On Thursday, MassLive’s Karen Guregian gave us quite the nugget as it relates to the Patriots’ No. 4 overall pick in this April’s NFL Draft:
“While [Will] Campbell has plenty of plus-traits, his arms measured 32 and 5/8 inches long. For a position where wingspan is paramount, Campbell’s short arms figure to be a problem.
“So much so, that he is likely to wind up playing guard.
“The Patriots like Campbell, and would be willing to try him at tackle first, before moving him to guard if need be. He’s been that impressive to some in the personnel department.”
With left tackle almost unquestionably the Patriots’ biggest need this offseason, the prospect of the team drafting that need at No. 4 while already bracing for the idea of possibly having to change his position is a terrifying thought for fans across New England.
As the team looks to take a big step forward in year two of Drake Maye with year one of Mike Vrabel at the helm, nailing this pick is essential.
And while Campbell impressed me during his on-field workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, his unique physical build is unique in all the wrong ways for someone attempting to make a career protecting a QB’s blindside on Sundays.
Guregian went on to say that if the Patriots love Campbell enough to draft him at No. 4, then “they can’t come up empty in free agency” when it comes to signing a proven veteran at left tackle.
“Having a safety net veteran secured in free agency would make a selection of Campbell more palatable,” she wrote.
So for those keeping score at home, that would mean the Patriots are both spending big on getting a proven player at left tackle, while also utilizing one of their highest picks in franchise history on that same position in the same offseason.
For a team in desperate need of help across the board, these two hypothetical moves happening in concert would feel like a wasted opportunity to round out the roster in a more meaningful way.
Unless the plan is to sign a proven veteran at left tackle to play from day one while also drafting Campbell to play right tackle from day one, I think it would be in the Patriots’ best interest to pivot away from the 21-year-old out of LSU.
If the team is dead set on taking a tackle at No. 4, I think Kelvin Banks Jr. out of Texas would be their best bet.
At 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, the 20-year-old ran a 1.79 10-yard split during his second 40-yard dash attempt on Sunday. For context - the average “10-time” for the top 10-ranked tackles by Pro Football Focus in 2024 was 1.72, with the top-10 ranked interior linemen averaging a 1.76.
To go along with his speed and girth, Banks sports a 33-and-a-half inch wingspan.
These are the traits you’re looking for when drafting your franchise left tackle at No. 4.
But with continued rumblings of quarterback-desparate teams looking to move ahead of New England to find their face of the franchise under center, as well as a mysterious foot injury for this draft’s presumptive best prospect, the Patriots may have more attractive options than Campbell or Banks available to them as they go “on the clock” on April 24.
If Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter is there, foot injury or not, you take him at No. 4 overall.
If Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is there - reportedly ranked as both the top wideout and corner on New England’s draft board - you take him at No. 4 overall.
…49 days to go, people!
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