Patriots Select Will Campbell With First-Round Pick In NFL Draft

FOXBORO, Mass. — Will Campbell is the newest New England Patriot.

New England selected the LSU offensive tackle with the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Campbell (6-foot-6, 319 pounds) has long been viewed as the favorite at No. 4 given New England’s glaring need at left tackle, and the lack of blue-chip talent after Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. Hunter and Carter were selected by the Cleveland Browns (No. 2) and New York Giants (No. 3), respectively, before the Patriots picked Campbell.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell referred to Campbell as an offensive tackle when he read the team-submitted draft card Thursday night. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but some analysts and fans will immediately question whether that’s where Campbell will remain for the long haul. The ultra-athletic Campbell has been criticized for his lack of length; he measured 32 5/8-inch arms with a 77 3/8-inch wingspan at the NFL scouting combine.

Speaking to reporters on March 31, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel made it crystal clear New England viewed Campbell as a left tackle.

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“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 could just actually watch and say, ‘There’s the snaps at left tackle.’ Evaluate it and see what you think.”

A native of Monroe, La., Campbell started 38 games at left tackle for the Tigers. He was the best offensive tackle in the best conference in college football. That was recognized as Campbell was a first-team All-American in 2024 and a first-team All-SEC honoree each of the last two seasons.

Campbell’s arrival in New England should solidify that weakness — New England’s biggest weakness. With Vederian Lowe playing 800-plus snaps at left tackle in 2024, the Patriots had the second-worst pass-blocking rate in the league and allowed the fifth-most sacks. It’s been one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL the last few seasons, in large part because the Patriots never addressed their hole at left tackle.

Vrabel and the Patriots are hoping they’ve accomplished that by drafting Campbell.

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For more on the selection of Campbell and the rest of the NFL draft, be sure to follow along with our coverage here.

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