Will Campbell, last year’s starting left tackle at Louisiana State, is considered one of the best offensive line prospects in this year’s NFL Draft. The 6-foot-6-inch, 320-pounder has a near-peerless résumé. In 2024, he was a consensus All-American, All-SEC (first team), and was co-winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the top lineman in the SEC. In 38 career starts against SEC competition, he yielded just four sacks. He’s projected to go in the first half of the first round.
Why he’d fit: New England’s offensive line was abysmal at times last season, and while the Patriots have made some good adds this offseason (including right tackle Morgan Moses), they still haven’t done enough to address their issues up front. The selection of Campbell would go a long way toward addressing some of those problems.
Why he wouldn’t: Campbell’s arm length has been one of the most dominant story lines of the pre-draft process. With the understanding the preferred minimum is usually 33 inches, he measured at 32⅝ at the combine. (He was measured at 33 inches at LSU’s Pro Day last month.) If his arm length is an issue, he might be forced to move inside to guard.
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Alternatives: There are a handful of offensive tackles who are considered top-100 prospects who could be had later in the draft if the Patriots decide to pass on Campbell. Kelvin Banks (Texas), Josh Simmons (Ohio State), and Josh Conerly (Oregon) are likely to go later in the first round or near the top of the second round. Missouri right tackle Armand Membou has generated his share of pre-draft buzz, and is a Day 1 candidate, as well.
What they’re saying: “I always look at it as, do you play that way or do you play longer? Do you play to the max of what you have, or do you play under what you have? I’ve had guys in the past that have played for me that have 33- [or] 34-[inch arms] and haven’t played like that. I’ve had some guys that had some shorter arms and played like they had longer arms. I just think it’s something that you bring up that you just want to make sure that you evaluate and see if it affects the player in a positive way or a negative way.”
— Patriots offensive line coach Doug Marrone
One more thing: Logan Mankins and Joe Thuney played tackle in college (and both didn’t have the requisite 33-inch arm length, according to former Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia), but ended up moving inside and flourishing at the next level.
The skinny: Throughout the pre-draft process, the New England braintrust has seemed to hint that arm length isn’t a deal-breaker for them at tackle, which would seem to portend a choice of Campbell if they stay at No. 4.
Campbell indicated at the combine in February he’d be open to playing guard or tackle. It’s all about where he can make the biggest impact.
“A lot of teams that I’ve talked to, they see me as a tackle,” he said. “But I feel like I’ve told all the teams that I feel like I put the stuff on tape to show that I can play tackle at a very high level. But I’m willing to do whatever I can to help the team win. If you told me I was going to start at right guard versus being a [backup] left tackle, I’m going to tell you to put me at right guard.”
In the end, if Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter are there when the Patriots are on the clock, they grab one of those players and don’t look back. But if both are gone and New England can’t trade down, then Campbell could very well be the guy for the Patriots.
Christopher Price can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @cpriceglobe.
