It has been a year since the New England Patriots used their first-round draft pick on left tackle Will Campbell, and yet there are still some analysts, and even former NFL scouts, who are still bringing up the biggest talking point about the LSU alum from the pre-draft process.
Much of the focus on Campbell ahead of last year's draft was all about his arm length, as it almost always is when discussing rookie tackles. There's always one prospect whose body is dissected this way, and unfortunately for the Patriots' starter, it was his turn in 2025.
Even worse is that it's still being talked about a year later, and much of it is due to his late-season struggles, which ultimately impacted how the offense performed in the biggest games of the season.
And while those who mention his arm length again acknowledge that Campbell returned from injury, which is now known to have been much worse than initially reported, they still can't help but wonder if his arm length will become an issue throughout his career, starting this upcoming season.
That's a point former NFL scout John Middlekauff recently raised in an interview with Hard Rock Bet, and it's the unfortunate reality that Campbell won't escape any time soon.
Former NFL scout has lingering concerns about Will Campbell that the Patriots might want to hear
Based on his rookie performance, there is a lot to like about the kind of player Campbell can be for the Patriots for a long time. But there are still some concerns about his role as the starting left tackle, with his arm length remaining the biggest question of all.
Middlekauff believes it's still an open question, but he's not willing to come to any conclusion just yet, which is good news for the Patriots.
“I would say it is a question mark that has not been answered. I understand he was injured toward the end of the season. I’m not by any means going to write him off. But it’s going to be the No. 1 thing everyone’s going to watch for this year.”
The truth of the matter is that this is going to be a topic that will likely haunt Campbell until he solidifies himself as an elite left tackle in the league. He appears to have the capabilities to do so, but it's still very early in his career, and he plays a difficult position in the NFL.
Protecting the quarterback's blindside is not an easy task, especially when you play for a high-profile team like the Patriots. Campbell showed he could be reliable and the future cornerstone of the offensive line for much of the season, with an ill-timed injury derailing all that he had seemed to accomplish before it.
His performance in the Super Bowl continues to be what most analysts focus on, and while that's not entirely unfair, any player going into their second season is bound to have a lot of growth and development to still do.
It puts a lot of pressure on Campbell to step up his game for the 2026 season and continue to prove that he was the right selection and can be a face of the franchise for a long time, despite the constant conversation about his arm length.
Fortunately, he has time to do just that.
Add us as a preferred source on Google