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FOXBOROUGH — With the No. 4 overall pick on Thursday night, Mike Vrabel was pleased to select Will Campbell out of LSU.
“This was a very, very easy pick for us,” Vrabel said.
The Patriots coach called Campbell a “foundational piece” and raved about his fit from a culture perspective. However, Campbell has been a polarizing prospect throughout the pre-draft process because of arm length concerns at left tackle.
So what did the experts think of the pick? Here’s how the Campbell selection was graded by national outlets:
The Ringer: B+
“The Patriots address a massive need here. Campbell is a steady, easy-moving blocker who plays with toughness and smarts in the trenches. I believe that Campbell has the quickness to play the blind side, but his lack of arm length raises legitimate concerns that the team may end up moving him to the inside. Campbell—a college tackle who might fit best at guard—doesn’t have the typical profile of a fourth pick, but at the end of the day, protecting Drake Maye should be the priority for this club." — Danny Kelly
The Athletic: A
“Campbell is the best offensive lineman in this draft — and that might have been close to a league-wide consensus. There are concerns about Campbell’s lack of elite length outside at left tackle, but those are probably overblown. The former LSU star’s hands and feet are as efficient as you’ll see from a three-year college player, and Campbell’s work ethic and football character are off the charts. This is a very safe pick that fills a need for a team trying to rebuild around its young QB. Great news for Drake Maye." — Nick Baumgardner
Sports Illustrated: C+
“Everyone knows his story at this point. Campbell was everyone’s top offensive tackle prospect until he measured with 32⅝-inch arms at the combine. At the LSU pro day that number was bumped to 33 inches, but the length is still far from ideal. That said, his tape is excellent. With the Tigers, Campbell made first-team All-SEC in 2023 and first-team All-American in ’24.” —Matt Verderame
Yahoo: B+
“Simple is as simple does. The Patriots needed a left tackle and they got arguably the best guy in this class. The Patriots offense has their quarterback in Drake Maye, but they still needed offensive tackle help which they can get here in a hurry with Campbell. Even if Campbell isn’t a tackle, they can still get their best five linemen on the field.” — Charles McDonald
Fox Sports: B+
“Campbell has everything NFL teams are looking for at the tackle position except ideal arm length. But, some have made far too much of his 33-inch arms, especially given how agile the 6-foot-6, 319-pounder moves. For a club desperate to protect the investment made a year ago in their rookie quarterback Drake Maye, this pick makes all of the sense in the world and is the perfect way for new head coach Mike Vrabel to put his stamp on the team. It isn’t flashy, but neither is Vrabel. This pick is about New England returning to the blue-collar physicality that epitomized the ‘Patriot Way.’” — Rob Rang
Bleacher Report: B
“The New England Patriots did the expected by taking LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell with the No. 4 overall pick. There’s nothing wrong with that approach.” — Brent Sobleski
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“This was a very, very easy pick for us,” Vrabel said.
The Patriots coach called Campbell a “foundational piece” and raved about his fit from a culture perspective. However, Campbell has been a polarizing prospect throughout the pre-draft process because of arm length concerns at left tackle.
So what did the experts think of the pick? Here’s how the Campbell selection was graded by national outlets:
The Ringer: B+
“The Patriots address a massive need here. Campbell is a steady, easy-moving blocker who plays with toughness and smarts in the trenches. I believe that Campbell has the quickness to play the blind side, but his lack of arm length raises legitimate concerns that the team may end up moving him to the inside. Campbell—a college tackle who might fit best at guard—doesn’t have the typical profile of a fourth pick, but at the end of the day, protecting Drake Maye should be the priority for this club." — Danny Kelly
The Athletic: A
“Campbell is the best offensive lineman in this draft — and that might have been close to a league-wide consensus. There are concerns about Campbell’s lack of elite length outside at left tackle, but those are probably overblown. The former LSU star’s hands and feet are as efficient as you’ll see from a three-year college player, and Campbell’s work ethic and football character are off the charts. This is a very safe pick that fills a need for a team trying to rebuild around its young QB. Great news for Drake Maye." — Nick Baumgardner
Sports Illustrated: C+
“Everyone knows his story at this point. Campbell was everyone’s top offensive tackle prospect until he measured with 32⅝-inch arms at the combine. At the LSU pro day that number was bumped to 33 inches, but the length is still far from ideal. That said, his tape is excellent. With the Tigers, Campbell made first-team All-SEC in 2023 and first-team All-American in ’24.” —Matt Verderame
Yahoo: B+
“Simple is as simple does. The Patriots needed a left tackle and they got arguably the best guy in this class. The Patriots offense has their quarterback in Drake Maye, but they still needed offensive tackle help which they can get here in a hurry with Campbell. Even if Campbell isn’t a tackle, they can still get their best five linemen on the field.” — Charles McDonald
Fox Sports: B+
“Campbell has everything NFL teams are looking for at the tackle position except ideal arm length. But, some have made far too much of his 33-inch arms, especially given how agile the 6-foot-6, 319-pounder moves. For a club desperate to protect the investment made a year ago in their rookie quarterback Drake Maye, this pick makes all of the sense in the world and is the perfect way for new head coach Mike Vrabel to put his stamp on the team. It isn’t flashy, but neither is Vrabel. This pick is about New England returning to the blue-collar physicality that epitomized the ‘Patriot Way.’” — Rob Rang
Bleacher Report: B
“The New England Patriots did the expected by taking LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell with the No. 4 overall pick. There’s nothing wrong with that approach.” — Brent Sobleski
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