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Patriots pick polarizing prospect in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft
Will Campbell's arm length has become a subplot of the 2025 draft cycle, but Kiper said he is "not overly worried about" the specific measurement.
The latest Patriots mock draft: The countdown continues for the 2025 NFL Draft, with the Patriots still holding the fourth overall pick. New England has a range of options amid the uncertainty about who will be picked in spots 1-3, but ESPN’s longtime mock draft specialist Mel Kiper Jr. thinks it will be a pick at a particular position of need.
Kiper, in a new mock draft released on Tuesday, believes that both Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter will go at second and third overall, respectively. This will leave quarterback Shedeur Sanders on the board. Obviously the Patriots, having picked Drake Maye a year ago, don’t need another quarterback. And while this may also open the door for a trade — as other mock drafts have explored — Kiper thinks it will result in the Patriots drafting offensive lineman Will Campbell from LSU.
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“The Patriots allowed pressure on a league-worst 39.4% of their dropbacks last season, and Drake Maye is entering his first full season as the starting quarterback,” wrote Kiper. “They have to be better in pass protection.”
Campbell, a 21-year-old who was named as a starter while a freshman in 2022, is coming off a fantastic season in which he was named an All-American.
The criticism around him as a prospect appears to center on the notion that he has “short arms.” Campbell was measured at the NFL rookie scouting combine, where scouts said his arms were 32⅝-inches long. A later measurement at LSU’s pro day concluded he has 33-inch arms.
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Campbell himself has dismissed the conversation around his arm length.
“For two years, nobody had any measurements on me and nobody said anything about my play,” said Campbell after LSU’s pro day. “So now, all of a sudden, an arm length decides if I’m a good player or not? I think it’s BS.”
Kiper, for his part, also doesn’t put much stock in the arm length story, confidently projecting he will be picked by New England fourth overall.
“Campbell would slide in at left tackle. I’m not overly worried about his 32⅝-inch arms; he plays longer than that. Campbell can land a quick first punch and use his great overall technique and agility to keep pass rushers at bay.”
The first round of the draft is set to begin on Thursday, April 24.
Trivia: The Patriots have never taken an LSU player in the first round of the NFL Draft. The highest an LSU player has ever been taken by New England was 46th overall (in the second round). Can you name that player?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: Running back.
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox lost to the Blue Jays 6-2 on Monday. The two teams play again at 6:45 p.m.
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Tonight, the Bruins face the Devils in New Jersey at 7 p.m.
Also tonight, the Celtics are in New York to play the Knicks at 7:30 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
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- ‘Hope I ruffle all the feathers’: Jaylen Brown has sharp criticism for NBA agents
- New mock draft has Patriots taking top prospect with injury concerns at No. 4
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One shining moment: After Florida’s national championship win on Monday, here’s the annual “One Shining Moment” recap of the tournament.
Appreciation for LeGarrett Blount: Former Patriots Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski discussed the underrated New England career of the former running back.
On this day: In 1970, the Bruins defeated the Rangers 8-2 in the opening game of the first round (quarter-finals) of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A hat-trick from Phil Esposito (three goals and an assist) along with two goals and an assist from Bobby Orr proved to be more than enough. Boston went on to win the series in six games.
Daily highlight: Ceddanne Rafaela made another incredible catch, sliding into the wall to deny an extra-base hit.
Ceddanne are you kidding?! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/904Nb7C2BN
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 7, 2025
Trivia answer: Kevin Faulk
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