DRAFT Welcome to New England, LSU OT Will Campbell

[Jim Beankie]

Not sure many are aware that Campbell is a freak athlete. Yes he has short arms but a 3 year starter in the SEC & 99th percentile athleticism is impressive.

Wish he did the 20 Shuttle, though. Imho, that's one of the best measurements for an OT (besides size).

 

[Huckleberry1]

I bet some of the idiots blasting this pick are the same ones who insisted we couldn’t take Maye last year.

Some dudes just wanna be miserable

I remember the QB debate from last year very well, and they are definitely some of the same people, Sam in particular, who insisted they needed to pass on QB and draft OT’s before going for a QB, now that they have the QB having the OT doesn’t matter to him and running back should have been the priority. And it’s the same for a number of other posters, who really just love to whine.

 

[Triumph]

Gotta figure that Vrabel and his buddy had input on this pick.

Also, Wolfe and Groh are drafting for their jobs. They will get the blame if this draft is a bust. You cant come away with 1 player worth starting like 2024 picking this high in the draft. The Pats need at least 3 young relatively inexpensive guys who can contribute in 2025.

He mentioned in his interview that in week 5 of the college season he met Wolfe and told him then he wanted to be a Pat. He didn't fall in love with the team after he was drafted. Vrabel said in his interview that Will had one mission on their visits and that was to prove to them he was the right pick and it seems he made a big impression on them. The more they talked with him and worked him out it was clear to them that he would be a great fit for the team.

This is the kind of dude who is going to leave all on the field week in and week out for this team and the fans.

I wonder if Dante Scar had input on the pick?

I'm guessing that he did.

 

[Jim Beankie]

Finally got around to figuring out (I think...) how to measure arm length. It looks like Will's small-ish hands affect the overall length, since arm length measures all the way to the fingertip. Imho, I feel like measuring someone's "pushup arm length (shoulder to floor while in extended pushup position)" would make way WAY more sense, since people with freakishly long fingers could distort the stat but offer almost no advantage for an OL.

 

[Huckleberry1]

What I found funny is guys like you, would prefer to draft Jeanty for the excitement at the draft and when midway through the season Maye is getting killed and Jeanty is running for 3.5 yds/carry because our line can’t run block you would whine about why they didn’t draft a tackle.

Trust me, had all the mocks been saying the Patriots were taking Jeanty at 4 Sam would have been screaming and crying that taking a RB at 4 in a deep and talented RB draft is a total waste of resources.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Walter Football who is no fan of Patriot drafts in recent years had this to say about Campbell:
New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT/G, LSU – A+ Grade
The Patriots could have been scared off by Will Campbell’s short arms, but I think this would have been a huge mistake. Plenty of offensive linemen with short arms have thrived over the years. Campbell has elite tape and athleticism. In fact, prior to the 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Combine, only two offensive linemen recorded his level of athleticism: Trent Williams and Tristan Wirfs. That’s pretty great company! The Patriots obviously made the correct pick here to find much-needed protection for Drake Maye.

I always said Walter Football is the most accurate draft site!

Actually I never said that, but it fits my purposes perfectly in this instance so I’m saying it now.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Wish he did the 20 Shuttle, though. Imho, that's one of the best measurements for an OT (besides size).

My gut tells me he would done very well. He a pretty agile guy.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Gotta figure that Vrabel and his buddy had input on this pick.

Also, Wolfe and Groh are drafting for their jobs. They will get the blame if this draft is a bust. You cant come away with 1 player worth starting like 2024 picking this high in the draft. The Pats need at least 3 young relatively inexpensive guys who can contribute in 2025.
I wonder if Dante Scar had input on the pick?

I'm guessing that he did.

I also believe Dante's input was sought.

 

[upstater1]

Finally got around to figuring out (I think...) how to measure arm length. It looks like Will's small-ish hands affect the overall length, since arm length measures all the way to the fingertip. Imho, I feel like measuring someone's "pushup arm length (shoulder to floor while in extended pushup position)" would make way WAY more sense, since people with freakishly long fingers could distort the stat but offer almost no advantage for an OL.

The narrow shoulders mean a lot more in this entire discussion. Losing a total of 6 inches across (half a foot effectively) means a lot more than losing 1 or 2 inches due to arm length.

When you're giving the defender 1/2 a foot more room to get around you on each play, that may have some significance.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

At LSU's 2025 Pro Day, he bench pressed 225 pounds for 35 repetitions

At the combine Luke Kandra of Cincinnati led the bench press event with 33 reps of 225 pounds.

His RAS may actually be higher than listed. I can't imagine a guy with such great athleticism would bomb the shuttle and 3 cone. He's a great athlete for a tackle.

I agree. Campbell's RAS might go up. Whether it goes up or down, my point (which you appeared to miss) was completeness.

My point is I don't think a lot of people realize that a RAS score with only as some of the events tested is the same as a completed test regime. If we start comparing RAS scores for different skill sets, players will not participate in the events that lower their score.

 

[Froob]

I think Campbell will be one of the cogs of the team for this next era of Patriots football

 

[RobertWeathers]

The narrow shoulders mean a lot more in this entire discussion. Losing a total of 6 inches across (half a foot effectively) means a lot more than losing 1 or 2 inches due to arm length.

When you're giving the defender 1/2 a foot more room to get around you on each play, that may have some significance.

Agree. His footwork, initial 1st punch, hand position, and angles he takes are critical.

 

[Triumph]

Trust me, had all the mocks been saying the Patriots were taking Jeanty at 4 Sam would have been screaming and crying that taking a RB at 4 in a deep and talented RB draft is a total waste of resources.

Everyone here wants the Pats to be relevant again.

Especially Sam.

 

[lancerman]

Here’s the deal, if he works out, then it’s an incredible pick. If he doesn’t, then it’s a bad pick. I was told this last night by the ghost of John Madden.

 

[Gator Mike]

Text from my buddy last night:

"If he sticks at tackle, I'm going to call him OT-Rex."

 

[Dec54]

I remember the QB debate from last year very well, and they are definitely some of the same people, Sam in particular, who insisted they needed to pass on QB and draft OT’s before going for a QB, now that they have the QB having the OT doesn’t matter to him and running back should have been the priority. And it’s the same for a number of other posters, who really just love to whine.

Well said Huck. its certain people all the time. Just moan, moan, whine, whine. Give it a break for gods sake.

 

[Rob0729]

About Jeanty, I heard somewhere that if the Pats drafted him at 4, he would have immediately become the third or fourth highest paid RB in the league as a rookie who hadn't played a single snap. That tells you how important RBs are these days.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think Campbell will be one of the cogs of the team for this next era of Patriots football

I agree. His demeanor after being picked reminded me of Brady’s attitude after the Patriots drafted him, gratitude, and a desire to prove to everyone just how good a player he is. And I think that like Brady he is going to work his ass off to get better throughout his NFL career.

 

[Tunescribe]

Very skeptical about his ability

Maybe this will help a bit ...

 

[TheRainMaker]

We haven’t had a franchise LT since Bruce Armstrong. Campbell was controversial leading up to the draft and will be heavily scrutinized. In fact, he’s the most controversial pick in a long time. If he’s not a day 1 starter, the fans and media will go nuclear on him.