FOXBORO >> Will Campbell got his wish.

The Patriots’ fourth overall pick told reporters Thursday night that New England is where he wanted to be drafted from the start of the pre-draft process.

“(Patriots executive vice president of player personnel) Eliot Wolf came to my practice about Week 5 of the season, and I told him, this is where I wanted to be,” Campbell said Thursday night.

“I told him, and our area scout, Alex Brooks, that I wanted to be a Patriot, and that happened in the middle of the season. I’ve had great interactions with everybody throughout the process, a lot of them — private workouts, 30 visits, just being up there, getting to meet everybody. And you know, it’s just where I wanted to be. I’m just super excited to get there.”

Campbell said he recalls the Patriots dominating their opponents whenever he turned on the TV and mentioned watching Tom Brady, Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski by name.

Campbell said all of the right things about playing for a Patriots team that has won just four games in each of the past two seasons.

“It’s everything. I played for a historic program (at LSU). Now to play for one in New England, you know? I guess I’m lucky, but I’m just super excited and thankful to wear that logo and on the side of my helmet and across the front of my chest,” Campbell said. “It’s a complete honor, and I’m just excited.”

Campbell’s pre-draft visit to Foxboro was his first time in New England. He called it an “awesome place.”

“I just think that the culture and the New England Patriot logo speaks for itself,” Campbell said. “I believe in the guys in that locker room. I believe in the quarterback and Coach (Mike) Vrabel is my kind of guy. He’s all ball and no BS, and that’s what I want to play for. He’s very hands-on. He loves the players that he coaches. And you know, I just want to be a part of that.”

Campbell is excited to start working with last year’s first-round pick, quarterback Drake Maye. Campbell is expected to play left tackle with the ultra-important role of protecting Maye’s blindside.

The Patriots struggled to protect Maye last season with a revolving door at tackle, with Chukwuma Okorafor, Vederian Lowe, Caedan Wallace and Demontrey Jacobs all taking turn on the left side.

“He’s a heck of a player, a heck of a leader, and you know, he’s the commander of our offense,” Campbell said of Maye. “I’m not only excited to play with him, but you know the rest of the team, I’m excited for the future that we have in Foxboro, and I think we got a special season coming.”

No trade offers at No. 4

Between the moment the Patriots were on the clock at No. 4 overall and the second they submitted their pick, a few minutes passed.

Inside the team’s war room, the phone didn’t ring, and the Patriots weren’t surprised.

According to Mike Vrabel, the Pats never received an offer for the No. 4 pick.

“At this point, it was pretty quiet,” Vrabel said. “I think we would’ve entertained anything that anybody offered us, but it was pretty quiet.”

Vrabel also suggested most teams aiming to trade up in the draft were hoping to move into the top three picks for Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter or Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. The Jaguars jumped three spots from No. 5 overall in a giant trade with Cleveland that secured Hunter’s services, while the Giants stuck at No. 3 and selected Carter.

“I mean, I think everybody’s going up for two players, and one was already there and (the Giants) didn’t have to move and the other team that wanted to get to (No. 2) got there,” Vrabel said. “So we would have been open, but excited to be able to stay there and pick and get Will (Campbell).”

The only other prospect rumored to be a trade target for teams moving up in the top 10 was Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who came off the board at No. 6 overall to Las Vegas.

Best available on Day 2

The Patriots head into Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft with remaining needs all over their roster.

They’re expected to show interest especially at wide receiver, defensive end and defensive tackle.

Some players to watch include Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins, Ole Miss WR Tre Harris, TCU WR Jack Bech, Utah State WR Jalen Royals, Ohio State EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ole Miss EDGE Princely Umanmielen, Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer, LSU EDGE Bradyn Swinson, South Carolina DT T.J. Sanders, Texas A&M DT Shemar Turner and Kentucky DT Deone Walker.

Extra points

Campbell said on NFL Network that “I’m going to fight and die to protect (Maye).” Maye quote tweeted the video with the message, “Love this guy already LFG” … Tedy Bruschi’s reaction to the pick: “Immediately got better tonight. Welcome Will Campbell.”