The 2025 NFL Draft is finally here and the Patriots were on the clock early with the No. 4 pick, a spot most fans were not pleased with after the Week 18 win pushed them out of the first overall selection.
That effectively eliminated them from taking Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter, who went to the Jaguars after a trade up, and Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter, who went to the Giants instead. It meant they had to shift their focus to another game-changing player who would make almost an equal impact on the team, which is likely why LSU left tackle Will Campbell became the favorite over the past month.
The rumors were proven accurate, as the Patriots chose the offensive lineman at No. 4, immediately making Drake Maye's job much easier going into the second year of his NFL career. It might not be an exciting pick or one that most fans are thrilled with, but the offensive line was a major problem during the 2024 season, and they just addressed it head-on by selecting Campbell.
Patriots fans were not collectively happy with Will Campbell being the No. 4 pick
Because the more exciting players were already off the board, the Patriots chose to address a significant need on offense rather than take the best player available, the philosophy they claimed they would follow with this year's draft.
For the most part, it wasn't a bad decision, given they now have a starting left tackle for the foreseeable future, even if there are some questions about his size and how that might impact his career in the NFL. But fans were not thrilled upon hearing the announcement.
Crowd reaction at the Patriots draft party as LSU left tackle Will Campbell is announced as the No. 4 pick. pic.twitter.com/8kijQXMEs6
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) April 25, 2025
The biggest concern since the Combine earlier this year has surrounded the length of Campbell's arms, a trait that could make him more suited to be a left guard than a tackle. The Patriots do not need a guard as much as they long for a left tackle, so if that's the inevitable future for Campbell, that could be a big problem.
However, even if his arm length could be somewhat of an issue, it never appeared to be during his career at LSU. Not to mention, his arm measurements were not the same at the Combine and his Pro Day, providing even more confusion about what the issue could accurately be, if at all.
Regardless, he will be a day one starter in New England and lock down Maye's blind spot, allowing the quarterback to fully thrive in his role. It was a massive issue during his rookie season, so Campbell's presence adds a lot of security to the offensive line and significantly boosts the chance of success for the running backs.
Campbell might not be the game-changing wide receiver or pass-rushing extraordinaire that many fans hoped would be the Patriots' pick, but it's hard to argue against adding security on the offensive line for Maye.