Will Campbell: The tale of 2 tapes
School: LSU
Level: Junior (3-year starter)
Age: 21 (Born January 6, 2004)
Height: 6'6"
Weight: Approximately 320 lbs
Measurements:
- Arm Length: 32 5/8" to 33" (Combine/Pro Day measurements vary)
- Wingspan: 77 3/8" (shortest recorded for a tackle in combine history)
- Relative Athletic Score (RAS): 9.91/9.92 (15th out of 1,507 tackles since 1987)
Pro Day/Combine Scores:
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.98 seconds (93rd percentile for guards)
- 10-Yard Split: 1.76 seconds
- Broad Jump: 113 inches (91st percentile)
- Vertical Jump: 32 inches (84th percentile)
- 3-Cone Drill: Not specified in provided data
- 20-Yard Shuttle: Not specified in provided data
- Bench Press: Not specified in provided data
NFL Comparison: Taylor Decker/Bernhard Raimann/David DeCastro/Peter Skoronski/Jonah Williams
Strengths:
1. Elite pass protection with precise footwork
2. Quick, strong hands with powerful punch
3. Exceptional athleticism and lateral agility
4. Strong grip strength and hand placement
5. Outstanding anchor ability against power rushers
6. High football IQ with blitz/stunt recognition
7. Fluid movement to second level on combo blocks/pulls
8. Powerful run blocker with heavy hands and leg drive
9. Excellent balance, leverage, and body control
10. Aggressive finisher with mean streak
11. Quick stance explosion to counter speed rushers
12. Strong base with natural knee bend
13. Effective in gap/zone schemes and pulling
14. Tremendous size, length, and play strength
15. Renowned leadership and football character
16. Extensive SEC experience as three-year starter
17. Consistent snap-to-snap performance with rare mental errors
18. Impressive recovery ability to maintain pocket integrity
19. Strong upper body for run defense and bull rush resistance
20. Active, urgent feet for leverage maintenance
21. High-level awareness with pre-snap communication
22. Efficient combo block execution and core strength
23. Contact balance and hand reset patience
24. Edge protection with overall coordination
25. Run lane wall-off and reach blocking
Strength Summary:
Will Campbell is a compelling draft prospect due to his proven track record as a three-year starter and two-time team captain at left tackle for LSU, showcasing durability and leadership in the SEC's pass-first offense. As a Consensus All-American (2024) and co-winner of the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy, he brings elite accolades and recognition. His athleticism shines with a 9.91 Relative Athletic Score, including a 4.98 40-yard dash, 32-inch vertical, and 113-inch broad jump, ranking him among the most explosive tackles historically. Campbell’s technical refinement, fluid footwork, and precise hand placement allow him to neutralize top SEC edge rushers like Will Anderson and Jared Verse, proving NFL-ready pass protection skills. His powerful two-hand punch, elite grip strength, and stout anchor consistently stall power rushers, while his lateral agility and recovery ability handle speed off the edge. As a run blocker, he excels in inside zone and gap schemes, using explosive first-step quickness, core strength, and torque to displace defenders and open lanes. His versatility to pull, climb to the second level, and execute in space enhances his scheme fit. Campbell’s competitive toughness, high football character, and experience against pro-caliber competition (zero sacks allowed on 229 true pass sets in 2024) make him a day-one starter with Pro Bowl potential. Despite shorter arm length (33 inches), his tape mirrors successful NFL tackles like Rashawn Slater, and his youth (turning 21 in January 2025) suggests significant growth potential. Whether at tackle or potentially guard, Campbell’s polished skill set, work ethic, and ability to protect quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier position him as a top-10 pick capable of anchoring an NFL offensive line for a decade.
Weaknesses:
