive line could look a lot different next February.