Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - New England Patriots: Impact of Ja’Whaun Bentley's Exit, Stefon Diggs Arrives, Will Campbell

Episode Date: March 30, 2025

Can the New England Patriots' latest moves reshape their future? With the release of Ja’Whaun Bentley and the signing of Stefon Diggs, the Patriots are making headlines in the NFL. These strategic changes could redefine the team's dynamics and impact their performance in the upcoming season. Explore the implications of Bentley's departure and Diggs' arrival, as host Mike D'Abate and guest analyst Steve Balestrieri dissect these pivotal decisions. They also evaluate LSU's Will Campbell as a potential draft pick, weighing his prospects against the Patriots' needs. The discussion extends to the team's offensive line strategy, considering how these moves align with Coach Mike Vrabel's vision. #nfl #newenglandpatriots Find and follow Locked On Patriots on your favorite podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1c5ZxFm... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/locked-... And follow host Mike D’Abate on X, where he’ll be sharing the latest news about the New England Patriots and talking with fans — @mdabateNFL  Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. FanDuelRight now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The New England Patriots bid adieu to yet another team captain, Stefan Diggs is officially official and where there's a will there's questions about his wingspan. Stick around you're about to be locked in to this weekend edition of the Locked On Patriots podcast. You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello to all of you Foxboro faithful. Thank you once again for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England

Patriots coverage. I'm your host, Mike Debate, and I cover your New England Patriots for the Locked On Podcast Network so reach out to me, let me know what's on your mind on X at M-D-A-B-A-T-E-N-F-L. While you're out there showing some love to Locked On Patriots social media style, follow our X account as well at L-O underscore Patriots and you can always catch me where the skies are blue over on blue sky at M-dabatenfl.bsky.social. And of course folks, today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can get $200 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins.

Pets fans, the old adage is there's never a dull moment in Foxboro. Every single year, every single month, every single day, you call yourself a Patriots fan, there's something to talk about, there is news going on at one Patriots place in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Last 48 to 72 hours have been particularly busy. Juwan Bentley, longtime team captain, anchor of the New England Patriots run defense, no longer a New England Patriot He was released by the team on Friday afternoon in a surprise move to some What does it mean for the New England Patriots moving forward and how will the Pats bounce back on the field and in the locker?

Room we're going to discuss that point today We're also going to talk about the other big news from Friday And that was the official introduction of wide receiver Stefan Diggs as a member of the New England Patriots. Are we hearing a more mature, more contrite Stefan Diggs? And if so, will that mean great results on the field in his pairing with Drake Meng? Last but certainly not least, Will Campbell had himself a pro day earlier this week. The left tackle out of LSU made the measurement, but is it

enough to vault him into consideration for the number four overall pick? We're going to discuss all that today and more, so stay locked in. You're not going to want to miss a single second of the action. Folks, these are tough topics and they require reasonable thought, and that's why we're bringing in our resident voice of reason today. The only man who can handle the type of reasonable thought that we're going to need to get through all these. My good friend and columnist extraordinaire at PantsFans.com, the co-host of Patriots 4th and 2, my Patriots byzant. Steve Ballestrari, Steve, thank you for joining me today over the weekend.

Look forward to your reasonable takes and your wisdom and counsel today, my friend, more than ever. Well, thanks for having me. It's a pleasure and yeah what better way to kick off a weekend than and you know entering in some Patriots talk instead of working. Very Belichickian of you Steve. You know Bill Belichick always said that when people asked him about you know did he want to keep coaching into his 70s? What he thought about coach players every single day He always smiled and chuckled and went to beats working and I think that's exactly what we can all feel because let's face it

There is a lot going on right now Let's start with I would say the surprise news of the day on Friday If not the biggest news of the day on Friday, and not the biggest news of the day on Friday, and that was the release of longtime team captain, Juwan Bentley. Steve Bentley originally came to the Patriots as a fifth round draft pick in 2018, played in 83 regular season games, 68 starts, 499 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 11 pass breakups, 4 forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Also won a Super Bowl with this team in Super Bowl 53.

This guy absolutely has been a mainstay of the New England Patriots defense, not to mention arguably their most reliable defender in the middle, and I think the key cog when it comes to that run defense. You saw the breakdown in run defense last year with the New England Patriots, with Joanne Bentley out of the lineup after a torn pectoral muscle kept him out of the lineup for the remainder of the year.

