Will Campbell’s Playoff Debut Was a Rough Ride - But the Rookie Left Tackle Isn’t Backing Down
Will Campbell’s first taste of playoff football didn’t go quite the way he-or the Patriots-had hoped. The rookie left tackle, who’s been a steady presence on New England’s offensive line all season, hit some turbulence in the Wild Card round against the Los Angeles Chargers. And in the postseason, even a few missteps can get magnified under the spotlight.
Matched up for much of the game against Chargers edge rusher Odafe Oweh, Campbell had his hands full. Oweh, one of the more underrated disruptors in the league, gave the rookie a crash course in playoff-level pass rush.
The result? Three sacks credited to Oweh, including a strip sack late in the third quarter, and several moments where Campbell was visibly driven back into quarterback Drake Maye’s lap.
For a player drafted fourth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft and tasked with protecting the blind side of New England’s franchise quarterback, the stakes are always high. But Campbell didn’t shy away from accountability after the game. He owned up to the plays he wanted back, while also keeping things in perspective.
“Obviously, I didn’t pitch a shutout,” Campbell said. “I had two or three plays that I wish I could have back.
But that’s $300 million in defensive ends, and I’ve got a ton of respect for those dudes. It’s going to be like that every week in the playoffs.”
That’s a mature take from a rookie who just got a first-hand look at how relentless postseason defenses can be. And while the criticism came quickly-especially online-Campbell made it clear he’s not losing sleep over the noise.
“Honestly, I don’t give a (expletive) what anyone says,” Campbell said. “It’s easy to type behind a Twitter account that is fake.
I hold myself to the highest expectation of anybody. I want to be perfect.”
That kind of mindset is exactly what you want in your left tackle. Campbell knows the job comes with pressure, and he’s not running from it.
His regular season performance backs that up: five sacks allowed on the year and a 76.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranks 23rd among left tackles. Solid numbers for a rookie protecting a young quarterback in a rebuilding offense.
Now, things don’t get any easier. Next up for Campbell and the Patriots is a Divisional Round matchup against the Houston Texans, and that means a date with one of the league’s premier pass rushers: Danielle Hunter.
With 15 sacks on the season and one more added last week against the Steelers, Hunter is a nightmare in one-on-one situations. Campbell’s ability to hold his ground against a player of Hunter’s caliber could go a long way in determining how far this Patriots team can go.
The learning curve for rookie linemen in the NFL is steep-especially in January. But Campbell’s combination of talent, accountability, and edge suggests he’s ready to keep climbing.