Former struggling OT turned All-Pro weighs in on Will Campbell

It didn't take much for New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas to put himself in the shoes of New England Patriots rookie Will Campbell on Tuesday.

Thomas, 27, is a six-year veteran in the NFL. The Georgia product was drafted No. 4 overall by the Giants in the 2020 NFL Draft. Campbell was taken with the same pick in the 2025 draft. Campbell struggled in Super Bowl LX, allowing 14 pressures to Patriots quarterback Drake Maye . Amid a wave of scrutiny, Thomas, who also withstood heavy criticism early in his career, appraised Campbell just days after the Super Bowl.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz , Thomas preached patience regarding Campbell being castigated for his play.

“Playing this position with so much expectation isn’t easy as a rookie," Thomas said. "Give him time to adjust to the game and improve his technique. People labeled me a bust, but I just needed more time to develop. He is made of the right stuff. You can tell he loves the game. He was playing with a brutal injury. He will get better. Just have some patience.”

It took Thomas three seasons to emerge in the NFL. Pro Football Focus gave the Georgia native a player grade of 62.4 as a rookie. That rose to 78.9 in 2021, followed by 90.3 in 2022. Thomas was named second-team All-Pro in 2022.

Much like Thomas, Campbell has time to prove himself. The 22-year-old has the backing of his head coach, Mike Vrabel. Campbell will remain at left tackle in 2026.

Thomas' cosign of Campbell follows Vrabel's show of support, from a player who made the most of patience being invested in him.

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Former struggling OT turned All-Pro weighs in on Will Campbell