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The Patriots opted to beef up their offensive line with the No. 4 overall pick, drafting Will Campbell out of LSU.
The left tackle was a polarizing draft evaluation given shorter-than-normal arm length — some project him as a guard — but ultimately, the Patriots believe he can play.
So what did experts say about Campbell leading up to the NFL Draft?
Let’s take a look:
Campbell: 11th ranked prospect
“Campbell has ideal height, bulk and athleticism for his position. In pass pro, he stays square, bends well and keeps his hands in tight. He will expose his chest at times (due to his lack of ideal length) but he’s able to recover after giving up some initial ground. He can slide and redirect with ease. He flashes the upper-body strength to torque and control defenders. In the run game, he can wash defenders on down blocks and he stays attached to/through the whistle. There’s been a lot of talk about Campbell’s arm length during the evaluation process, but he had to be pleased they measured 33 inches at LSU’s pro day. He is just scratching the surface of his potential and should start at tackle for a decade, provided he stays healthy.”
Campbell: 6th ranked prospect
“Campbell stays balanced in pass protection because of his weight distribution and controlled technique, although he can do a better job protecting versus inside/counter moves (see his reps versus Kyle Kennard on the 2024 South Carolina tape). He is rugged in the run game and offers the body fluidity and explosive power to torque and displace defenders. Overall, Campbell’s mediocre arm length lessens his margin for error, but his athletic movements, core strength and competitive finish help him stay connected through the whistle, regardless of the block required. His skill set is reminiscent of a more powerful version of Colts left tackle Bernhard Raimann, although some NFL teams project him best as an interior blocker.”
Campbell: 14th ranked prospect
“Campbell is a powerful drive blocker with the core strength to move defenders off the ball. He’s smooth getting set and delivers a powerful punch in pass protection. He latches on with his hands and stays in front of defenders once locked on. He sets high, but he’s big and strong enough to anchor. At 319 pounds, Campbell ran a sub five-second 40-yard dash and had the second-best broad jump (9-foot-5) out of the offensive tackles at the combine. He has 32 7/8-inch arms, which is concerning because there are only two starting left tackles with arms shorter than 33 inches in the NFL. But teams could bet on his ability to overcome it given his technique, mobility, strength and toughness.”
Campbell: 13th ranked prospect
“Athletic left tackle prospect who’s durable and battle-tested but has elements of high risk, high reward in his game. Campbell is a thumping run blocker who can clear out B-gaps with forceful down blocks and displace base blocks with his ‘strike and run’ technique. He struggles to win laterally, though. He will lunge and miss against stunts and movement. Campbell operates with good athleticism and agility in pass protection but is way too leaky against inside moves. He has a jarring, heavy punch and can latch in to control the rep. However, he has short arms and when he’s beaten to first action, the footwork and technique go out the window, forcing him to scramble and survive to save the pocket. His play is determined, spirited and aggressive, which works in his favor, but Campbell must learn to vary his pass-set technique and operate with optimal hand timing in order to thrive at tackle instead of being moved to guard.”
Campbell: 6th ranked prospect
“Campbell is an offensive lineman’s offensive lineman. He approaches the position with excellent respect for what it takes to be great in the trenches: fundamentals, IQ and competitive toughness. His length and flexibility limitations might push him inside in the NFL, but this is a starting-caliber player at all five spots on the line.”
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The left tackle was a polarizing draft evaluation given shorter-than-normal arm length — some project him as a guard — but ultimately, the Patriots believe he can play.
So what did experts say about Campbell leading up to the NFL Draft?
Let’s take a look:
NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah
Campbell: 11th ranked prospect
“Campbell has ideal height, bulk and athleticism for his position. In pass pro, he stays square, bends well and keeps his hands in tight. He will expose his chest at times (due to his lack of ideal length) but he’s able to recover after giving up some initial ground. He can slide and redirect with ease. He flashes the upper-body strength to torque and control defenders. In the run game, he can wash defenders on down blocks and he stays attached to/through the whistle. There’s been a lot of talk about Campbell’s arm length during the evaluation process, but he had to be pleased they measured 33 inches at LSU’s pro day. He is just scratching the surface of his potential and should start at tackle for a decade, provided he stays healthy.”
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler
Campbell: 6th ranked prospect
“Campbell stays balanced in pass protection because of his weight distribution and controlled technique, although he can do a better job protecting versus inside/counter moves (see his reps versus Kyle Kennard on the 2024 South Carolina tape). He is rugged in the run game and offers the body fluidity and explosive power to torque and displace defenders. Overall, Campbell’s mediocre arm length lessens his margin for error, but his athletic movements, core strength and competitive finish help him stay connected through the whistle, regardless of the block required. His skill set is reminiscent of a more powerful version of Colts left tackle Bernhard Raimann, although some NFL teams project him best as an interior blocker.”
ESPN’s Steve Muench
Campbell: 14th ranked prospect
“Campbell is a powerful drive blocker with the core strength to move defenders off the ball. He’s smooth getting set and delivers a powerful punch in pass protection. He latches on with his hands and stays in front of defenders once locked on. He sets high, but he’s big and strong enough to anchor. At 319 pounds, Campbell ran a sub five-second 40-yard dash and had the second-best broad jump (9-foot-5) out of the offensive tackles at the combine. He has 32 7/8-inch arms, which is concerning because there are only two starting left tackles with arms shorter than 33 inches in the NFL. But teams could bet on his ability to overcome it given his technique, mobility, strength and toughness.”
NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein
Campbell: 13th ranked prospect
“Athletic left tackle prospect who’s durable and battle-tested but has elements of high risk, high reward in his game. Campbell is a thumping run blocker who can clear out B-gaps with forceful down blocks and displace base blocks with his ‘strike and run’ technique. He struggles to win laterally, though. He will lunge and miss against stunts and movement. Campbell operates with good athleticism and agility in pass protection but is way too leaky against inside moves. He has a jarring, heavy punch and can latch in to control the rep. However, he has short arms and when he’s beaten to first action, the footwork and technique go out the window, forcing him to scramble and survive to save the pocket. His play is determined, spirited and aggressive, which works in his favor, but Campbell must learn to vary his pass-set technique and operate with optimal hand timing in order to thrive at tackle instead of being moved to guard.”
PFF’s Trevor Sikkema
Campbell: 6th ranked prospect
“Campbell is an offensive lineman’s offensive lineman. He approaches the position with excellent respect for what it takes to be great in the trenches: fundamentals, IQ and competitive toughness. His length and flexibility limitations might push him inside in the NFL, but this is a starting-caliber player at all five spots on the line.”
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