The Patriots were on the clock at No. 4. They knew what they were doing, thinking about Drake Maye, when they called Will Campbell‘s name. Most mocks had the LSU OT penciled in: towering at 6-foot-6, 323 pounds, with the kind of résumé that made offensive line coaches drool. A two-time All-SEC tackle from LSU. A consensus All-American. And an immovable anchor who only gave up two sacks in his final college season. Still, when Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling poured through the speakers at the NFL Draft green room in Detroit, the song did more than score a moment. It cracked something open for Campbell.

“I got that sunshine in my pocket…” the chorus beamed just as Campbell’s phone began to ring. The Patriots were calling. And while his green pinstriped suit shimmered under the lights, it was the photo of a 16-year-old boy—tucked quietly inside his jacket—that carried the real weight. “I think it was a sign,” Campbell said. “Like God was giving me one more moment with him.”

Tarver Braddock was not just his cousin. He was Will’s shadow, best friend, comic relief, game-day sidekick, and emotional ballast. When Tarver died in a house fire in Monroe, Louisiana, in 2024, something inside Campbell just broke. But as the draft built to a crescendo and the dream finally arrived, Tarver wasn’t forgotten—he was stitched into the moment, literally, as Will and his brother tucked his photo into their pockets.

“We joked he would’ve been living it up in the green room,” said Holly Campbell, Will’s mom. “That is totally his vibe. The flashier, the better. Life of the party. He would’ve been savoring every second.” For the Campbell and Braddock families, the NFL Draft was more than a football celebration. It was the first joyful moment after a year marred by five family losses, including Tarver’s. Grief and gratitude had been dancing awkwardly for months, and this time, they both showed up.

Lindsey Braddock, Tarver’s mother, handed out the photos before the night began and then stood back, heart pounding, when the music hit. “Right before Will’s phone rang from the Patriots, ‘Sunshine in my pocket’ was playing on the loudspeaker,” she recalled. “It was really crazy—kind of like he [Tarver] was there with us.”

So now, New England gets more than a left tackle with elite footwork and the mindset of a bulldozer. They’re getting a protector who knows loss. A young man who buried his grief and his cousin’s photo in his suit on the biggest night of his life. Will Campbell will block for Drake Maye. He’ll absorb hits and anchor pockets. But he’ll also carry something you can’t coach. “We were brothers,” Campbell said. “The only thing we didn’t share was a last name.”

Drake Maye knows who he’s getting in Will Campbell

Drake Maye didn’t need a scouting report to know what Will Campbell’s all about. He saw it on draft night—raw emotion, zero filters, and one promise that hit like a pulling guard: “I’m going to fight and die to protect him with everything I’ve got.” You felt that, right? The Patriots did too, locking in Campbell at No. 4 overall. First lineman off the board. And yeah, the tears were real. But so was the message.

Maye, who’s heard his name thrown around all offseason as New England’s maybe-savior, didn’t miss a beat reacting. “Love this guy already,” he posted on X, and it wasn’t for the clout. Turns out he was watching Campbell’s post-pick moment live. “It gets you going,” Maye said. “Gets your juices going.” That’s QB-speak for: this guy’s built for the trenches. Maye even met him in person during his visit and left with one impression—Campbell’s no-show pony. He’s a football player. Period.

The Pats needed this. After a 4-13 mess last season, New England had to build a fortress around Maye (as he received 34 hits) or risk stalling his development altogether. Enter Garrett Bradbury. Add Morgan Moses. Then cue Will Campbell. Throw in Stefon Diggs—yes, that Diggs—and now you’re starting to see it, right? A plan. An identity. Maye’s not just “pumped,” he’s seeing real pieces come together.

And while the roster refresh grabs headlines, the return of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels might be the sneaky power play here. Maye’s already diving into the new scheme. “His stuff works,” he said. “Proof’s in the pudding.” Watching Tom Brady’s old film? Yeah, that’s part of the curriculum now. But McDaniels has not built his offense for nostalgia. He has built it to win, and soon!