Will Campbell is widely considered to be the top offensive tackle prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, but there has been a potential red flag that has prevented him from potentially being a slam dunk selection for the Patriots with the No. 4 pick.
The LSU offensive tackle’s arm length is believed to be shorter than the ideal size for a left tackle. As some clarity over Campbell’s arm length will be provided on Sunday, the standout prospect attempted to quell any concerns evaluators might have about his arm length when he met with reporters on Saturday.
“I think I’ve shown everything that I need to, you know, show that I can play tackle at an elite level,” Campbell said. “You can go look at my tape, there’s not one play on there that when I get beat you say that’s because he has shorter arms.”
To Campbell’s point, he was consistently one of the best offensive tackles in the nation at LSU. A three-year starter at left tackle, Campbell allowed just four sacks and 49 pressures over his career with the Tigers, per Pro Football Focus. This past season, Campbell gave up just two sacks and 18 pressures as he was named a consensus All-American and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy.
Despite the high-level production, the arm length concerns surrounding Campbell have persisted. His arm length was measured at 33 7/8 inches last spring at LSU, ESPN’s Jeff Legwold reported Saturday. The ideal arm length for a left tackle in the NFL is at least 34 inches, so the concerns could be a bit overstated.
As Campbell and the rest of the top offensive linemen prospects in the 2025 draft class will get measured at the combine on Sunday, he admitted that his arm length isn’t ideal. But he isn’t worried that it could prevent him from performing at an elite level in the NFL.
“Obviously I don’t have stereotypical offensive tackle arms. I’m aware of that,” Campbell said. “People have to nitpick something. I’ve heard it all my career. When I was coming out of high school, the college coaches all said the same thing. I proved them wrong; it’s something I anticipate doing again.”
With questions over Campbell’s arm length still looming, there have been debates whether he’d be best suited to play tackle or guard in the NFL. The Patriots see Campbell as a left tackle and he has “fans in the organization,” according to MassLive. Campbell told reporters that he plans to meet with the Patriots at some point, but hasn’t yet.
If the Patriots indeed view Campbell as a left tackle, that would seemingly make it more likely they select him with the fourth overall pick. Even before that report, many mock drafts had New England nabbing Campbell with its first pick.
“Some teams will be more concerned than others with his lack of length, but I don’t see it as a major issue,” NFL Network top draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah wrote of Campbell. “He is just scratching the surface of his potential and should start at tackle for a decade, provided he stays healthy.”
Even if the Patriots select Campbell with the fourth overall pick, it might not be a guarantee that he starts right away at left tackle for them. For instance, Joe Alt, Paris Johnson Jr., and Penei Sewell are among the top offensive tackle prospects who played right tackle as rookies in recent years.
Campbell has a preference on what he wants to do as a rookie.
“If you told me I was going to start at right guard versus be a backup at left tackle, I’m going to tell you to put me at right guard,” Campbell said. “… I’ll play anything I need to, to get on the field, but I feel like I can play tackle … [but] I’ve been working on everything. I’m a versatile player, I can play wherever I need to play and do whatever I’ve got to do to get on the field.”
