Why Mike Vrabel, Patriots Viewed Will Campbell Pick ‘Very Easy’

Will Campbell is a Patriot.

New England drafted the LSU offensive tackle with the No. 4 overall pick Thursday to solidify the offensive line and protect Drake Maye’s blind side. The Patriots checked off another major box of what’s been a productive offseason.

The ability to add a starter at a premium position helped New England and the Patriots were impressed by his production from his college days.

“We had some conversations to make sure we were prepared,” Vrabel told reporters, per team-provided video. “Those situations that we talked about a few weeks ago prior to the draft that we went through on Monday. This was a very, very easy pick for us.”

“This is a young player who cares deeply about the team, is a leader in that room,” Vrabel added. “To compare him to me or anybody else, no. We love his football character, his play demeanor, his play style, how coachable he is.”

The Patriots now move to Day 2 with the ability to fill out other areas of the roster after a successful run in free agency.