Will Campbell didn't have to wait long to hear his name called in the NFL draft landing with the New England Patriots at No. 4 overall.
Campbell joins new head coach Mike Vrabel in New England and becomes the first LSU offensive lineman picked in the first round since Alan Faneca in 1998.
“He’s a football guy, no BS," Campbell said of Vrabel after being picked, "and I love everything everyone in that building is about since I first stepped in there.”
Campbell starred on LSU's offensive line for the past three years and clearly teams were not scared off by shorter-than-ideal arm length seen as ideal for an offensive tackle. Campbell was the first offensive lineman off the board, behind QB Cam Ward to the Titans, WR/CB Travis Hunter to the Jaguars and DE Abdul Carter to the Giants.
At 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, Campbell was a three-year starter for the Tigers and a first-team All-America selection as a junior last season. He was a three-time All-Southeastern Conference selection.
Campbell played 37 of his 38 college games at left tackle and logged 2,451 snaps. He allowed just two sacks over the past two seasons, and now his job will be to protect the blind side of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who’s entering his second season.
He would form a beefy combination with 6-3, 350-pound Mike Onwenu, the Patriots’ starter on the right side.
Campbell said previously that he had numerous chances to talk with the Patriots ahead of the draft and developed a rapport with the coaching staff.
New England finished 4-13 and missed the playoffs for third straight time last season, leading owner Robert Kraft to fire coach Jerod Mayo after one season and hire former Patriots player and Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel.
The Tigers have a handful of other prospects expected to land in the 2025 draft, most notably Mason Taylor who is expected to be one of the first tight ends off the board.
The Associated Press contributed to this report