I know people say not to get carried away by preseason games, but I’m going to. After watching the Patriots slog through a 4-13 campaign last year, I’m going to soak in every bit of what we saw last Friday against the Washington Commanders.
Let’s start with the first two picks from this past draft.
First, Will Campbell. My friends are probably tired of hearing me talk about him — I’ve been banging the “Draft Will Campbell” drum since midway through last season. Now, seeing him in an NFL game, albeit preseason, he lived up to the hype.
On every snap, Campbell was giving his all — and, most importantly, finishing his blocks. On multiple plays, he was 15 yards past the line of scrimmage, still driving defenders out of the picture. That’s the kind of edge and effort you want from a rookie lineman.
Every pre- and post-draft analyst seemed to agree Campbell was a “Mike Vrabel guy,” and you could see why from the way he played.
Not only is he big enough to hold down the left tackle spot, but his athleticism stood out on TV. On the very first play, Campbell pulled left, took on a Washington defensive back and blocked him 10 yards downfield to spring a big gain. His ability to reach the second level will be a huge asset, especially if offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels can trust him to sustain blocks downfield.
Later in the drive, Campbell and fellow rookie Jared Wilson got caught on a stunt that resulted in a Drake Maye sack. That’s a teachable moment — pass protection typically takes longer for rookies to master than run blocking. There will be wrinkles, but for a first game, the signs were all positive.
The Patriots’ second pick in April, TreVeyon Henderson, also made a splash. All the draft experts said he was fast — they weren’t lying. On his very first NFL play, Henderson returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, showing the burst and elusiveness that made him such an enticing pick.
McDaniels is surely eager to get Henderson more involved in the backfield. Not only will he be one of the fastest players on the field every week, but he’s not shy about lowering his shoulder for extra yards. On several runs, he initiated contact to gain an extra yard or two — the kind of toughness Vrabel will appreciate.
Both rookies were standouts on Friday. The preseason is a long way from January, but if Campbell and Henderson keep building on this start — especially during the upcoming joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings — Patriots fans might have a lot more to cheer about this fall.
