Will Campbell will either be the Patriots’ next franchise left tackle or he will soon suffer from the infamous ‘short-arm curse.’ The New England Patriots are in a difficult spot. They desperately need a sure thing at left tackle – who can keep rookie QB Drake Maye upright and not run for his life on the field.

So, is Will Campbell that guy? Some in the Patriots’ building certainly think so. Others? Well, they’re measuring his arm’s length like it’s some kind of archaic prophecy that determines O-line success.

The big question is – Is Will Campbell liked by the Patriots? The answer is a definite YES – at least inside Gillette Stadium. According to Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats), the LSU product has greatly impressed New England. Patriots insider Phil Perry even confirmed that Campbell ‘has fans’ in the organization after already completing his Top 30 visit. “The demeanor, the character, the interview process—he has really knocked it out of the park when it comes to making an impression on folks prior to the draft. Do not be surprised if Campbell becomes a Patriot on draft night.”

So, before you receive the draft-night phone call, that’s as good as it gets. The Patriots undoubtedly viewed Campbell as a strong, no-nonsense leader who might serve as a cornerstone for many years to come. Because here’s the catch: the LSU star allowed only two sacks in his entire college career and was PFF’s highest-graded SEC tackle in 2024.

But yeah, of course, the NFL draft season wouldn’t be complete without a completely overblown scouting debate. Mike Vrabel weighed in on the debate, saying, “I think arm length is good only up until the point to where you use it, right? If guys are sitting there and they’re catching, or they’re clamping, or their hands are outside, they’re not as long as maybe they would be if you punched. The most important thing is how you use whatever length you have.”

Translation: It’s about functional strength and technique, not just a number on a sheet. If arm length was everything, we’d be drafting pterodactyls.

And yet, the Patriots are thinking twice about drafting Will Campbell because his arms aren’t long enough. Overthinking much!? Here is the number causing all this ridiculous debate: 32 5/8 inches. The official measurement of Campbell’s arm length from LSU’s Pro Day, and apparently, it’s a problem. And why not? For context, here are the arm lengths of the first offensive tackle drafted in the last 10 years:

• 2024: Joe Alt–34 ¼”
• 2023: Paris Johnson–36 ⅛”
• 2022: Ikem Ekwonu–34”
• 2021: Penei Sewell–33 ¼”
• 2020: Andrew Thomas–36 ⅛”

Now, you understand why there is so much fuss over the arm’s length. No OT taken first in the past decade had arms shorter than 33 3/8 inches. But let’s not act like Campbell is a complete outlier—his Pro Day number (33 inches) is still close enough that it shouldn’t be a dealbreaker.

Will Campbell calls BS on the arm-length debate

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

And honestly? He’s got a point. Campbell was dominant at LSU. He started from Day 1 in the SEC, was a two-time First-Team All-SEC selection, and even took home the Jacobs Blocking Trophy (awarded to the best offensive lineman in the conference). But sure, let’s pretend an eighth of an inch is going to be the reason he succeeds or fails in the NFL.

Former NFL lineman Ross Tucker is also not buying the arm-length debate. “It’s embarrassing,” Tucker said on the Ross Tucker Podcast. “Longer arms are better than shorter arms, just like stronger is better than weaker, and faster is better than slower. But this arbitrary cutoff is absolutely ridiculous.”

The funny thing? Some of the best linemen ever had ‘short arms.’ Ever heard of Joe Thomas? You know, the Hall of Famer, 10-time Pro Bowler, and one of the greatest left tackles of all time? His arms measured 32 1/2 inches—shorter than Campbell’s. Didn’t seem to stop him from dominating for a decade.

But this is where things get messy: the Patriots need a left tackle immediately, and they can’t afford another first-round bust. The reality is that some teams might see Campbell as an interior lineman first, potentially limiting his value at No. 4 overall. And if you actually watch him play (instead of fixating on tape measures), you see a dominant tackle who’s handled elite SEC pass rushers for years. He has great footwork, elite balance, and powerful hands – all things that matter way more than an arm-length measurement.

At the end of the day, football is played on the field. It’s not like you are flying a jet that arm’s length should matter. Campbell’s got the tools, the talent, and the tape. If the Patriots believe in him, they should trust what actually matters—not some arbitrary number. And if he proves the sceptics wrong? You better believe this debate will age as badly as every “Brady is a system QB” take from the early 2000s.