New Info About Potential Patriots Draft Pick Might Be Red Flag
Will Campbell didn’t exceed a widely regarded benchmark for offensive tackles, which might make an evaluation more difficult for the Patriots.
The LSU product’s arms measured at 32 5/8 inches — a shade over 32 1/2 inches. Many NFL teams view the accepted cutoff point for offensive tackle arm length to be 33 inches. Campbell’s wing span measured just 77 3/8 inches, as well.
As silly as it might sound, Campbell’s arm length was a major storyline entering the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. He likely would’ve relieved some concerns if he exceeded that 33-inch mark, and perhaps solidified himself as New England’s fourth overall pick.
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NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah, however, still believes Campbell will be able to stick at left tackle.
“On the arm-length discussion real quick, I think because of his shorter arms he gets in some bad positions where defenders can get to his chest, but he’s able to recover because of that athleticism,” Jeremiah told Rich Eisen on the NFL Network broadcast Sunday. “That’s what gives me hope that he could potentially stay out there at left tackle.”
Campbell reached a top speed of 20.05 miles per hour for his 40-yard dash (4.98 seconds). He was the only offensive lineman in his group to eclipse 20 miles per hour and his top speed at the 10-yard checkpoint (16.47 mph) also led the group, per Next Gen Stats.
It’s worth noting the Patriots view Campbell as a tackle, according to MassLive. If Campbell’s length became an issue on the edge, the Patriots reportedly believe he easily could transition to play guard.
“Campbell has fans in the organization,” MassLive wrote Friday.
If the Patriots view Campbell as a guard moving forward, though, it’s fair to wonder if they would spend the fourth overall pick to address that position.