The Patriots hold the No. 4 pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft — but that favorable spot on the draft order doesn’t guarantee that a blue-chip prospect will be ripe for the taking. With both Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter potentially off the board by the time the Patriots land on the clock, New England’s best bet might be to take LSU left tackle Will Campbell. Campbell would fit an immediate need on New England’s offensive line, which surrendered 52 sacks during the 2024 season. Campbell took home All-American honors in 2024 with the Tigers, giving up just two sacks all season long as a stalwart on LSU’s O-line. But the 21-year-old tackle does have some red flags when it comes to his profile as a franchise left tackle. During the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Campbell’s arm length measured 32 5/8 inches and his wingspan was recorded at 77 3/8 inches. Those measurements raised concerns about Campbell’s viability as an NFL tackle, with those readings below average when compared to other tackles. Even if Campbell’s athleticism, strength, and technique might draw rave reviews, his struggles against larger pass-rushers in the NFL ranks could prompt him to move to guard at the next level — hampering his value as a potential top-five pick. But even with those concerns, NFL Draft expert Todd McShay stressed on the “Ryen Russillo Show” that the Patriots shouldn’t fret over Campbell’s potential when they assess their options at No. 4. “This offensive line group, more so than in most years, there’s question marks,” McShay said. “Whether it’s age and immaturity or a past incident or whatever it is — let’s throw a blanket over it — there are a handful of guys that we’re talking about in the first-round range with these offensive tackles that it’s like, ‘Yeah, but there’s a little concern.’ So the cleanest of the guys I would say, absolutely is Campbell. Campbell is one of the cleanest prospects in the entire draft.” Even if Campbell may not be as flashy of a pick as a playmaker like Hunter or Carter, McShay stressed that Campbell’s value to New England would go beyond his ability to protect Drake Maye for the foreseeable future. “I think teams are looking at it — the Patriots specifically — trying to get some leadership in that offensive line room, with their star quarterback, trying to develop him, in Drake Maye,” McShay added. “That like, ‘All right, maybe we don’t get a superstar here, but we’re going to sleep really well Thursday night going into Friday of the draft knowing that we got a guy that’s going to be ready to play and is going to bring a lot of leadership to this organization.’”