The Patriots addressed their biggest need by tabbing LSU left tackle Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick in Thursday night’s first round.
For the last five months the Patriots intentions with the fourth overall pick were scrutinized more than the “Game of Thrones” finale. Should they trade down and add picks? Move up to try to land Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter? Take the best player available or the one who fills the biggest need?
All of those options were on the table, but in the end Mike Vrabel and his cast of decision-makers made the call that made the most sense and selected LSU tackle Will Campbell. The consensus best offensive lineman available in the draft should get every opportunity to immediately step into a starting role at left tackle, which should make life much easier on Drake Maye and the rest of the offense.
Speaking of scrutiny, there was plenty of it surrounding Campbell – more specifically – the length of his arms. Despite enjoying a stellar three seasons in the SEC at LSU, Campbell raised eyebrows at the Combine in Indianapolis when his arms measured at 32 5/8 inches, which is below the normal threshold of 33 held by most NFL teams. However, Campbell had them measured again at his Pro Day a few weeks later and checked in at 33.
Due to the uncertainty, Vrabel was asked if he viewed Campbell as a left tackle in the NFL during his pre-draft press conference last week.
“I think you have to,” he said. “I don’t understand how you can watch him play in the SEC, which is the best conference in college football, against guys that are going to get drafted, at that position. So, I don’t think you have to project it. You could just actually watch and say, ‘There’s the snaps at left tackle.’ Evaluate it and see what you think.”
Evidently, they saw enough, and therefore the Patriots took a step toward filling what was by far the team’s biggest need heading into the draft. Using a combination of unproven players at tackle a year ago, the offense struggled to protect Maye. The Patriots finished at or near the bottom of the league in both pass block (31st) and run block (32nd) win rate. They added veteran Morgan Moses to man the right tackle spot, and with Campbell presumably tabbed for the left side the biggest weakness of 2024 has been addressed.
“This is a young player who cares deeply about his team.” Vrabel said after the draft.
“We did a ton of work on him leading up to the draft,” director of college scouting Camren Williams said on Patriots Unfiltered. “I thought he was a really good left tackle when I scouted him. He checks a lot of boxes. He’s big. He’s athletic. He gives you a ton of athleticism. He oozes toughness.”
The 6-6, 319-pound Campbell is considered to be an exceptional athlete for his position, running a sub-5 40 at the Combine. He started all 38 games he played for the Tigers, excelling against some of the best pass rushers in the draft in the rugged SEC. Campbell’s athleticism, core strength and competitiveness allowed him to excel at the collegiate level, and the Patriots hope those traits will translate to the NFL.
As for options, the Patriots had a number that would have made sense. If the goal was to add a weapon to help Maye, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty was perceived by many as the best skill position player available at No. 4. His hard-running style could have offered a jolt to the ground game alongside Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. Tight ends Tyler Warren (Penn State) and Colston Loveland (Michigan) also were options in that regard.
Although the defense received plenty of help in free agency with Milton Williams, Harold Landry, Carlton Davis and Robert Spillane, a pair of Georgia defenders were options to be added to the mix. Jalon Walker is a hybrid off-ball linebacker/edge player while teammate Mykel Williams offers more size as a more traditional defensive end. Either could have bolstered the Patriots pass rush.
But none of those options provided a better combination of need and ability than Campbell, and the Patriots made the right move in trying to give the offense a boost and Maye and the protection he needs.
