Analyst shares 'bold prediction' regarding Patriots' Will Campbell, Armand Membou draft decision

Reporters and insiders continue to predict that the New England Patriots will take either LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell or Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou with the fourth overall pick of the draft. 

In an article published on Friday, ESPN's Matt Miller addressed the Campbell-versus-Membou debate while offering his "boldest first-round prediction."

"I've heard talk that Missouri's Armand Membou could be the first offensive lineman taken before LSU's Will Campbell," Miller revealed. "The right tackle prospect has received rave reviews from scouts because of his elite movement skills and power in the run game. There's a belief that his agility could allow him to move to left tackle in the pros, which would put him in play for the Patriots at No. 4 overall."

While Campbell's arm length has made him arguably the most polarizing offensive lineman in this year's draft class, he's also seen by some analysts as the "safe" pick for the Patriots unless either Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter or Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter is shockingly available at choice No. 4. 

Most reporters now believe the Cleveland Browns will make Hunter the second pick and that the New York Giants will grab Carter at No. 3.

Miller and fellow ESPN analyst Jordan Reid made it known in a different piece that they feel that drafting Campbell would "fill a big need" for a Patriots team looking to protect second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Per Pro Football Reference stats, Maye finished the 2024 regular season with the league's fourth-highest sack percentage (9.14 percent) among signal-callers who made a minimum of eight starts.

"I have Missouri's Armand Membou (No. 5) ranked higher than Campbell (No. 7)," Reid acknowledged, "but Campbell is a left tackle and would boost protection on Maye's blind side. He has the hand strength to overwhelm pass-rushers." 

Meanwhile, Miller noted that current New England left tackle Vederian Lowe "ranked 50th out of 66 qualifying tackles in pass-block win rate last season."

As of early Friday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook continued to list Campbell as the betting favorite at -225 odds to be the draft's fourth pick. It seems unlikely any team will move up the draft order for a tackle this spring, so it appears Maye will be getting some needed protection.