Steve, there are a lot of angles to look at this, a lot of ways in which this move can be interpreted. Let's start right away with Onfield. A lot of people may be looking at this and saying, Patriots have a void in that run defense, but with Mike Vrabel and Terrell Williams taking the helm, we saw a much more concerted effort to go downhill, to be more aggressive. And that is not quite what Juwan brought to the table in a Bill Belichick style defense. So in that regard, when you look at this purely from an on field standpoint, you think the Patriots are at a disadvantage here or was this a necessary move based on the

system the Patriots want to run under Vrabel and Williams in 2025? Yeah, I think you hit it right on the head there. I mean, you know, for the system that they want to run, he really doesn't fit and it doesn't mean he's not a good player You know he is he's a very good player, but you know for that Faster more athletic attacking style of defense. Juwan doesn't fit that mold. He's one of those big You know interior linebackers that Bill loved and you know, it's just a totally different defense that they're going to run. And you know, actually, it doesn't come even a surprise to me. I wrote about this last Sunday in my Sunday column that I thought that not only Bentley but Tavai could both be off this team in very good order and because you know, Mike Frabel's system really doesn't apply with them.

So I could see them moving on from each. And I think they did, you know, Bentley a little bit of a solid by releasing him now. It's still only March. He'll have plenty of time to latch on with another team and I'm sure it won't be long before somebody snags him up. But you know, we know he was trying to lose weight to fit in with this, you know, faster system. Uh, but he really doesn't fit for that.

So it really wasn't a surprise. I mean, again, again, it's not a knock on Juwan. It's just, they're going to run a completely different system. Yeah. I think you hit the nail right on the head, Steve. The way this team is constituted and the type of players that they're adding led you to believe that this move may not only be possible, but maybe even inevitable. You look at the addition of Spillane, you know, and you look at now Christian Ellis

coming back into the fold, Jack Gibbons coming to town. All of a sudden that linebacker crew is now becoming manned by players with a completely different skill set. So I do believe that he will find work very quickly. This guy is someone who has a nose for finding the football. He's got experience again, early downs is where he shines. I think a team is going to be all too willing to sign up. Juwan Bentley.

And not only will they be getting a very good football player on the field, which he was throughout all of his years here in New England. But like I said to open the show, this is Super Bowl champion. He's a four-time team captain, one of the most respected gentlemen in the locker room by his teammates, by his coaches, and by the fan base. I mean, this guy was beloved throughout the fan base for a reason. Juwan Bentley was someone that always took the time to take accountability for his play,

whether it was top-notch or whether it was lacking, and he was always someone that wanted to move the team forward, always someone that kept that locker room light and that locker room together. You're starting to see a changing of the guard here in New England. I think it's a necessary step and I know what Vrabel is trying to do here in still his own culture but do you think maybe too much of that old guard is being removed from this locker room? Could it have a detrimental effect? Oh I think that it's possible. I mean you you know, I know that Vrable is confident that he's bringing in new leadership and and I think that's what Part of you know the change of his philosophy and it's gonna be a change of leadership He's making a clean sweep of it. I mean, what's this the fourth?

It's the fourth captain. Yeah, yes Jonathan Jones, no not Jonathan Jones Dietrich wise David Andrews Bentley and Jabril Peppers now they took away Peppers captainship when he had that issue with the law. They haven't given it back to them. So, that's for captains from last year that are, you know, no longer with the football team and I don't think that that it's a coincidence. I think it's all part of this

entire, you know, they're making a clean sweep of it They're bringing in different players and they want leadership coming from different You know People who are not Affiliated with the older Patriots Yeah in a way it almost felt again like this move was inevitable for the Pats and maybe it might be the best thing for them. If you want to try to clear some of the old mentality in the locker room and really clear out all

of the focus on the previous championships, on links to the glory days, sometimes you do have to do a purge such as the New England Patriots are doing and look the only player left on this roster that has won a ring with the New England Patriots is long snapper Joe Cardona. And I don't think Joe's going anywhere anytime soon. I think his job is pretty secure. But you look at guys on this roster in this locker room that were looked upon for leadership. You mentioned Jonathan Jones.

Look at the captainship that's gone from this team now. David Andrews, Dietrich Wise, Juawan Bentley, Jacoby Brissette. You know, I mean, this is a guy that was a captain a year ago. And you mentioned Jabril Peppers and how they took away his captainship, his sea. Whether or not that will be back this year, we're not completely sure. In a way, I think this does show that Vrabel is definitely moving on. But again, I think there is an aura of inevitability to all of these moves. And I think moving forward, you're going to see this team molded in the image of Mike Vrabel and his coaching staff.

For better or for worse, this is Mike's team now. And now they're going to move forward into a new era and try to forge their own identity. So excellent stuff, Steve, no question about it. We thank you for your insight. I know Bentley was a personal favorite of yours. He was certainly a personal favorite of mine. The tip of the cap to Juwan, who, like I said, was not only someone that fans could look up to.

