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New England Patriots get Drake Maye offensive line help in 2025 NFL Draft
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- New England Patriots get Drake Maye offensive line help in 2025 NFL Draft
The New England Patriots aced their first selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, taking former UNC quarterback Drake Maye third overall.
Maye gives New England the franchise quarterback it lacked since Tom Brady 's brief retirement. Though the Patriots struggled in 2024, finishing 4-13 for the second-consecutive season, Maye showed glimpses of why he'll be the guy in Foxborough for years to come.
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Part of New England's 2024 struggles dealt with its failure to protect Maye, with the former Tar Heel sacked 34 times, 13th-most in the NFL.
The Patriots need offensive line help in the worst way, so they went that direction in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell fourth overall. Campbell earned several honors during his junior season, highlighted by being named a Consensus All-American.
North Carolina and New England fans alike should be thrilled to hear this next statline: Campbell allowed just five total – yes, five – sacks during his three seasons in Baton Rouge.
Campbell got emotional when talking about his selection, but vows to protect Maye every snap. Maye returned the favor on his X (formerly Twitter) page, saying he "loves this guy already."
Campbell gives the Patriots a third reliable starter along its offensive line, joining former NC State offensive lineman Garrett Bradbury and former Virginia lineman Morgan Moses . Bradbury started all previous 88 NFL games he played, while Moses has 158 starts in 166 games.
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New England upgraded Maye's receiving corps earlier in the offseason, signing 4-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs to a 3-year deal. The Patriots also have Hunter Henry at tight end – and with Campbell the latest to join New England, Maye's sophomore NFL season looks plenty brighter.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Patriots take Will Campbell to protect Drake Maye in 2025 NFL Draft
