Will Campbell, the Patriots’ first-round draft pick, may lack ideal arm length, but he more than makes up for it with his attitude. On draft night, after being chosen as the No. 4 overall pick, Campbell declared he would “die” to protect quarterback Drake Maye.
Maye noticed the comment and shared on social media, “Love this guy already.”
Campbell replied, “That’s my quarterback. I’m really excited to keep building our relationship and get to know each other better. I’m a quarterback guy. I care about him a lot both on and off the field. We talked, and he even met my family, which was pretty cool.”
Since then, Campbell has continued to say the right things. While fans have yet to see how this will play out during games, many Patriots supporters are already rooting for him. His popularity grew further after a clip from the first episode of the “Forged in Foxborough” documentary surfaced.
In the clip, Campbell shared his mindset as a lineman: “You have to love violence to play on the offensive and defensive line. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. When you go on the field, it’s either you or him. I want it to be me every time.”
Campbell’s Intense Preparation
Some Patriots fans were unsure about the pick. They hoped for a more high-profile player with the No. 4 pick, rather than an offensive lineman. The top exciting prospects, Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter, were picked at No. 2 and No. 3, leaving Campbell as the highest offensive line choice.
Campbell faced criticism before the draft for having an arm length of only 32 and 5/8 inches, which is below the usual size NFL teams prefer.
Despite his impressive college record—including 37 games and an All-American season in 2024—the Patriots had some doubts. To be certain, the team sent coach Mike Vrabel and others to Baton Rouge for a rigorous workout session with Campbell before making their decision.
Campbell said about the workout, “I gave them everything they came down to see. I showed how intense and coachable I am. I was ready to do whatever they wanted. I had all eyes on me, and I was determined to impress.”
Patriots Fans Embrace Campbell
Fans quickly embraced Campbell, starting with his draft night promise to Maye and continuing with his fierce “love violence” quote.
One fan commented, “He’s my kind of dog… he gets it! This guy is going to activate beast mode.”
Another fan joked about the arm length concerns.
A third fan wrote, “Mike Vrabel couldn’t have designed a more perfect Mike Vrabel-type player.”
Some even predicted leadership for Campbell: “Just go ahead and put the C on his jersey.”
The Patriots’ offseason team activities (OTAs) are set to begin on Monday, and fans will be eager to see Campbell’s progress.
