FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots, still clawing their way out of a post-Belichick haze, made a bold move in the 2025 NFL Draft, snagging LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick on April 24. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound lineman, a hulking presence with a reputation for stonewalling defenders, was a safe bet for a team desperate to protect its quarterback. But NFL experts, poring over the pick like detectives at a crime scene, handed out grades that ranged from solid applause to cautious head-scratching.
Campbell, a 21-year-old Louisiana native, started all 13 games at left tackle for LSU last season, earning first-team All-SEC honors. His tape shows a guy who moves like a freight train, pancaking edge rushers and opening lanes for running backs. The Patriots, who’ve been patching their offensive line with duct tape and prayers, saw him as a cornerstone. On April 25, the team’s official draft announcement called Campbell “a proven protector with elite size and technique,” signaling their hope he’ll anchor the line for a decade.
Experts, though, weren’t all popping champagne. One major sports outlet, breaking down the draft on April 25, gave the Patriots a B grade, praising Campbell’s “day-one starter potential” but noting his selection hinged on where he’d play. Left tackle? Right tackle? The uncertainty nagged at analysts. New England’s current roster has holes on both sides, and Campbell’s versatility—or lack thereof—could make or break the pick. Another prominent football news site, in its April 25 roundup, awarded a B-plus, calling Campbell “a very safe pick” who “won’t wow anyone but won’t bust either.” They pointed to his 2024 LSU stats: zero sacks allowed in 12 games, a rare feat in the SEC’s meat grinder.
Not everyone was so kind. A national sports column, published April 26, slapped the Patriots with a C-plus, arguing the team missed a chance to grab a flashier playmaker at No. 4. “Campbell’s a brick wall, sure, but in a draft loaded with quarterbacks and receivers, New England played it too safe,” the analysis read. It cited the Patriots’ 4-13 record last season, suggesting a bolder swing might’ve sparked the fanbase. Still, the same outlet admitted Campbell’s “polished footwork and vice-grip hands” made him a low-risk choice.
The draft grades reflected Campbell’s college résumé. At LSU, he started 39 games over three years, earning a 2024 Outland Trophy finalist nod for the nation’s top lineman. His pass-blocking efficiency, per 2024 analytics, ranked in the 95th percentile among FBS tackles. New England’s front office, in a statement on April 24, emphasized his experience against top-tier SEC defenses, where he faced future NFL pass-rushers weekly and held his own.
Fans at Gillette Stadium, buzzing during the draft’s first round, will have to wait until September to see Campbell suit up. The Patriots open their 2025 season against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 7. Campbell’s first test will likely come against Bengals’ edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who racked up 17.5 sacks last year. For now, the rookie’s job is clear: hit the weight room, learn the playbook, and prove the experts—whether they gave him a B or a C—wrong by keeping New England’s quarterback upright.
The Patriots selected Will Campbell, offensive tackle from LSU, fourth overall in the NFL Draft on April 24, 2025. Campbell started 39 games at LSU, earning first-team All-SEC honors in 2024. He allowed zero sacks in 12 games last season. The team’s 2025 season begins September 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.