2025 NFL Mock Draft: New England Patriots take tackle

Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Hello to my fellow BGN members! I am ReginaldHtower, the artist formerly known on here as ItownBallers22. I have loved being involved in the Community Mock Draft in the past, and actually nailed my 2021 and 2022 picks (Pat Surtain II to the Broncos, Kaiir Elam to the Bills). With the disaster of actually sending Elam to the Bills, I thought I should use my powers for good instead of hurting more NFL teams. But here I am again, doing what I can to bring some perspective after another Eagles Super Bowl. I hope you enjoy!

This is easily the worst-case scenario for the Patriots. Sitting at #4 with their QB of the future already locked in, and a roster needing some blue-chip talent, the hope on April 24th is that one of Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter are available so the Pats can sprint either name to the podium. In this mock, those two went 1-2 (as they should, but probably won’t this year because Titans/Browns lol) and here we are still needing some talent in Foxborough. Thus, I might as well get an updated insurance policy for the franchise QB by selecting Will Campbell, OT LSU.

Let’s take quick stock of the Pats to understand why I landed on Campbell as the pick: we have a new/old face leading the charge in Vrabel, a GM that had a league-leading $121 million for new toys in Free Agency (and boy did he…miss you already Milton), and a QB that oozes potential but was bogged down by a pedestrian team (and HC) in 2024.

Good news for the Patriots – all 3 of these things work in their favor heading into 2025. Vrabel is a coach who knows winning football, being a part of the first Patriots dynasty in the early 2000s. He did wonders leading an abysmal Titans team (41-24 first 4 years) highlighted by an AFC Championship appearance in 2019. Vrabel is the perfect “leader of men” coaching persona and walks into a young roster in need of molding, something he has proven to be able to do. I think his upbringing in the “Patriot Way” and defensive focus will have the Pats back on track immediately, allowing the focus to shift to the offense as he comes from the Belichick mindset of getting more out of a defense than expected.

Speaking of defense, he sure got a lot of help in that regard from the Pats “other” GM Eliot Wolfe and his free agency spending spree. On that side of the ball alone they acquired Milton Williams (sad tears), Carlton Davis (CB), Harold Landry (DE), Robert Spillane (OLB), Marcus Epps (S), and a few young fliers. That figures to be at least quality 5 starters brought into a defense that is only a year removed from being in the top 10 (here’s looking at you Mayo).

Now that we’ve covered the D, the most important step here is how you surround your QB with talent and stability. Adding Stephon Diggs is a big swing, but there is no doubting his talent. The thing about stability though is you must be standing upright to have it – being sacked on average 2.6 times per game started in your rookie year isn’t going to cut it. We here at BGN know the wonders of an offense that has a unit of maulers setting the tone. Though Wolfe brought in some nice additions to the OL, notably Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury, this OL was HORRENDOUS last year and needs a shot in the arm. That is where Will Campbell steps in.

It came down to Campbell or Michigan’s Mason Graham for the pick, as I think Graham is worthy of a top selection this year. Seeing the resources poured into the defense and my expectations of what Vrabel can do on that side of the ball, coupled with the fact this is a much deeper draft on the DL than OT, Campbell had to be the pick.

Campbell has gotten some knocks since the tights came on and the measuring tapes came out, something we didn’t hear the last few years as he was bulldozing for the Tigers in the SEC. His measurements at the combine came out as such:

Height/Weight – 6’6” / 319lbs

Hand/Arm Length – 9 ½” / 32⅝”

40 Yard Dash – 4.98

Vertical/Broad – 32” / 9’5”

The 21-year-old Campbell measured in just shy of 6’6 and on the “light” side of 300+, which clearly helped him be the only OT to run a sub-five 40 at the Combine. What everyone is focusing on is his arm length, as it feels like a death knell for his chances at OT in the NFL. This is the point of the article where you either agree or don’t agree with me on whether the Combine actually matters…it really doesn’t. How many players with ridiculous 40 times were guaranteed a first team All-Pro nod? Sure, the arms are a little short (he measured just over the critical 33” limit at his Pro Day, for what it’s worth) but don’t tell him that:

“For two years, nobody had any measurements on me and nobody said anything about my play. So now all of a sudden, an arm length decides if I’m a good player or not? I think it’s BS.”