He wasn't only a very good player on the field at times. He played to great levels for New England and really helped this defense do great things but he was always one of the most accountable and always one of the most affable to deal with and you always appreciate guys like that in the locker room whatever team gets him next will be getting a great one in Joanne Bentley but Steve Joanne Bentley's release was not the only news coming out of Foxboro on Friday a new arrival has made his presence felt in Foxboro. Stefan Diggs has landed.

He is officially a New England Patriot, pen to paper, contract signed. Stefan's saying all the right things on Friday, but what does it mean for the immediate future of the Patriots? And what might this mean long term for this group? Steve and I are going to talk about the officially official Stefan Diggs, New England Patriots, and what might this mean long term for this group? Steve and I are going to talk about the officially official Stefan Diggs, New England Patriot, when this episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues, a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network,

your team, every day. Locked On listeners, March Madness is here, and FanDuel is giving you the chance to get in on the action like never before. Right now, new customers can get $200 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins. That's 200 extra bucks to use on everything from buzzer beaters to Cinderella stories and even who's cutting down the nets.

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Stefan signed his contract on Friday, making it officially official, and he met with the media for the first time. Here today to break it all down with me is my good friend Steve Ballastrieri. And Steve, I know you've had the opportunity to see Stefan step to the podium in New England, talk about himself as a New England Patriot. Definitely an exciting time without any question. Stefan saying all the right things, saying that Mike Vrabel is a guy that brought him here, believes in his style, believes in his coaching. He's not worried about individual statistics right off the bat. He feels this team is on the proper trajectory in order to win and win

soon. And he also mentioned that this is somewhere where he's always admired, a team that he's always looked at as a team that does business the right way. So in that regard, makes you really, really happy to hear Stefan Diggs say those. But I think the question on everybody's mind here, Steve, is whether or not Stefan's introductory press conference is a sign of things to come or maybe just what everyone wanted to hear up front. You look at things with such a reasonable tone and a reasonable point of view, I can't think of a better man to ask this question to and that's one of the reasons why we brought you on today. When you look at Stefan Diggs's introductory press conference on Friday, you look at

everything that he brings to town with him, the good, the bad, the ugly, the past, the present, the future. What were your thoughts on Stefan Diggs and his introduction to New England on Friday afternoon? It was very introspective, I think, with his answers. Mm-hmm. You know, and he talked about, you know, his injury and that he wasn't surprised about the money. He, that was kind of where he figured it was going to be. And the thing that did surprise me more than anything was he said he came here because of Mike Fraymull. And that was a question that we all thought, you know,

we know Drake May, he keeps progressing the way, you know, it seems he's going to that people were going to want to come play, you know, with Drake May, we wondered would people want to come to play for Mike Frable and a lot of fans and media thought, well, maybe defensive guys, but no offensive guys. Well, that one kind of got blown out of the water, didn't it? Yesterday, because step on Dicks just said he came here because of Mike Frable and because he played the game. He played it, you know, a certain style in a way and with a little bit of, you know, the same kind of swagger he, you know, plays on the field. I love that. I thought, wow, that is

I was like, wow, that is something I did not expect to hear. So, you know, granted, it's, you know, first day, but you had to like what you heard. Oh, without question. I think Patriots fans loved what they heard when it came from Stefan Diggs. Again, a more contrite type of delivery than we're used to. I was surprised that Vrabel was mentioned so prominently among the reasons why he came here and I was pleasantly surprised by that. I think a lot of us in Patriots Nation wondered whether or not Mike Vrabel had the star power to attract someone like a Stefan Diggs. If you had asked me which of the Patriots signees would list Mike Vrabel as the most prominent reason or one of the most prominent reasons why they signed here, yeah, I'd go

probably Spillane or I'd go with Gibbons, maybe even Milton Williams. I mean, I would mostly assume that this would be on the defensive side of the ball. Stefan Diggs probably would have been the last name that I would have put on there to say that Mike Vrabel was really the reason why he wanted to come here. But again, iron sharpens iron. Stefan is a relentless worker. He's someone that will go in and wants to put the time in. He wants his targets. There's no question about it. He feels that the team will be best served when he is the guy that's being fed the ball in key situations. He's not gonna make apologies for that.

But at the same time, he also recognizes that someone with Vrabel's passion, someone with his coaching experience, and someone with his no-nonsense attitude may be exactly the guy that can get the most out of him. And it also, I think, plays into his excitement to play alongside Drake May. I was really happy to hear that as well. You heard about the similarities to Josh Allen. And you know that if things are going well, Stefan Diggs can get along well with a Josh Allen type. I think this is a good unit for him to come to because it allows him to be the alpha in the room.

