Patriots create a contingency plan to maximize Will Campbell’s potential in a 2026 NFL mock draft

The Patriots may have to make a difficult decision to get the most out of Will Campbell and put the team in a position to succeed in the future.

Destin Adams — NFL News Writer
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Patriots tackle Will Campbell
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The New England Patriots came close but fell short of being crowned Super Bowl LX champions. Multiple things led to this, but the poor play of rookie left tackle Will Campbell looms large. 

Campbell wasn’t at 100% as he had been dealing with an MCL sprain since Week 12 of the regular season. But it’s hard to watch the Super Bowl film back and not think about what could have been if they hadn’t been playing from behind on nearly every passing play because of Campbell’s struggles. 

The Patriots have made it clear they don’t plan to change his position or move on from the young tackle. However, there are options to consider in this upcoming draft that could help push Campbell and improve their offensive line altogether. A new A to Z Sports mock draft details one of those options. 

Patriots select Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker in a new 2026 NFL mock draft

“The Patriots saw their 2025 first-round pick, Will Campbell, struggle mightily in the playoffs. Some think he would be better suited to play guard, but head coach Mike Vrabel has shut down that idea, though they’d be silly not to consider it at least. Iowa’s Gennings Dunker has the potential to play tackle or guard, so that the Patriots could let both battle it out for the LT spot, and the other would move inside to start at guard.” – New A to Z Sports mock draft

Iowa OT Gennings Dunker
Sep 13, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (67) looks on before the game against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Kinnick Stadium. Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Taking a tackle in the first round would probably feel like the Patriots are going back on their word, as Vrabel said the team isn’t moving Campbell to guard. The beauty in a player like Gennings Dunker, though, is that it would offer the Patriots flexibility. 

Both Campbell and Dunker could move inside to guard if needed, and I’d expect one of them to do so if this pick happened. In a perfect world, the pick motivates Campbell and helps the team get the most out of him going forward, and Dunker proves himself to be a really good guard.

Dunker was a dominant force at this year’s Senior Bowl, and despite many believing he is a better fit at guard, he looked the part of being a highly drafted tackle. If they get to training camp and Dunker outplays Campbell on the outside, then the team knows what they have to do. 

While it may sting, it could be what’s best for the longevity of his career. This move would also help the team better protect MVP runner-up Drake Maye going forward, which should be New England’s top priority in the offseason.