Will Campbell leaned into guidance from Philadelphia Eagles tackle Lane Johnson as he prepared for his second NFL season, according to ESPN. Campbell said Johnson told him to be honest about his play; Campbell felt he had been “playing some solid ball” before he was hurt Nov. 23 and said he did not perform at the same level after that injury.
Campbell, the No. 4 pick in the 2025 draft, has drawn intense scrutiny since the Patriots’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX and perhaps even before, according to ESPN. Some speculated New England might move him to guard after selecting Utah tackle Caleb Lomu at No. 28, but Campbell remained the starting left tackle through 20 training-camp practices as he recovered from tearing a ligament in his right knee in late November.
A key part of Campbell’s offseason work was spending a week with Johnson, Tampa Bay’s Tristan Wirfs, Buffalo’s Dion Dawkins and Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey, according to ESPN. The group also included a former Navy SEAL, a former World’s Strongest Man champion and celebrity chef Robert Irvine, who is a close confidant of Johnson’s.
ESPN noted the level of competition Campbell sought: Dawkins (95.9%) and Wirfs (95.5%) ranked among the top tackles in pass-block win rate in 2025, while Humphrey led all centers at 98.5%. Johnson and Wirfs have won Super Bowls, and Johnson has taken the 22-year-old Campbell under his wing, according to ESPN.
Campbell attended Johnson’s “OL Masterminds Summit” while working out in Dallas and said watching and competing with experienced players helped his preparation, according to ESPN. Johnson said Campbell “looks thicker and bigger” and is healed from his knee injury, while Campbell added, “In this game, if you’re not honest with yourself, you won’t make it long. There’s always room to get better and grow,” according to ESPN.
