2026 Draft: LT

[manxman2601]

Im all in on Freeling.

Does he make it to 31?

That's what worries me.

 

[mayoclinic]

Not likely.

Sigh. He was in the 400s when I jumped on board.

 

[dliverey44]

This is a good 14 min breakdown of Campbell’s problems and a potential solution from Geoff Schwartz.

This begs the question if the pass set is part of the play called. Meaning the OL coach and McD are like we want this type of pass set with this play.

 

[manxman2601]

This begs the question if the pass set is part of the play called. Meaning the OL coach and McD are like we want this type of pass set with this play.

Geoff Schwartz does make the point in that video that it's the better way of blocking stunts so maybe it is.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

I've said before - and I was not originally in the Will Campbell fan club - that I'm not going to rush to judgment based on his playoff performance while still clearly not recovered from injury.

I'd love a guy like Freeling who has LT/RT versatility, but I'm still on the "Will Campbell at LT" train for now.

This is a fair and measured approach. Good on you!

Frankly, I don't agree with it at all. I had major concerns pre-draft about the way that Campbell gets beaten, and it's not really about the short arms (although his historically short wingspan is a red flag). All season long, we've continued to see him get beat the same ways. Yes, the injury exacerbated the issue. Yes, he faced one of the toughest line ups of pass-rushers in the NFL. Yes, he's still young, talented, and has room for improvement. But his problems have persisted. I don't see a world in which LG isn't a better fit for him, given his play style, physical makeup, and technical deficiencies. I think he has All Pro potential at guard, whereas he'll likely only ever be a mid-tier, or slightly above average, left tackle.

The question becomes: is "good enough" good enough? Possibly! Could he become, say, another Matt Light? Maybe. We've won champions with a player of that caliber. I'm not hopeful, however. I was against drafting Campbell at 4 overall due to the value mismatch, and although I understand that we didn't have a lot of options, I feel strongly that we still need a franchise LT. It's too bad we weren't able to trade down, pick up draft capital for this year, and take him in the teens or twenties, which is around where I graded him as a T/G tweener with great intangibles and promising traits.

 

[mayoclinic]

Well said. Those were exactly my feelings a year ago. Maybe I'm over-compensating to avoid the "I told you so" approach but Campbell pre-injury seemed to show remarkable learning and adaptability. No LT wins all the time.

Matt Light and Nate Solder weren't perfect, but they were good enough for us to win 6 SBs. I'll settle for that from a LT, whether it's Campbell or someone else.

 

[manxman2601]

It doesn’t preclude them from drafting Freeling but might make Lomu less likely

 

[stelfans]

About what i expected. He didnt give up on Stevenson or any other player, he wont start with Campbell.

 

[manxman2601]

About what i expected. He didnt give up on Stevenson or any other player, he wont start with Campbell.

Freeling would be good insurance if Campbell doesn't improve next year.

 

[stelfans]

Freeling would be good insurance if Campbell doesn't improve next year.

I think he's gonna move up out of our range unfortunely.

I do think Iheanachor is who i would target. But lets wait for the combine.

 

[dliverey44]

Campbell was injured and struggled against some very good Edge rushers. He gets another year for sure, imo the rookie wall is real given the amount of football they played and that he did not get much time from his college season ending to combine training to rookie camp and then TC.

Hopefully he is 100% healthy for TC because if he is able to correct some technique issues then I think he could be "Matt Light ish". I hope so anyway because I do not think that he will be able to transition well inside. Imo if LT is not the spot he sticks then RT is the next option.

I am not throwing this all on Maye nor am I taking blame off of WC, but if Maye was better in the quick passing game it would have alleviated a lot of the WC not being good enough narrative. Maye should improve with more experience and healthy shoulder. I am not as worried about Campbell as alot of people are and that has a lot to do with the Geoff Swartz video that talked about pass sets.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[mayoclinic]

Other than Thomas, people have mentioned Campbell's technique, but not his injury. They are related. He obviously can't plant, can't generate any power to engage.

Look at Campbell 1st 10 weeks, when people were saying we lucked out getting him at #4. Different player.

 

[bakes781]

Other than Thomas, people have mentioned Campbell's technique, but not his injury. They are related. He obviously can't plant, can't generate any power to engage.

Look at Campbell 1st 10 weeks, when people were saying we lucked out getting him at #4. Different player.

He shouldn't have been playing if it was that bad.

 

[dliverey44]

He shouldn't have been playing if it was that bad.

It's feasible that the coaching staff thought an injured WC was better than Lowe or the staff thought decided to roll with who got them there

 

[bakes781]

It's feasible that the coaching staff thought an injured WC was better than Lowe or the staff thought decided to roll with who got them there

Kyle Arrington was benched for Malcom Butler in the Super Bowl. Just saying

 

[dliverey44]

Kyle Arrington was benched for Malcom Butler in the Super Bowl. Just saying

so what about benching Maye for Dobbs because Maye was missing a lot of reads and throws

 

[manxman2601]

This is where I am on Lomu. I'm not a fan. For us.

 

[manxman2601]

Out for the 2026 season? Worth a 6th round swing of the bat?

 

[mayoclinic]

Definitely.