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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patriots coach offers update on ‘very professional' 1st-round pick
As Will Campbell makes the leap to the NFL, his offensive line coach is pleased with the way he's acclimating. Taken at No. 4 overall in April's draft, Campbell is expected to be New England's Week 1 starter at left tackle and has been repping there at voluntary OTAs. Spring is a tricky time to evaluate linemen — they're not in pads — but Doug Marrone provided a positive update on what he's seen from Campbell thus far. Advertisement 'It's been good,' Marrone said. 'We're working really a ton on the details and fundamentals. Every rep — he's gotten a lot of reps — the way Coach (Mike) Vrabel has the way the practices set up, we've gotten a lot of great work against our defense. All those things are going to help him. He's progressing towards when we get to training camp. So it's been great from that standpoint.' Off the field, Marrone said Campbell's 'work and the dedication' have stood out to him. The 21-year-old has been present for all of the team's voluntary activities open to reporters. Monday morning was the first time Marrone had spoken to the media since the Patriots drafted Campbell, so the offensive line coach was asked about the rookie's polarizing 32 ⅝ inch arm length measurements. Marrone acknowledged arm length can be a factor, but then veered his answer back into praising the early impression Campbell has made on him. 'It's something that you look at and you look to see if it affects the way the player plays. Right now, that's not going to change,' Marrone said. 'We're just working basically fundamentally, and the details, and seeing all the different looks you can see, and he's been doing a great job of that. Advertisement 'He's continuing work hard every day. He's been out here. He goes to work every day. Every day you're learning something, and you're getting better, and you're not trying to make the same mistake twice, and that's how he's gone about it. He's gone about his business very professional and that's a great start.' More Patriots Content Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Patriots 1st-round pick inks deal
The Patriots have locked up first-round pick Will Campbell, who is expected to be Drake Maye's blindside protection for the foreseeable future. Campbell and the team agreed to terms on a four-year, $43.66 million full guaranteed rookie contract, with a $28.39 million signing bonus, a source confirmed. Advertisement The LSU product, taken No. 4 overall in April's draft, has been a fixture at left tackle during all of the early season camp. While it's tough to get a true gauge with the evaluation of lineman given they're not in pads during spring workouts, offensive line coach Doug Marrone gave Campbell a thumbs up based on what he's seen so far from the rookie. 'It's been good,' Marrone said. 'We're working really a ton on the details and fundamentals. Every rep — he's gotten a lot of reps — the way Coach (Mike) Vrabel has the way the practices set up, we've gotten a lot of great work against our defense. All those things are going to help him. He's progressing towards when we get to training camp. So it's been great from that standpoint.' Marrone also said Campbell's 'work' and 'dedication' have stood out to him. The 21-year-old has been present for all of the team's voluntary activities open to reporters. Advertisement Much of the pre-draft talk was about Campbell not having adequate arm length to succeed at the position. Marrone has seen nothing at this stage to suggest Campbell will have trouble. 'It's something that you look at and you look to see if it affects the way the player plays. Right now, that's not going to change,' Marrone said. 'We're just working basically fundamentally, and the details, and seeing all the different looks you can see, and he's been doing a great job of that. 'He's continuing work hard every day. He's been out here. He goes to work every day. Every day you're learning something, and you're getting better, and you're not trying to make the same mistake twice, and that's how he's gone about it. He's gone about his business very professional and that's a great start.' NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was the first to report the news of Campbell's signing. Advertisement The Patriots still have two rookies (TreVeyon Henderson, Craig Woodson) who have yet to sign their respective deals. More Patriots Content Read the original article on MassLive.
New York Times
5 days ago
- General
- New York Times
Patriots rookies' first impressions: How have their 11 draft picks looked at OTAs?
Earlier this week, New England Patriots offensive line coach Doug Marrone sidestepped questions about rookie Will Campbell's development so far. It was fair to be a bit evasive considering, as Marrone pointed out, there have only been a few spring practices, the players aren't yet wearing pads, they're not quite at full go and the playbook is simplified. Advertisement That said, only Drake Maye's development is more important this summer than the question of how Campbell fares at left tackle, particularly given that the Pats used the No. 4 pick in April's draft on him. So even if the Patriots are merely finishing their voluntary OTA practices this week, we've now had a chance to see the team's 11-person draft class on the field. With minicamp on the horizon, let's offer up some first impressions. There is, of course, still a long way to go for these rookies and plenty of development that coaches are banking on. But here's how things stack up in early June. Off the field, Campbell has done everything you'd want from the No. 4 pick. He says the right things, has vowed to protect Maye and stuck around after practice to pick veterans' brains. On the field, it's been up and down. But that's to be expected, as multiple coaches noted, especially from a rookie offensive lineman. Most every play is lined up as third-and-10, so rushers can pin their ears back and go. Playbooks are still being learned, and no one is wearing pads, so there's an early advantage for speed rushers, which hurts players like Campbell. Even if the Pats O-line has been beaten on the edges so far (including Campbell), it doesn't really matter unless it continues well into August. 2025 outlook: There's little doubt he's going to be the starting left tackle. OTAs aren't a great setup for him since it favors speedy edge rushers. But the future is bright, and that should show up more in training camp. I was pretty critical of this pick when the Pats took him in the second round. (I didn't think a rebuilding team needed to use a pick that high on a running back.) But Henderson is a ton of fun to watch and brings a pop that the offense doesn't have without him. He has been the lone consistently explosive player in OTAs. His speed is obvious. He might be the most fun player for fans to watch in training camp. 2025 outlook: My bold prediction: Henderson overtakes Rhamondre Stevenson as the starting running back in the first half of the season and leads the team in rushing yards. Like all rookies, he's had ups and downs. So far, what's been good to see is that he isn't a repeat offender with his mistakes (which has been an issue with some rookie receivers the Patriots have drafted in recent years). One thing to keep an eye on in camp? On an offense that lacks juice, he needs to prove to Maye that he can be a downfield target. 