The New England Patriots are hoping they secured the protector of Drake Maye’s blind side with rookie left tackle Will Campbell.
Selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Campbell enters the NFL with high expectations and a chip on his shoulder. With his arm length being a focal point as to why he may not be successful as an NFL left tackle, the Patriots rookie found the criticism to be "bs" and putting it at arm’s length.
Standing at 6-foot-6, 319 pounds, the arm length is the only measurable that wouldn’t fit ideal left tackle mode, but the athleticism and agility in pass protection are attributes that can yield him as an impact player in Year 1. Another key attribute is his run-blocking ability that could be key in opening holes in a Patriots running attack lead by Rhamondre Stevenson and fellow rookie TreyVeon Henderson.
Along with the short arms, Campbell will have to work on his lateral blocking skills, but with the way he takes training camp struggles as learning experiences or "trial by fire", he is a football player who will find his own sooner rather than later.
Campbell embracing his struggles in training camp
Training camp has been a learning experience for the former LSU star. There have been times where he has been winning his reps and times where he does look like he has a long way to go. Given his attitude and talent as an offensive lineman, if he puts in the work, he should be fine.
When asked about Campbell and how he is coming along at camp, Vrabel kept it optimistic.
“Very coachable player,” Vrabel said, via the team’s official website. “He’s been out there getting better every day. A lot of versatility in his game and I’m excited about him continuing to work and continue to improve.”
Will Campbell solidifies the left side of the line
Given how poor the offensive line play was the last two seasons in New England, any young tackle could probably come in and be an upgrade at left tackle. Let’s not take anything away from Campbell with that projection.
At LSU, Campbell was as good as it gets. He not only proved to be a fantastic pass protector, but he was also one of the best run-blockers in the nation. While he will have early struggles, those abilities will really come to fruition in the NFL as Maye will earn trust in his blindside protection. The run blocking will also stand out as he’ll get out in space on screen plays designed for Henderson or stretch plays that set the edge for Stevenson.
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The bold prediction here is that Campbell will not only prove he is a starting left tackle in the league, but he will be a top 10 tackle by the end of the season with a PFF overall grade of 83.0 or higher with a run-blocking grade close to 88.