With the No. 4 overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft, a crucial decision is looming for the Patriots.
Their options will be dictated by the three teams picking in front of them, but ultimately they’ll have the chance to land a blue-chip player. In an interview with 98.5 the SportsHub, vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf weighed in on a number of top prospects.
LSU tackle Will Campbell’s arm length has been polarizing since the NFL Combine, where they measured 32 5/8 inches, below the threshold many teams prefer for tackles. Wolf was asked where he sees Campbell playing at the next level.
“Tackle or guard. I think he can play either,” Wolf said.
The Patriots executive has heard the concerns about his arm length, but noted how well Campbell held up at the college level.
“I think you go back to the film and he’s blocking guys,” Wolf said. “We like him as a player. We’ll see what that means on draft day, if anything, but I do think he can play tackle.”
As for Travis Hunter, Wolf said the coaching staff would decide whether the Heisman winner would play both ways at the next level, but he’d personally like to see it.
“From my perspective, having him play one way would maybe — I don’t want to say waste, but — not be maximizing what he can be," Wolf said. “So I think wherever he goes, my guess is he’ll be majoring in one position and minor in the other.
“Playing at Colorado is a little different than playing up here at 180 pounds or whatever he is. I think it’d be asking a lot to have him play full time both ways, but that’s not to say — with any player, if they can handle something we’ll have them do it.”
Then there’s Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighed in at 296 pounds at the NFL Combine. Wolf believes his size shouldn’t be an issue, and his skillset would’ve translated both New England’s old defense and the new system Mike Vrabel is implementing.
“I definitely think he’s big enough to play inside in the NFL in either scheme, maybe a slightly better fit for the scheme we’re going to be running,” Wolf said. “But he’s an explosive player. He’s good with his hands, light on his feet, and he was productive for Michigan.”
Though the Patriots aren’t in the market for a quarterback, Wolf also said he was impressed by Shedeur Sanders, who he scouted in person at Colorado’s 52-0 win over Oklahoma State last season.
“I think he’s a really good player,” Wolf said. “He was pretty dialed in from the jump. You could tell even pregame, he was locked in and ready to go. He’s got the arm strength and he’s been a winner for those guys.”
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