Potential Patriots Draft Pick Will Campbell Sends Message To Doubters

If you’ve been concerned about a man’s arm length, then you probably are wondering if Will Campbell is a fit for the Patriots.

Many mock drafts project New England to select the LSU product with the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft. However, there’s concern among some scouts and analysts about whether or not the 21-year-old can truly play tackle. Campbell didn’t hesitate to address those concerns at the NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday.

“I think I’ve shown everything I need to on tape to show I can play tackle at an elite level,” Campbell told reporters, per Khari D. Thompson of Boston.com. “You can look at my tape. There’s not one play on there where if I get beat, you say, ‘Oh, it’s because he has shorter arms.’ Obviously, I don’t have stereotypical offensive tackle arms. I’m aware of that, and it’s something I use every week as part of my gameplan and preparation on how to attack different defenders.”

Campbell also had the mic-drop moment of the combine when he said, “I like scoring touchdowns,” when asked if he preferred a gap scheme or a zone scheme.

The offensive line prospect revealed he did not meet with the Patriots but anticipated doing so, per The Boston Globe’s Christopher Price. According to MassLive on Friday, New England is high Campbell and believe he can play tackle. NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah also is high on the 2024 Jacobs Blocking Trophy and doesn’t believe Campbell will struggle to translate to the next level.

Campbell’s combine and pro day will be important for evaluators, and the Patriots will face an interesting choice if he’s available at No. 4.