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Scouting is an imperfect science.
During the 2019 NFL Combine, I spoke with an NFL general manager, and he told me the brutal truth – no one knows what prospects will be great. It’s all a guessing game. He joked that although media-based mock drafts were laughable, not even general managers or scouts truly could predict the future.
That’s because they’re scouting college athletes competing against other college athletes while trying to project them in NFL schemes. Every year we see it when an undrafted free agent turns out to be better than a first-round pick. Teams overthink testing numbers and measurements and sometimes ignore the tape.
Jakobi Meyers, and his slow 40-yard dash time, is a great example. When the undrafted free agent entered Patriots training camp in 2019, it was obvious he was better than the team’s first-round pick, N’Keal Harry. Meyers knew how to get open. He was smart and he had reliable hands.
I bring up the past GM conversation and draft story because the Patriots shouldn’t ignore the tape when it comes to Thursday night’s first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Although Mike Vrabel can’t predict the future, he can make the smart decision by drafting Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick.
It won’t be popular for some fans. At this point, what else can we say about Campbell’s arm length or wingspan? It’s an outlier for a prototypical tackle. For that reason, some believe he’s better suited to play guard. In my opinion, that’s short-sighted.
Turn on the tape. Look at his past.
Campbell has been playing tackle since his freshman year at Neville High School. He moved to left tackle as a sophomore and developed into one of the best tackle prospects in the nation. He showed that to be true at LSU where he started at left tackle as a true freshman. That year, he earned Freshman All-American, Second-Team All-SEC, and Freshman All-SEC honors.
As a sophomore, Campbell was named a team captain. That year, he earned First Team All-SEC honors. Last year, as a junior, he was a consensus All-American, earned First-Team All-SEC honors, and won the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy. Campbell was also a team captain for the second straight year.
His biography is relevant.
Campbell has always played tackle, always succeeded and always been among the best of his peers. The drawback here is the arm length and wingspan. Detractors say he should play guard. Others say to look at the tape. Campbell dominated at times in the SEC. He earned all those accolades while playing in the best conference in the nation and blocking future NFL pass rushers.
That’s why Vrabel, at the NFL Annual Meetings, said he views Campbell as a tackle prospect.
“Yeah, I think you have to,” Vrabel said. “I don’t understand how you can watch him play in the SEC — which is the best conference in college football, against guys that are going to get drafted at that position — so I don’t think you have to project it, you can just actually watch and say there’s the snaps at left tackle, evaluate it, and see what you think.”
The Patriots, in the event Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are off the board, should draft Campbell. It’s a no-brainer because he’s one of the best prospects in this draft and left tackle is the biggest area of need.
The Patriots allowed 52 sacks last season. That was the sixth most in franchise history and the most allowed in New England since 1999. Both tackle spots were the biggest issues. After signing veteran right tackle Morgan Moses, the Patriots still need to upgrade the left side.
This year’s draft isn’t considered deep with elite talent, but Campbell represents the best available offensive lineman for a team that needs to better protect Drake Maye. They need to take the best tackle on the board.
If the Patriots are going to properly develop Maye then they need to properly protect him in the pocket. That means finding a better left tackle. Campbell is an elite athlete with elite character traits. He profiles as an instant starter who will help Maye from Day 1. He’ll give them the upgrade they desperately need at left tackle.
The Patriots shouldn’t overthink this. Campbell’s the guy.
Continue reading...
During the 2019 NFL Combine, I spoke with an NFL general manager, and he told me the brutal truth – no one knows what prospects will be great. It’s all a guessing game. He joked that although media-based mock drafts were laughable, not even general managers or scouts truly could predict the future.
That’s because they’re scouting college athletes competing against other college athletes while trying to project them in NFL schemes. Every year we see it when an undrafted free agent turns out to be better than a first-round pick. Teams overthink testing numbers and measurements and sometimes ignore the tape.
Jakobi Meyers, and his slow 40-yard dash time, is a great example. When the undrafted free agent entered Patriots training camp in 2019, it was obvious he was better than the team’s first-round pick, N’Keal Harry. Meyers knew how to get open. He was smart and he had reliable hands.
I bring up the past GM conversation and draft story because the Patriots shouldn’t ignore the tape when it comes to Thursday night’s first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Although Mike Vrabel can’t predict the future, he can make the smart decision by drafting Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick.
It won’t be popular for some fans. At this point, what else can we say about Campbell’s arm length or wingspan? It’s an outlier for a prototypical tackle. For that reason, some believe he’s better suited to play guard. In my opinion, that’s short-sighted.
Turn on the tape. Look at his past.
Campbell has been playing tackle since his freshman year at Neville High School. He moved to left tackle as a sophomore and developed into one of the best tackle prospects in the nation. He showed that to be true at LSU where he started at left tackle as a true freshman. That year, he earned Freshman All-American, Second-Team All-SEC, and Freshman All-SEC honors.
As a sophomore, Campbell was named a team captain. That year, he earned First Team All-SEC honors. Last year, as a junior, he was a consensus All-American, earned First-Team All-SEC honors, and won the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy. Campbell was also a team captain for the second straight year.
His biography is relevant.
Campbell has always played tackle, always succeeded and always been among the best of his peers. The drawback here is the arm length and wingspan. Detractors say he should play guard. Others say to look at the tape. Campbell dominated at times in the SEC. He earned all those accolades while playing in the best conference in the nation and blocking future NFL pass rushers.
That’s why Vrabel, at the NFL Annual Meetings, said he views Campbell as a tackle prospect.
“Yeah, I think you have to,” Vrabel said. “I don’t understand how you can watch him play in the SEC — which is the best conference in college football, against guys that are going to get drafted at that position — so I don’t think you have to project it, you can just actually watch and say there’s the snaps at left tackle, evaluate it, and see what you think.”
The Patriots, in the event Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are off the board, should draft Campbell. It’s a no-brainer because he’s one of the best prospects in this draft and left tackle is the biggest area of need.
The Patriots allowed 52 sacks last season. That was the sixth most in franchise history and the most allowed in New England since 1999. Both tackle spots were the biggest issues. After signing veteran right tackle Morgan Moses, the Patriots still need to upgrade the left side.
This year’s draft isn’t considered deep with elite talent, but Campbell represents the best available offensive lineman for a team that needs to better protect Drake Maye. They need to take the best tackle on the board.
If the Patriots are going to properly develop Maye then they need to properly protect him in the pocket. That means finding a better left tackle. Campbell is an elite athlete with elite character traits. He profiles as an instant starter who will help Maye from Day 1. He’ll give them the upgrade they desperately need at left tackle.
The Patriots shouldn’t overthink this. Campbell’s the guy.
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Continue reading...
