Battles are won and lost in the trenches. Both literally, on the frontlines, and proverbially, on the gridiron. As much evolution and transformation as the sport goes through, dominating the line of scrimmage shall fundamentally reign supreme perpetually. In fact, one glaring component of this evolution is how athletic defensive ends have become over the years. To counteract this and protect the quarterback- who’s also becoming more important as football becomes pass-centric- good offensive line play is non-negotiable. Especially at left tackle. It’s always worth reinforcing that the LT shields the blindside of a right-handed QB, blocking out the pass rush that comes from outside their peripheral vision. An adept left tackle is essentially the key to the entire operation on that side of the football. A couple of NFL Draft analysts are warming to the idea of Mike Vrabel’s Patriots drafting one #4 overall.

The New England Patriots aren’t exactly in purgatory, but they were approaching it. Hitting on a quarterback in the draft was requisite, and they’ve done so in Drake Maye. Now, new HC Mike Vrabel needs to build a supporting cast around him. In an ideal world, they add a blue-chip weapon to the receiving corps. this draft cycle. That would be Travis Hunter, and they very much are in the sweepstakes. However, there’s an amplification in noise that Hunter would be off the board before the Patriots are on the clock. So, would the best alternative be EDGE Abdul Carter? Who’s so good it’s worth stashing the offensive plans away. If this really is how things transpire on draft night, new HC Vrabel and the front office are in a bit of a pickle. Analyst Todd McShay has co-signed on the way out of this pickle.

Pre-Combine, LSU’s Will Campbell was unequivocally the best O-lineman in this draft class. Projecting as a top-5 pick across most mocks and big boards. That prognosis in Indy became a line in the sand, though. Campbell’s arms measured in at 32 ⅝” inches at the Combine. To contextualize this, 117 out of 118 O-linemen with sub-33” arms drafted in the first two rounds in the last decade have become guards, with just 1 tackle. Increase the sample size to 3 decades, and there are a grand total of zero tackles that measured in at under 33 inches to make the Pro Bowl. This perceived physical deficiency has really caused Will Campbell’s stock to slide. But his arms measured in at 33” on Pro Day, which is something. Plus, his tape still holds up. Campbell’s lower body is extremely agile, and he’s really nifty on his feet. A vet like Mike Vrabel recognizes the sheer importance of the position.

With all of this baked in, McShay thinks he’s the best guy if the Patriots can’t snag Hunter or Carter. On his namesake show, Todd McShay said there’s “more and more buzz” about the Pats drafting Will Campbell and that he’s “not shying away from it.” He added, “[Campbell’s] clean. He’s safe. They don’t have anyone in that in that O-line room, man. Who’s their dude in there?” McShay was speaking not just from a quality standpoint but also from a leadership standpoint. He stated Will Campbell’s the guy, “If you’re trying to build a culture and you need this group up front. if you want to be a physical football team, with a quarterback who’s going to work off the run game.” McShay also stated that retooling the O-line is “without question their #1 need.” “This is starting to make more and more sense to me,” he resounded.

Conceded, McShay did imply this wasn’t the best-case scenario by any means. It’s very much a Plan C behind Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. But Mike Vrabel and co. don’t control how the pieces fall. While Will Campbell is a notch below those two, he’s a stud in his own right. He’s got elite lateral quickness and a big frame at 324lb that can withstand playing tackle in the NFL. Building up from the inside out makes sense for a roster with holes across the field. One of the big sticking points is the arm length, though, or lack thereof! If Campbell is forced to transition from tackle to guard, using the #4 overall pick on him doesn’t represent great value. Speaking of value, this segues into Travis Hunter’s big conundrum, becoming a little more straightforward.

Will Campbell ascend up the board by extension of Travis Hunter’s own rise

A couple of intriguing storylines have been a prevalent feature of the discourse throughout this draft process. Perhaps the most intriguing and most prevalent one is Travis Hunter’s future position in the NFL. By all accounts, he will continue playing both sides in some capacity. However, to make sure he’s not offering diminishing returns over time and elongating his career, he’s likely going to have a primary position. There’s been a revelation that, while it isn’t breaking news, it puts into perspective just why one position could pip the other when push comes to shove for Hunter. 

WRs are more quintessential than ever in modern football. Their value is reciprocated financially as well. Ja’Marr Chase has just set a new market for the position group by becoming the highest-paid receiver ever in a $161 million deal over 4 years. Conversely, Derek Stingley Jr. has set the cornerback market with a contract worth $90 million over 3 years. That equates to a 25% gulf between the two positions on a year-to-year basis. That’s got to factor into what Travis Hunter opts to focus on. Plus, teams are more likely to want to draft him higher if he’s giving them more snaps on offense than on defense. Which is why Hunter’s gone from “likely available for the Pats” to “likely going in the top 3.” His Colorado teammate Shedeur Sanders’ continual slide down accentuates this further.

If Hunter’s dilemma is a little closer to a solution, so is Mike Vrabel’s. It’s nearly impossible for both Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter to be available for his franchise at 4th overall. If one of them seeps through, draft them. If not, select Will Campbell. Bolster Drake Maye’s protection, as well as the run game to complement him. Playing left tackle in the SEC and allowing basically no sacks whatsoever does point to Campbell being able to contend with any issues with his arms. It’s not a punt picking him. Just depends on whether the Patriots value film more or raw tangibles. With merely 3 weeks to draft night, things are becoming a lot more conspicuous.