1. Struggles with lateral blocks and reaching landmarks.
2. High pad level creates leverage issues and weak anchor against bull rushes.
3. Inconsistent hand placement, often too high or outside, leading to penalties.
4. Below-average arm length (sub-33 inches) impacts tackle projection and leverage against longer rushers.
5. Oversets against speed rushers, vulnerable to inside counter moves and edge pressure.
6. Narrow base in pass sets and sustained blocks, causing balance and anchor issues.
7. Inconsistent footwork, body control, and overactive base in pass protection.
8. Predictable and mechanical punch timing, exploitable by savvy rushers.
9. Struggles to redirect fluidly or recover after losing initial engagement.
10. Opens catch foot on contact, compromising protection.
11. Speed-to-power rushes push him back into the pocket.
12. Plays out of control, over his toes, or with a hunched back, leading to balance issues.
13. Lacks power, grip strength, and physical dominance in blocking.
14. Inconsistent leg drive; feet go dead in run game.
15. Not a dominator; fails to attack first, allowing defenders to gain advantage.
16. Penalty-prone, especially false starts (1 in 2022, 5 in 2023, 9 in 2024).
17. Struggles with pass rushers dipping under his 6-foot-6 frame.
18. Inconsistent in 1v1 pass protection, particularly against powerful or relentless rushers.
19. Hands vulnerable to cross chops and snatch moves, relying on feet for recovery.
20. May be considered for guard conversion due to arm length and leverage issues.
Weakness Summary:
Will Campbell presents significant risks as a draft prospect due to his physical and technical limitations, which could hinder his transition to the NFL. His sub-33-inch arm length and historically short 77 3/8-inch wingspan, the lowest recorded for a tackle at the combine, severely limit his margin for error against longer, more athletic NFL edge rushers. This deficiency exacerbates his struggles with framing speed rushes, as he often oversets, leaving him vulnerable to inside counter moves that compromise the pocket. In 2024, he allowed two sacks and 18 pressures, highlighting exploitable weaknesses in pass protection, particularly against savvy rushers using cross-chops or swipe-swim moves. Campbell’s high pad level and inconsistent hand placement, often too high or outside, lead to leverage issues and penalties, with a notable increase in flags (nine in 2024, including false starts). His narrow base and overactive footwork in pass sets create balance problems, causing him to lunge or drift, which savvy defenders exploit by attacking his post-leg or winning inside. Against power rushers, his anchor can falter when speed-to-power moves push him back, as seen in matchups against Jared Verse and Dallas Turner. In the run game, Campbell lacks the mass and dominance to be a true mauler, occasionally leaning too far forward and falling off blocks, with inconsistent leg drive and a tendency to lose defenders due to poor balance. His predictable two-hand punch and mechanical punch timing allow elite rushers to anticipate and counter his moves, reducing his effectiveness in 1v1 situations. Additionally, his modest lateral agility and recovery athleticism limit his ability to redirect fluidly or recover when beaten, particularly on the edge. Given these concerns, Campbell’s projection to tackle is questionable, with many scouts viewing him as a better fit for guard, which could lower his draft value. His overall inconsistency, penalty-prone tendencies, and reliance on technique over physical traits make him a high-risk pick, potentially unfit for a top-10 selection and better suited for a later first-round or early second-round slot where his transition to the interior can be managed.
Final Thoughts:
The New England Patriots, by selecting Will Campbell fourth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, are acquiring a highly athletic, technically refined, yet high-risk offensive lineman with the potential to be a cornerstone left tackle or a versatile interior starter. Campbell, a 21-year-old, 6’6”, 320-pound three-year starter and two-time team captain from LSU, brings elite credentials as a 2024 Consensus All-American and co-winner of the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy. His exceptional 9.91 Relative Athletic Score, highlighted by a 4.98 40-yard dash, 32-inch vertical, and 113-inch broad jump, underscores his explosive athleticism. In pass protection, Campbell’s fluid footwork, precise hand placement, powerful two-hand punch, and elite grip strength enable him to neutralize top SEC edge rushers, allowing zero sacks on 229 true pass sets in 2024. As a run blocker, he excels in inside zone and gap schemes, leveraging first-step quickness, core strength, and torque to displace defenders and open lanes, with versatility to pull and block in space. His competitive toughness, high football character, and experience protecting quarterbacks make him a day-one starter with Pro Bowl upside, capable of anchoring an offensive line for a decade.
However, Campbell’s sub-33-inch arm length and record-low 77 3/8-inch wingspan pose significant concerns, limiting his margin for error against longer NFL rushers. His tendency to overset, high pad level, and inconsistent hand placement expose him to inside counter moves, resulting in two sacks and 18 pressures in 2024. A narrow base, overactive footwork, and modest lateral agility lead to balance issues and difficulty redirecting, particularly against speed-to-power rushes, as seen in matchups against Jared Verse and Dallas Turner. His run blocking lacks dominance, with occasional balance issues and inconsistent leg drive. Penalty-prone tendencies (nine flags in 2024, including false starts) and predictable punch timing further elevate his risk profile. While some scouts project him as a guard due to these limitations, his tape shows tackle potential, though his inconsistencies make him a high-risk, high-reward pick.
The Patriots are betting on Campbell’s youth, athleticism, and technical polish to address their critical need for a blindside protector for QB Drake Maye, aiming for a long-term solution at left tackle. However, his physical constraints and technical flaws may necessitate a move to guard or require coaching to maximize his potential, making this a bold selection with both immediate impact and developmental challenges ahead.
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