And definitely don’t tell Mike Vrabel that (thank heavens that this quote came in before I had to submit to our benevolent lord BLG). From WEEI (Boston Radio) article on Vrabel’s comments at the NFL League Meetings on Campbell specifically:

The Patriots head coach sat down with media at the Annual NFL League Meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, and said he’s seen enough from the elite prospect’s college tape to determine he should be projected as a tackle in the NFL draft.

“I don’t understand how you could 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. I don’t think you have to project it. You can just actually watch it and say, there’s his snaps at left tackle and evaluate it, and see what you think,” Vrabel said.

At the end of the day, the football guys doing football things and watching the football being football’d aren’t too concerned with this mountain of a man being able to transition his First Team All American season into the pros. And as the real GM of the Patriots, I am definitely not. It just seems like another year of a great prospect getting knocked at the 11th hour for something that has not mattered the entirety of his football career to this point. He is a blue-chip OT that can slide in from day 1, went 27 straight games at LSU without allowing a sack (only 5 total in 3 full years), and has all the accolades you could ask for during his 38 starts at a premier SEC program:

2022

Second-team All-SEC. Freshman All-American. Freshman All-SEC Team.

2023

First-team All-SEC. LSU was a Joe Moore Award finalist (nation’s top OL).

2024

First-team Associated Press All-American. First-team All-SEC. SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy Winner (shared with Texas LT Kelvin Banks Jr.). Finalist for the Lombardi Award (nation’s top OL/DL).

I believe in this game that decides our annual level of happiness, big people beat up small people; and big people that are ridiculously athletic are usually on the Philadelphia Eagles. But when they aren’t, you should go out and get them and not have a second thought. Will Campbell has been the best OT prospect for this class for over a year now, and a few measurements at the underwear track meet is not going to sway my feelings on that. He was a leader on the LSU Tigers since his freshman year, with immaculate character and a work ethic to rival. Let’s hope the Patriots feel the same way if the board shakes out this way, and allow me to at least believe my future as an NFL GM isn’t completely closed.

I hope you enjoyed the write-up even if you don’t agree, and what kind of community member would I be if I didn’t include the RAS and spider graph for you sickos out there. Much love BGN and Fly Super Bowl Champ Eagles Fly!!!

Poll
Do you approve of this pick?

80%

19%

227 votes total

Vote Now

2025 BGN Mock Draft Order

1) Titans (JoeDirtsBarber): Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
2) Browns (kjb304): Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
3) Giants (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop): Cam Ward, QB, Miami
4) Patriots (ReginaldHtower): Will Campbell, OT, LSU
5) Jaguars (eaglenomics)
6) Raiders (dkays)
7) Jets (Stick19154)
8) Panthers (89Tremaine)
9) Saints (FierceDisc65)
10) Bears (DrprofBubbles)
11) 49ers (granthill7)
12) Cowboys (Be subpar for Ja’Marr)
13) Dolphins (thehead92)
14) Colts (green1us)
15) Falcons (All_Hail_Howie)
16) Cardinals (Good Bad Ideas)
17) Bengals (ablesser88)
18) Seahawks (herbalonius)
19) Buccaneers (Hoosinole)
20) Broncos (Silverlark60)
21) Steelers (Dr.MidnightGreen)
22) Chargers (LancGuy)
23) Packers (Leo Bedio)
24) Vikings (krikkebelgium)
25) Texans (Aint1stULast)
26) Rams (Booth12)
27) Ravens (pheebthegoose)
28) Lions (Neil Dutton)
29) Commanders (Mailata_in_a_Miata)
30) Bills (PhilaWolverine)
31) Chiefs (niels.rosenquist)
32) Eagles (Philly21)

Now it’s time for you to vote for who YOU think should be selected in the 2025 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft.

Poll
Who should the Patriots draft at No. 4 overall?

60%

OT Will Campbell

(108 votes)

11%

OT Armand Membou

(21 votes)

14%

DL Mason Graham

(25 votes)

6%

WR Tetairoa McMillan

(11 votes)

7%

RB Ashton Jeanty

(13 votes)

178 votes total

Vote Now

1) Titans: QB Cam Ward
2) Browns: EDGE Abdul Carter
3) Giants: WR/CB Travis Hunter
4) Patriots: