There was no late change of mind or surprise from the New England Patriots, who did what was long expected of them with the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, taking LSU’s Will Campbell to help steady a shaky offensive line. Campbell was considered the top offensive tackle prospect in this year’s draft class by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.
After a year in which the Patriots were continuously forced to tweak their offensive line due to struggles and injuries, they nabbed the player widely seen as the best offensive lineman in this draft class. Even if his long-term position is unclear, he projects as a fixture on their front five for years to come.
After picking Willie McGinest No. 4 overall in 1994, the Patriots went 29 straight years without a top-five pick. Now, after getting Drake Maye at No. 3 last year, they’ve made top-five picks in back-to-back years.
Campbell was one of the most decorated offensive linemen in LSU history. In 2024, he was a consensus All-American and was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press. The Louisiana native was also selected as a first-team All-SEC selection (by the AP and coaches) and was awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy (given to the best blocker in a conference) by SEC coaches.
Those honors came following a sophomore season in which he was named first-team All-SEC by the conference’s coaches and a freshman year in which he was a second-team All-SEC selection by the coaches. In addition, Campbell was the first offensive player to be awarded the No. 7 jersey — given to the most impactful player on the LSU roster from the state of Louisiana — but due to SEC rules, he still wore No. 66 on game days over the past two seasons.
From his arrival on campus, Campbell was a starter, notching 38 starts and allowing just five sacks at left tackle for the Tigers over the past three seasons. In 2024, Campbell served as the lynchpin to an LSU offensive line that allowed a league-low 15 sacks. His play upfront in 2023 — a season in which he didn’t allow a sack — helped to power one of the country’s most explosive offenses with quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas.
Ahead of the draft, the subject of Campbell’s arm measurements had many wondering if he would stick at offensive tackle. At the NFL Scouting Combine in February, his measurement came in at 32 5/8 inches. Then, at LSU’s pro day last month, his arm measurement came in at 33 inches and quieted down the talk about whether he had the length to hold down a bookend spot on the offensive line.
“Campbell stays balanced in pass protection because of his weight distribution and controlled technique, although he can do a better job protecting versus inside/counter moves. He is rugged in the run game and offers the body fluidity and explosive power to torque and displace defenders. Overall, Campbell’s mediocre arm length lessens his margin for error, but his athletic movements, core strength and competitive finish help him stay connected through the whistle, regardless of the block required. His skill set is reminiscent of a more powerful version of Colts left tackle Bernhard Raimann, although some NFL teams project him best as an interior blocker.”
OT
1
TOP 100 RANK
6
WillCampbell
LSUHT
6′6″
WT
319
YR
3JR
AGE
21.25
Short arms but wins with athleticism, strength and competitiveness
Read the full profile on
“He’s a special talent. I wouldn’t worry that his arms might be a half-inch or inch shorter than some people would like. He’s athletic enough, quick enough and nasty enough to control the pass rush. I think he’s a complete player.”
View: https://x.com/NFL/status/1907463034567856623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1907463034567856623%7Ctwgr%5E7b55450b688d4811879246206a1acfcb614d4cd9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2Fathletic%2F6270843%2F2025%2F04%2F24%2Fwill-campbell-patriots-nfl-draft%2F
Grade: A
The bigger and more interesting question is whether Campbell stays there. Some are skeptical given his slight wingspan and arm length and wonder if a move to left guard may eventually be necessary. Time will tell, and we’ll see how he fares against speedy NFL edge rushers. But for now, the Patriots have their new left tackle.
Vederian Lowe had been their top tackle option, and he’ll now slot in as the swing tackle behind Campbell and Morgan Moses.
There are still questions on the Patriots O-line, but four of the five spots seem set now with Campbell at left tackle, Garrett Bradbury at center, Mike Onwenu at right guard and Moses at right tackle. The question now is who will win the competition for the left guard job between Cole Strange, Sidy Sow, Layden Robinson and perhaps a player soon to be drafted.
What you should read next
Whoever drafts Will Campbell can expect a huge left tackle with an even bigger heart
Campbell, whose close cousin died in a fire last year, has helped lift the Tarver Braddock Foundation.
If they wanted to stick with a tackle, they could’ve instead picked Armand Membou, who looks more like a prototypical NFL offensive tackle, given his wingspan is more than four inches longer than Campbell’s. But Membou has only ever played right tackle, which would have made for an adjustment with the Pats.
Or they could’ve sought pass-rush help in the form of Georgia’s Jalon Walker or Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, then tried to move back into the first round later to pick a left tackle.
As Vrabel tries to jump-start this rebuild, he’s looking for culture fits who will do things his way and can be reliable starters. That’s what Campbell brings. There were other options with higher ceilings. But coaches rave about Campbell as a person, and his floor seems incredibly high, even if he might one day be a guard. So to kick off his tenure, Vrabel is going with a safe, solid selection.
After a year in which the Patriots were continuously forced to tweak their offensive line due to struggles and injuries, they nabbed the player widely seen as the best offensive lineman in this draft class. Even if his long-term position is unclear, he projects as a fixture on their front five for years to come.
After picking Willie McGinest No. 4 overall in 1994, the Patriots went 29 straight years without a top-five pick. Now, after getting Drake Maye at No. 3 last year, they’ve made top-five picks in back-to-back years.
