Campbell’s NFL position has been a point of discussion for the last few weeks.
Will Campbell was one of the best and most decorated left tackles in college football during his three-year career at LSU. Nonetheless, there are questions about his role at the next level: concerns over his length might make him a candidate to move inside to guard in the NFL rather than stay on the outside.
The New England Patriots, who are in need of offensive line help and therefore a candidate to pick Campbell early in the first round of the draft, are apparently not worried about any of that. The 21-year-old is a tackle in their eyes, according to a new report from MassLive’s Mark Daniels:
While LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell’s NFL position has been hotly debated, the Patriots see him as a tackle — arm measurements be damned. Campbell has fans in the organization, as does Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. Both are possibilities at No. 4.
The report about the Patriots viewing Campbell as a tackle rather than a guard comes on the heels of head coach Mike Vrabel downplaying the importance of arm length. Even if Campbell or other tackle prospects fail to meet the oft-mention threshold of 33 inches, they will not necessarily be taken off the team’s board.
“I think that arm length is good only up until the point to where you use it,” Vrabel explained earlier this week.
“I think the most important thing is how you use whatever length you have. If you’re a long-armed player that uses the length, then great, that’s an added plus. If you’re maybe an average-length player that doesn’t use the length, that would be difficult. But if you’re using it, then that can be positive.”
Campbell, whose measurements at the Scouting Combine will be taken on Sunday, made the most out of his available length in college. A freshman starter, who is leaving school with 38 games on his résumé, Campbell was voted All-SEC in all three of his seasons with the Tigers and also earned Consensus All-American honors as well as the prestigious Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 2024.
He is widely considered the top offensive lineman entering the draft this year — and somebody the Patriots will have on their radar as a potential pickup with the fourth overall selection.