What Vrabel said about Patriots’ decision to draft Will Campbell

Patriots

“This was a very, very easy pick for us.”

FOXBOROUGH — For all of the discourse over the last few months regarding Will Campbell’s arm length and his viability as an elite tackle at the NFL level, Mike Vrabel was candid on Thursday when asked about New England’s first-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. 

“This was a very, very easy pick for us,” Vrabel said at Gillette Stadium just minutes after New England selected Campbell out of LSU with the fourth overall pick. 

Allocating a top-five pick to shore up the offensive line may not steal the same amount of headlines as drafting an elite playmaker and potent pass-rusher. But Vrabel stressed that a stout left tackle in Campbell will serve an essential role in building out New England’s revamped offense alongside second-year QB Drake Maye. 

“Adding Will to our football team — it’s a foundational piece,” Vrabel said. “A young, 21-year-old that’s mature beyond his years. He’s a leader. He’s durable, he’s physical, dependable, accountable, quick study. We spent a lot of time with him. … He made a huge impact on us, and we’re excited about adding him, and look forward to seeing him and his family here tomorrow.” 

Campbell fills an immediate need on a New England roster hindered by several critical deficiencies across its depth chart. A revolving door at the tackle position loomed large for the Patriots in 2024, with Maye and Jacoby Brissett sacked a total of 52 times last season. 

A player with Campbell’s resume would seemingly serve as a much-needed remedy for New England’s O-line woes. 

A consensus All-American with the Tigers in 2024, Campbell allowed just five sacks in 2,553 snaps during his 38 games with the Tigers.

Even though Campbell’s lackluster measurements in regards to arm length (32 5/8 inches) and wingspan (77 3/8 inches) might stand as a red flag when it comes to his ability to withstand pass rushers at the NFL level, Vrabel brushed aside talk that Campbell might be better suited as a guard in the pro ranks. 

“He’s a left tackle,” Vrabel said. “That’s what he’s played. That’s what he’s done. And so he’ll come in here and he’ll compete to be the left tackle, just like everybody else is going to compete for their spots.”

“We coveted this player,” the Patriots head coach added when asked if the team might have made a “miscalculation” if Campbell slots to guard. “This is a very good football player, and so I think part of the draft is adding great pieces, great players, to your roster, which is what we did. … I just think that that’s not fair. I’ve never thought about that one time.” 

For Vrabel, Campbell’s value goes beyond his sterling play at the collegiate level — as he also pointed to the two-time LSU captain’s leadership, toughness, and snarl as intangibles that will serve him well as he tries to find his footing in Foxborough moving forward. 

“It’s one of the only ways that you can survive as a player in this league at the line of scrimmage,” Vrabel said of Campbell’s mindset. “The play demeanor, the finish, the effort — the guys on the other side are talented. That’s how it goes. We can all see that. 

“So, there’s a lot to playing this game, other than just looking good and having great technique. So we value that, and we’re going to continue to value that — the ability to to finish and to grind through when it gets tough. It’s something that we’re going to be excited about. And we’re going to give him every opportunity to develop and push — push him as fast as he’ll let us go.” 

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.