Editor’s note: This is the eighth story in a 10-part series looking at the most intriguing New England Patriots players ahead of training camp.Previously: Kyle Williams, Christian Gonzalez, Gabe Jacas, Romeo Doubs, Harold Landry, Alijah Vera-Tucker and TreVeyon HendersonAn otherwise magical season for the New England Patriots ended rather harshly in Super Bowl LX. But that may have been felt most acutely by Will Campbell.After the game, the rookie left tackle sat in silence in the losing locker room. He and coach Mike Vrabel shared a one-on-one conversation.Outside those walls, national attention fell on Campbell, who, while playing through a late-season knee injury, had his worst game on the biggest stage. Campbell allowed eight pressures in the Super Bowl, according to TruMedia, after allowing four in the divisional round against the Texans and five in the wild-card round against the Chargers.In short, it was a tough end to a season that otherwise had plenty of promising moments. It also sets up a massive Year 2 for Campbell, who is one of the Patriots’ most intriguing players entering training camp.Why the Patriots traded for A.J. BrownChad GraffHistoryCampbell was raised in Monroe, La., and dreamed of playing for LSU as a child. His stories from high school became well known in those parts, from when he became a fill-in starter as a freshman to the time he was injured but quietly put on his pads at halftime of a game and helped his team to a comeback win.Campbell attended LSU, was named a consensus All-American and was so good that he became the first offensive lineman to be honored with the school’s prestigious No. 7, given to the most impactful player on the roster from the state of Louisiana.Campbell’s athletic testing at the scouting combine was excellent, but a measurement there also prompted a debate that lingers today. Campbell’s arms measured at just 32 5/8 inches, which would make him an outlier if he goes on to have a productive, lengthy NFL career at left tackle.Still, the Patriots took Campbell with the fourth pick in the 2025 draft, believing they had the player to protect Drake Maye’s blindside for years to come.Offseason recapThe Patriots heard the criticism of Campbell after the team’s playoff run and quickly tried to shut it down.They pointed out that Campbell’s struggles followed a torn MCL he suffered in late November, which impacted his ability to anchor. And, crucially, the team doubled down on the idea that there were no second thoughts about Campbell being their long-term left tackle, even amid commentary suggesting he may be better at left guard if the Pats were willing to move him there.So as training camp nears, Campbell remains New England’s undisputed left tackle.X-factorStill, what the team did in the draft at least gives them a backup plan. The Patriots drafted left tackle Caleb Lomu in the first round and are expected to move him to right tackle, where he can serve as the bookend to Campbell for years to come.But if things don’t go as planned, an interesting dilemma could arise. What if Campbell struggles to open the season? What if, coupled with that, injury-prone left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker gets hurt? In that scenario, might the Patriots entertain the idea of sliding Campbell inside to guard and having Lomu take over at left tackle?Reasons for optimismLet’s not forget that Campbell, as a 21-year-old rookie, was playing one of the hardest positions on the field, so there are still plenty of reasons to have faith in him.Yes, Campbell was graded last season (by Pro Football Focus) as the 43rd-best tackle in run blocking and was 58th in pass protection. But his numbers were better before the injury, when he ranked 40th and 37th, respectively. So it’s hard to nitpick too much when he was a totally different player before and after the MCL tear.If Campbell can make the improvements you’d expect from a highly drafted player entering Year 2, he can be an above-average left tackle in 2026.Reasons for concernThe concern with Campbell leading into the draft proved to be legitimate. Essentially, if everything is perfect and he’s healthy, he can be a successful left tackle. But players at that position don’t typically stay healthy all season, and if Campbell does become limited at all, it’s tough for him to overcome even minor mistakes because of his wingspan.Campbell ranked 68th among offensive tackles last season in PFF’s efficiency metric, which looks at how often players allow pressures and sacks. And he allowed the 10th-most pressures and third-most sacks of any tackle, according to TruMedia.Perhaps most succinctly: The concern is that Campbell may have to move to guard to get the most out of him.What to watch in campSurely, it’s been a trying offseason for Campbell. He has never faced anything close to the scrutiny that came after the Super Bowl. How he handles that will be noteworthy.It seems like a positive sign that Campbell spent part of the offseason training with Lane Johnson and Tristan Wirfs, two of the best tackles in the league. It may not mean much, but it can’t hurt.The Patriots also don’t have the league’s best group of edge rushers, meaning Campbell won’t face the toughest challenge on a day-to-day basis in camp. But joint practices later this summer against the Eagles and Colts will be telling.