Patriots Mailbag: A.J. Brown’s impact, Will Campbell expectations and more – NBC Sports Boston

Rejoice, football fans. We’ve made it.

This is the final week without regular-season NFL football on our television screens this year. The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will kick off the 2026 season with a Super Bowl rematch on Wednesday night.

Before we focus on that Week 1 matchup, we have some mailbag questions to get to. NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots insider Phil Perry has the answers, and he dove deeper into each of them during the latest episode of the Next Pats Podcast.

Editor’s Note: Questions and answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Will the additions of A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Eli Raridon, and Reggie Gilliam as a blocker mold Drake Maye into more of a pocket passer, or will he always look to escape the pocket and run if things close in on him quickly? — WhatsupGuyPodcast on X

Listen, we know what Drake Maye is as an athlete. I think if you tell him he must be tethered to the pocket, you’re really removing one of his greatest strengths from him, and one of the greatest tools that he has in his toolbelt as a quarterback, which is his athleticism.

So, he will inevitably be pressured by this Seahawks defense, and it may happen with just four rushers. That’s how the Seahawks roll. Drake Maye’s gonna be under duress at times. He should be using his legs. He should be trying to do whatever he can to extend the play for an extra second or two.

Now, you can get into some trouble — and Drake Maye did at times in the postseason last year — not protecting the football in those instances. But if he can do both, buy himself time, allow guys like Doubs and Brown to uncover — maybe Pop Douglas who was running with the starters during training camp — while also protecting the football. That’s when, to me, you’re getting the most out of this incredibly valuable asset in Drake Maye.

What’s one thing you expect the Patriots to do differently this year simply because they have A.J. Brown? — FloridaGolfFan on X

I think one thing that A.J. Brown is going to allow them to do more this year than they did last year — and it’s pretty simple — is take shots down the field.

He’s the kind of player where you feel comfortable throwing it to him in those deeper areas, 20-plus yards beyond the line of scrimmage, just because he’s there. Even if he’s covered. He’s been so productive throughout the course of his career in terms of tracking the football, wrestling it away from the opposition. And Drake Maye’s been so accurate with the deep ball. That, to me, is one of the logical answers.

Who will be the vocal leader on this team? — WhatTheDellyonte on X

I like Milton Williams taking on a larger leadership role. I think he garnered so much respect from the Patriots, and I mean everybody on the Patriots — coaching staff, players, everybody involved — with what he was able to do last year and just how he handled himself. The ultimate professional, somebody that gets along with all corners of the locker room, and somebody who performed week after week after week.

It felt like he was the guy that a lot of the times was sort of the driving force of that defense, which was the driving force behind their playoff run last year.

So, could he be more of a vocal leader? Sure. I’m also not sure that’s going to be his personality week in and week out. I think Mack Hollins is a good option there.

I really think more is going to have to fall on Drake Maye’s shoulders, and I think he’s ready for it.

How do you think Will Campbell will do this season? — Mike on X

I think Will Campbell’s going to have a really good year. To me, he looks physically stronger. It looks like that’s one area of his game that he really tried to work on this offseason. He has the athleticism, we know. There’s a reason he was taken in the top five, and it wasn’t just because the Patriots had a glaring need at left tackle.

His athleticism is unique. And so, when you add that with what I think is a stronger frame and a healthier frame based on what we remember from him the last time we saw him in the postseason last season, you’re going to get a better performance. I really believe that.

If you don’t, I’d be surprised, and I’d wonder what comes next because they do have Caleb Lomu, and he played a lot of left tackle in college. If they feel as though at some point this season that they have to make that switch because Will Campbell’s just not getting it done, they at least have the flexibility and the optionality to do that. I just don’t see it happening. He had a tremendous camp, I thought.

Check out the full episode of the Next Pats Podcast below: