The picture is becoming clear—and a little chaotic—even before the war room phones start ringing and Roger Goodell begins his annual parade of hugs and awkward draft stage moments. Cam Ward. Hunter Travis. Abdul Carter. Barring a seismic shake-up, those three names are expected to disappear from the board in the blink of an eye. But that’s where the New England Patriots come in. They’re sitting at No. 4 with a dream pick in mind. Will Campbell, LSU’s offensive tackle, has been their guy for weeks. Like, Mike Vrabel is already printing out their plan in Foxborough, and this has been their blueprint.

But that dream is almost teetering. The Patriots may have to make quick decisions now that the league has thrown a wrench in the gears.

Will Campbell’s journey to the Patriots was expected to be easy. After all, the dude is a beast. A three-year LSU starter who only allowed four sacks during his entire college career. The Patriots have been searching for a blue-chip offensive tackle who can establish a franchise. And then the draft experts—well, they’ve been singing Campbell’s praises. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network joined a conference call and dropped a bombshell. “I’ve continually heard that offensive tackle was going to be addressed, and I’ve continually heard that’s Will Campbell’s spot.”

That’s the kind of confirmation the Patriots love to hear, right? They’ve been telling anyone who will listen that Campbell is their guy. He’s been “well-liked” inside the building. They’re convinced his SEC dominance is enough to make those arm length concerns a moot point. But here’s where things get ugly. Campbell’s arm length—32 5/8 inches at the combine, barely cracking 33 at LSU’s pro day—is the one red flag that won’t go away. It’s the kind of detail that gets former Patriots like Logan Mankins talking about wingspans with their wives. It’s also the kind of stat that gets you labeled “guard material” even when you’re built like a franchise tackle.

But Campbell is skilled. Still, will he be able to control his shorter arms against the NFL’s monsters? The question is that. Don’t worry, though; the Pats and Vrabel are supporting the fantasy. The Patriots are stepping up their efforts to target Campbell in spite of reservations. They believe that this man can secure their offensive line for the ensuing ten years. Yet, not everyone’s buying the same stock. Jeremiah pointed out that other teams in the league aren’t quite as high on Campbell as New England. There’s buzz around guys like Armand Membou or Kelvin Banks.

Offensive Tackles become the NFL’s hottest draft commodity

Let’s now lift the curtain and examine the situation from a wider angle. NFL insider Matt Miller, dropping the kind of knowledge that gets GMs sweating, posted on X: “Talking to teams, the positions that are going to fly off the board: OT (poor depth after top 4-5), TE (‘safe’ picks in uneven class), DE (6 in Rd 1), CB (back half of Rd 1 run, big drop off to 2nd tier).” Teams are scrambling for those top-tier tackles because—let’s face it—there just aren’t enough to go around after the top 5. Tight ends? Same deal. Teams are locking in on “safe” picks at a position that has more questions than answers.

But it’s not just about Campbell. Oh no, other positions are throwing wrenches in the Patriots’ well-laid plans. Defensive ends. Corners. Those are the positions that are about to flood the first round, and that’s exactly the reason Will Campbell might not be on the board when the Pats are on the clock. And this? This is where the game changes. Because if any of those guys slip through, the Patriots aren’t gonna hesitate. They’ll pivot. Jeremiah even said, “I feel pretty confident they would take Abdul Carter.”

If they select the linebacker/edge rusher at number four, Campbell could be in danger of not living up to his Patriots’ dream. Not that the Patriots won’t also require a defensive playmaker. Carter is the kind of impact guy Vrabel loves. So, don’t assume that Vrabel will stick with the O-line pick if Carter is present. And who else? Jalon Walker, anyone? That linebacker from Georgia can rush like the best of them. That adaptability? That’s breakfast for Vrabel. If Walker’s there, don’t think the Patriots won’t pull the trigger and set their defense on fire.

So yeah, Will Campbell’s dream is still alive. But folks, that dream is now shaky. The league’s got a way of throwing curveballs, and the draft is nothing if not unpredictable. Let’s just say this: the Patriots might want Campbell. But they’ve got plenty of options on the table. And with the clock ticking, they could throw a major wrench into their own plan.