2025 outlook: The guess here is he'll be the team's No. 4 wide receiver, eventually settling into a role behind Demario Douglas, Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins or Kayshon Boutte. He has been a limited participant, so it's difficult to glean too much. But his athleticism is intriguing, and he looks the part (along with his athletic testing) of a long-term center in the NFL. 2025 outlook: Training camp will bring a competition between him and Garrett Bradbury for the starting job, but Bradbury probably enters with a slight leg up, which could put Wilson on the bench to start the season. Teammates have raved about the way Woodson has taken to the defense and his maturity on the back end. He has gotten additional reps because of Kyle Dugger's injury, and so far, he's making the most of them. Advertisement 2025 outlook: It's going to be a crowded group of safeties, which could make it tough for Woodson to carve out a role, but he should contribute on special teams if nothing else. It's tough for interior defensive linemen to stand out in OTAs since there are far more passing plays than rushes. That said, he has already shown nice instincts filling a hole in a simulated rush and tipping a pass on Monday. 2025 outlook: He'll likely begin as a backup but has a chance to carve out a bigger role if he plays well against the run. With the defensive front seven rotating a lot, Swinson has had plenty of early opportunities and shown flashes with some burst off the edge. Again, this portion of the offseason favors players like Swinson, but it's not a bad thing to stand out. 2025 outlook: The opportunity is there for him to carve out a role since a lot is unsettled on the edge, but he'll be behind Harold Landry and Keion White. I stood behind the kick returners on Monday, and it was interesting hearing them tell each other to adjust because Borregales' kicks were coming in from a higher trajectory than John Parker Romo's, a testament to the rookie's strong leg. 2025 outlook: Barring a terrible camp, he'll be the kicker. Bryant is typically one of the final players to leave the practice field and has taken to following right tackle Morgan Moses around, since the vet has been so willing to share tidbits between plays and on the sideline. 2025 outlook: A spot on the practice squad is most likely, but he could develop into a swing tackle down the road. 2025 outlook: Not much to report here other than the snaps at practice seem fine and Ashby will be the new long snapper, following the incredible run Joe Cardona had with the Patriots at the position. Advertisement Carlton Davis wasn't at practice Monday, so Minor got extra reps. It's tough to evaluate too much since corners are told 50-50 balls in OTAs should go to receivers, but speed could be an issue for him once the pads come on. 2025 outlook: He's probably a long shot to make the squad, but nothing is settled for the Pats at cornerback behind Christian Gonzalez and Davis. (Photo of Will Campbell: Eric Canha / Imagn Images)
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Will Campbell reportedly signs rookie contract with New England Patriots
Will Campbell is locked in and ready to go with the Patriots. The No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft has reportedly signed his rookie contract with New England, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday. It's a four-year, $43.66 million pact for Campbell, which is fully guaranteed. The deal also includes a $28.39 million signing bonus, according to Rapoport. Not a bad payday for a 21-year-old preparing for their first NFL season. With Campbell signing on the dotted line, Jacksonville's Travis Hunter is the only Top 10 pick from the 2025 NFL Draft that remains unsigned. The Jaguars traded up to draft the electric corner/wide receiver with the second overall pick in April. Will Campbell with the Patriots The Patriots are hoping they've found their left tackle of the future in Campbell, who locked down the left side of the LSU offensive line for three seasons before he was drafted by New England. Campbell didn't let his quarterbacks hit the turf very much at the college level, as he allowed just five sacks and 45 QB pressures over 2,553 snaps. He allowed just two sacks in 2024 over 557 pass-blocking snaps for the Tigers. Campbell took over the starting left tackle job at LSU as a freshman, and the Patriots are envisioning him lining up on Drake Maye's left side come Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium. That's where the rookie has been taking snaps during OTAs, and Campbell's work ethic earned the praises of New England offensive line coach Doug Marrone on Monday. "We're working really a ton on the details and fundamentals," Marrone said of Campbell's workload this summer. "He's gotten a lot of reps, and the way Coach Vrabel has the practices set up, we've gotten a lot of great work against our defense. All those things are going to help him. "He's progressing towards when we get to training camp, so it's been great from that standpoint," added Marrone.
USA Today
28-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL world reacts to Patriots assembling all-star coaching staff
It has been full steam ahead for New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel since arriving in Foxborough. He went from the podium at his introductory press conference to the office to begin assembling what many view as the deepest and most experienced coaching staff the Patriots have seen in years. Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan claimed it might be the best coaching staff on paper since the team's last Super Bowl run in the 2018 season. The Patriots are bringing back Josh McDaniels, a six-time Super Bowl champion, as the offensive coordinator. So quarterback Drake Maye will have the same guy in his ear who coached Tom Brady, the greatest of all time. On the defensive side of the ball, they went with an aggressive and fierce defensive mind in Terrell Williams, who has been coaching at the collegiate and NFL levels since 1998. They also kept Jeremy Springer as the special teams coordinator. The special teams unit was one of the few positives for the Patriots in 2024, and it spawned the team's only Pro Bowler in Brenden Schooler. Along with the strong coordinator selections, the Patriots managed to land multiple high-level assistants, including Doug Marrone, Thomas Brown and Tony Dews. Positions haven't been confirmed (this is my guess) but Mike Vrabel's staff is looking really solid. OC: Josh McDanielsQB coach: Ashton GrantPass game coordinator: Thomas BrownOL: Doug Marrone / Jason HoughtalingRB: Tony DewsOff Ast: Riley LarkinDC: Terrell WilliamsDL:… Here's what fans are saying on social media about what some are deeming an all-star coaching staff:
