Film Review: What the Patriots Get in Will Campbell

What is New England getting in the LSU product? Why not first address the elephant in the room?

As the data proves to be true, it's been over two decades since an All-Pro tackle has had arms that measure less than 33 inches in length. So, should Patriots fans fret that Campbell's arms are just 32 inches?

That much is up to you. However, while that measurement can't be cast aside, it would also be a mistake to overlook the positives staring right at us.

First, Will Campbell is a mountain of a young man at a solid 6'6", 325 pounds, and relatively lean.

Providing Maye with a clear runway to franchise quarterback status is crucial for Josh Daniels. If New England were to invest a first-round selection in an offensive lineman to help pave that runway, most experts agree that Campbell is the guy.

In 2022, the in-state lineman he made an immediate impact as a true freshman, starting 13 games and proving to be more than a promising rookie who needed to learn several things the hard way. Campbell earned Freshman All-SEC honors. Keep in mind, the Tigers faced Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Texas A&M that year.

Jalen Carter, Will Anderson Jr., Nolan Smith, Dallas Turner, and Jared Verse represent just a handful of the defensive linemen Campbell faced as a rookie before all five became first-round picks thereafter.

It starts with that size, affording the Southeasterner the physical capacity to absorb and counter intense power off the edge or inside in both passing and rushing situations. His thick, wide frame coupled with naturally nimble and coordinated lateral movement form an excellent baseline skill set, and that agility could prove to negate what he may lack in length and reach.

Campbell's hand usage is as good as it gets, consistently stonewalling defenders at bay. His uncanny ability to withstand, control, and counter power is excellent, he isn't often fooled by speed and/or finesse, and oftentimes when he may take a misstep or lunge at the wrong moment, he's more savvy than most as he'll often surprise by finding a way to quickly correct that mistake before disaster happens.

All in all, his pass protection has been about as good as any FBS tackle in recent years, part of why he was a two-time captain in Baton Rouge. What makes him the real deal is the fact his run blocking ability could be considered the feather in his cap, the most promising of the two facets of his game.

Are Patriots fans to believe that being one inch short in arm length will boil down to a red light in his football career? If that's the worst-case scenario, is it fair to predict that Campbell would be likely to develop into one of the better guards at the NFL level within a few seasons?

That might be a smart bet, but only if Campbell doesn't pan out on the edge.

While the arm length data is hard to ignore, when you turn on Campbell's highlight reel, it's easy to argue that his impossible-to-miss star qualities are simply more challenging to overlook, and maybe by a wide margin.