Campbell was one of the most decorated offensive linemen in LSU history. In 2024, he was a consensus All-American and was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press. The Louisiana native was also selected as a first-team All-SEC selection (by the AP and coaches) and was awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy (given to the best blocker in a conference) by SEC coaches.
Those honors came following a sophomore season in which he was named first-team All-SEC by the conference’s coaches and a freshman year in which he was a second-team All-SEC selection by the coaches. In addition, Campbell was the first offensive player to be awarded the No. 7 jersey — given to the most impactful player on the LSU roster from the state of Louisiana — but due to SEC rules, he still wore No. 66 on game days over the past two seasons.
From his arrival on campus, Campbell was a starter, notching 38 starts and allowing just five sacks at left tackle for the Tigers over the past three seasons. In 2024, Campbell served as the lynchpin to an LSU offensive line that allowed a league-low 15 sacks. His play upfront in 2023 — a season in which he didn’t allow a sack — helped to power one of the country’s most explosive offenses with quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas.
Ahead of the draft, the subject of Campbell’s arm measurements had many wondering if he would stick at offensive tackle. At the NFL Scouting Combine in February, his measurement came in at 32 5/8 inches. Then, at LSU’s pro day last month, his arm measurement came in at 33 inches and quieted down the talk about whether he had the length to hold down a bookend spot on the offensive line.
‘The Beast’ breakdown
Campbell was ranked No. 6 in Dane Brugler’s top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:“Campbell stays balanced in pass protection because of his weight distribution and controlled technique, although he can do a better job protecting versus inside/counter moves. He is rugged in the run game and offers the body fluidity and explosive power to torque and displace defenders. Overall, Campbell’s mediocre arm length lessens his margin for error, but his athletic movements, core strength and competitive finish help him stay connected through the whistle, regardless of the block required. His skill set is reminiscent of a more powerful version of Colts left tackle Bernhard Raimann, although some NFL teams project him best as an interior blocker.”
OT
1
TOP 100 RANK
6
WillCampbell
LSUHT
6′6″
WT
319
YR
3JR
AGE
21.25
Short arms but wins with athleticism, strength and competitiveness
Read the full profile on
Coaching intel
What an anonymous coach had to say about Campbell in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft:“He’s a special talent. I wouldn’t worry that his arms might be a half-inch or inch shorter than some people would like. He’s athletic enough, quick enough and nasty enough to control the pass rush. I think he’s a complete player.”
View: https://x.com/NFL/status/1907463034567856623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1907463034567856623%7Ctwgr%5E7b55450b688d4811879246206a1acfcb614d4cd9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2Fathletic%2F6270843%2F2025%2F04%2F24%2Fwill-campbell-patriots-nfl-draft%2F
Nick Baumgardner grades the pick
Campbell is the best offensive lineman in this draft, and that might have been close to a consensus league-wide. There are concerns about Campbell’s lack of elite length outside at left tackle, but I believe those are overblown. The former LSU star’s hands and feet are as efficient as you’ll see from a three-year college player, and Campbell’s work ethic and football character are off the charts. A very safe pick that fills a need for a team trying to rebuild around its young QB. Great news for Drake Maye.Grade: A
How he fits
There’s no secret or surprise about where Campbell is headed with the Patriots in 2025. He’s their starting left tackle. Maybe Mike Vrabel will make him earn those reps in training camp, but you don’t pick a tackle at No. 4 with a glaring need at the position to sit him on the bench.The bigger and more interesting question is whether Campbell stays there. Some are skeptical given his slight wingspan and arm length and wonder if a move to left guard may eventually be necessary. Time will tell, and we’ll see how he fares against speedy NFL edge rushers. But for now, the Patriots have their new left tackle.
Depth-chart impact
Teams love to say they don’t draft for need — even when they often do. And in this case, the Patriots picked a player to fix their most glaring hole.Vederian Lowe had been their top tackle option, and he’ll now slot in as the swing tackle behind Campbell and Morgan Moses.
There are still questions on the Patriots O-line, but four of the five spots seem set now with Campbell at left tackle, Garrett Bradbury at center, Mike Onwenu at right guard and Moses at right tackle. The question now is who will win the competition for the left guard job between Cole Strange, Sidy Sow, Layden Robinson and perhaps a player soon to be drafted.
What you should read next
Whoever drafts Will Campbell can expect a huge left tackle with an even bigger heart
Campbell, whose close cousin died in a fire last year, has helped lift the Tarver Braddock Foundation.
They also could have picked …
When you pick an outlier — which is what Campbell will be if he turns into a successful starting left tackle with his arm length and wingspan — there will always be questions about what else you could have done. And for the Patriots, there were two other options.If they wanted to stick with a tackle, they could’ve instead picked Armand Membou, who looks more like a prototypical NFL offensive tackle, given his wingspan is more than four inches longer than Campbell’s. But Membou has only ever played right tackle, which would have made for an adjustment with the Pats.
Or they could’ve sought pass-rush help in the form of Georgia’s Jalon Walker or Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, then tried to move back into the first round later to pick a left tackle.
Fast evaluation
Two words come to mind here: safe pick.As Vrabel tries to jump-start this rebuild, he’s looking for culture fits who will do things his way and can be reliable starters. That’s what Campbell brings. There were other options with higher ceilings. But coaches rave about Campbell as a person, and his floor seems incredibly high, even if he might one day be a guard. So to kick off his tenure, Vrabel is going with a safe, solid selection.
