Mike Vrabel’s Top Draft Prospect Takes Drastic Step as Drake Maye Sends Clear Message to Patriots

The hearsay is that the Pats’ organization wants to go all-in on Will Campbell. After all, with what New England’s O-line put on tape last season, they might as well roll out a red carpet for him. The Patriots’ front five got worked 52 times, with Drake Maye picking himself up off the turf on 32 of those occasions. Compare that to LSU, where Campbell anchored a unit that gave up just 15 sacks all season. So, of course, Mike Vrabel is looking in his direction.

A human wall like Campbell could keep Maye upright long enough to, you know, actually throw the football.

But here’s where things get interesting. ESPN’s Jordan Reid dropped a nugget that’s got draft circles chatting—Campbell skipped LSU’s Pro Day. Yep, the projected first-rounder decided he doesn’t wanna do it all over again after the NFL Combine. No additional drills. No extra workouts. Just banking on what he already put on tape and in workouts.

Bold move? Maybe. But it’s got the Patriots and a few other tackle-needy teams reassessing their draft boards. But hey, that doesn’t stop him from getting those pro-day advantages on the arm measurements. The controversial topic so far, leading up to the draft day. At the Combine, Campbell’s arm length came in at 32 5/8 inches—just short of the NFL’s preferred 33-inch threshold for tackles. Cue the armchair GMs and their spreadsheets, questioning if he’s built for the outside or better suited inside at guard.

But wait—LSU’s Pro Day numbers had him at 33 inches exactly. Home-field advantage? Some might think so, but NFL scouts took the measurements. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler even pointed out that multiple linemen measured longer at their Pro Days than at the Combine. So, what gives?

This is where Mike Vrabel’s perspective comes in, and honestly, it’s a refreshing take. “I think arm length is good only up until the point to where you use it, right?” Vrabel said. Translation: It’s not just about inches—it’s about technique. You can have the longest arms in the draft, but if you don’t use them right, they’re just extra real estate.

Meanwhile, Campbell’s film shows a guy who knows how to leverage his strength, regardless of what a tape measure says.

So, does New England still see him as a tackle, or is this enough of a concern to pivot elsewhere? They hold the fourth overall pick, and Campbell is right in the conversation alongside Missouri’s Armand Membou. The Patriots desperately need to play their cards around Maye’s protection because he showed in spurts that he’s got the arms to make it in the pros and just needs better cover.

As for Will, there’s very little chance his decision to opt out of pro day affects his chances of landing in Foxborough. I mean, with how everything is shaping up, it should not surprise us that Drake Maye wants him as well.

Drake Maye’s wants? Pretty straightforward.

Maye is not a big talk, small work QB. We saw that last season. Drake Maye wasn’t at the top of the QBs list. He threw for 2,276 yards, completing 66.6% of his passes with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. But when and where he knew he messed up, he took full responsibility for it. So it’s not a surprise that with the draft picks and all else, he doesn’t want any guessing games.

The Patriots have the No. 4 overall pick, and Maye has made it very clear what he thinks they should do. “You take the best player,” he said on the Up & Adams Show. Simple. No fluff. No fancy draft-day maneuvering. Just grab the top guy on the board and roll with it. But let’s be real—what “best player” actually means depends on who’s still sitting there when the Patriots are on the clock.

Right now, it looks like New England could have a shot at either Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter. Both are elite. Both are game-changers. Hunter is a do-it-all playmaker who could finally give Maye a real No. 1 target. Carter? A defensive wrecking ball who might be too good to pass up. But here’s the twist—New England’s offensive line is still a mess. And if they don’t fix it, Maye will be spending more time on the ground than throwing to anyone. That’s where LSU’s Will Campbell enters the conversation.

So, do the Patriots roll with the best available talent, or do they go all-in on protecting their franchise QB? That’s the dilemma. Eliot Wolf has been vocal about taking the best player available, but after a quiet free agency, ignoring the O-line feels like playing with fire. You can have all the talent in the world at WR or DE, but if Maye is getting sacked 52 times again, what’s the point?

That’s why this pick is tricky. If Hunter or Carter is on the board, the Patriots might hesitate to pass on them. But Maye needs protection. And while he’s saying all the right things—“Any one of those guys”—he knows firsthand what it’s like to play behind a struggling O-line. If Campbell is the pick, it’s not flashy. But it might be what actually helps New England win.

Draft night is coming fast, and the Patriots have a decision to make. Do they chase star power? Or do they protect their most valuable asset? Maye might be open to “any one of those guys,” but let’s not kid ourselves—he’d probably prefer the guy keeping him off his back.