Photo by Matthew Hinton / AP Photos
Earlier today, Saturday, April 19, the betting odds for the Patriots to draft LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick just shot up to -900 in the FanDuel Sportbook.
My guess is that insider sources have leaked that the Patriots are going in this direction, hence the odds change.
Campbell is a tough, hardworking tackle who impressed during his tenure at LSU, playing left tackle. However, questions have surfaced over Campbell’s physical ability to play the position in the NFL.
At the NFL Combine, Campbell’s arm length measured in just short of 33 inches.
Why is that important? 33 inches is considered the threshold for a suitable arm length of an offensive lineman to effectively play tackle at the NFL level.
As a matter of fact, Campbell’s measurements make him the narrowest offensive tackle (in terms of wingspan) at the NFL Combine since 1999.
Would taking Campbell be a bad pick?
Honestly, I don’t think so. By all reports, this draft is a shallow one in terms of standout talent.
And after all, the Patriots desperately need offensive linemen.
But with Campbell’s arm length, it is likely that he plays left guard for the Patriots, rather than left tackle.
Again, this is fine because they also need a guard. But taking a guard in the top 5 is just not something you should do, as the position is not nearly as valuable.
If Mike Vrabel and the Patriots truly think Campbell can play tackle, then I’d give it a shot. But if they have concerns, a trade down may be what they should go with.
What else could they do?
Blue-chip prospect and defensive end Abdul Carter is rumored to slide in the draft due to injury and character concerns.
Carter is, in my opinion, the best player in the draft. While the Patriots already re-tooled their defense this offseason, you simply can’t pass up on a prospect like Carter.
Now, will he actually slide to four? Probably not. But if he does, I fully expect the Patriots to take him.
Beyond that, there isn’t much to write home about in this rookie class. If the right offer is there, I would consider trading down a few picks for more draft capital and take Campbell in the 6-10 pick range.
Drafting a future guard in the low top 10 is much more justifiable than taking him in the top 5.