It allows him to be the elder statesman as well. And he can give insight to Drake that Drake doesn't have yet. And I think that's a dynamic that may be even better than the relationship he had with Josh. These two guys were pretty much equals coming in. They saw each other as such. I think Stefan can play a little bit more of the mentor role with Drake.

And maybe that endears him to him a little bit more. So great stuff coming from Stefan Diggs and very happy to hear that he's gonna be happy here in Foxboro. But the thing that really stood out to be happy here in Foxboro. But the thing that really stood out to me more than anything, Steve, is the health update that he provided. And you mentioned this earlier. Stefan mentioned that he is ahead of schedule.

He wants to try to stay ahead of schedule. He's very serious about the process and he's trying to do everything he can to be ready as soon as he can right out of the gate. Based on what you heard from Stefan Diggs yesterday, um, do you believe that there is a chance with his desire and his work ethic that he may be closer to a return to the field than most people had thought? Oh, I believe so. And you know, um, not just from his words, but, um, you know, um, not just from his words, but, um, you know, I watched, he has a couple of videos out there where he was lifting weights on the bad leg.

He was doing some running and cutting already, just five months removed from his surgery and the fact that he's able to do that already and he looks comfortable doing that. I think that's a great sign that he's going to be at already and he looks comfortable doing that. I think that's a great sign that he's going to be out of schedule. Yeah, absolutely. And again, I think it's worth noting that this may be a little bit more of a mature Stefan Diggs, someone who is understanding the mileage that he's got right now of 31 years on his legs and on his body. He mentioned that he was working very hard, putting everything he had into his workouts.

He's trying to work a little bit smarter right now. He's trying to reel it back in a little bit, not put as much out there and try to give his body an opportunity to recover a little bit so that way he can make it back out on the field in short order. We've seen quick returns from ACLs before. Typically, players do take a little bit of time to get back into the swing of things. I warn Patriots Nation when he does return to the field, whether that's in training camp, whether that's in preseason, whether that's in the first few weeks of the regular season, whenever he's back out there competing and ready to return on a full-time basis,

give Stephane Diggs a little bit of time to become Stefan Diggs again. Don't expect it right off the bat because there are going to be moments where he may be a little hesitant to make a cut or to pivot really quickly. Steve, you know as well as I do, sometimes these injuries can be cerebral as well as physical and sometimes those are the toughest matters to get over the psychological factor rather than the physical factor. So what going to be determined by how Stefan digs conditions himself and gets ready but

I think it's definitely a positive sign that he's looking at this right now with a realistic eye and I think with a desire to get back on the field and be the best he can be as soon as he steps back out there. Yeah, I believe that too and that psychological thing, that's a real, that's a very real thing. Because after you suffer, you know, a catastrophic injury like that, you're a little tentative to make that cut on that knee again and it takes a little while for you to one, build up the strength back in the surrounding tissue of that knee and the other because you've been laying off of it is that mental part of it. You don't want to put all that weight on that joint right there because you're, that mental part of it, you don't want to put all that weight on that joint right there because you're afraid that it might happen again. And that happens with

everyone. You know, you talk to anyone who's had that surgery and they all say that mental hurdle is one of the toughest. Oh, without question. I mean, we've heard guys like Wes Welker. We've heard guys like Julian Edelman, players that have played here in New England, countless players that have suffered ACL injuries throughout the league, throughout NFL history, that have looked to come back. And they've come back to mixed results a lot of times.

There are some guys that bounce back quicker than others. Stephon Diggs strikes me as the type of guy that knows the pitfalls of trying to force yourself back too early, trying to work too hard, trying to do too much all at once. I think he's gonna take a temporal approach to this and I'm really happy to see that because a couple of weeks ago I probably wouldn't have told you that he's the type of guy that would do that. I would have thought total aggression, do whatever you need to do, get back out on the field, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead and whatever I look like when I get out there, not a problem because I'll be able to fix it with my skill set. I'll

be able to fix it with what I do. I don't think so. I think he's taken a very wise, a very measured approach. I think it's gonna lead to better results for him on the field and of course better medical results. We all want him to get to make a full recovery not just for what he can do on the field but for himself as a person. But folks even though this may be a little bit more of a contrived Stefan Diggs, I assure you that confidence is still there. Someone did ask him yesterday about his production and you could see the confidence still brimming from Stefan Diggs and I loved it.

He came out and said, look, I've always been productive. I can move the chains. I can go intermediate. I can go deep. I've done it through all my entire career. He knows what he can do. He is very well versed in his own skillset. And to be totally honest with you, Steve, I think it's exactly what this wide receivers

room needs. A veteran that knows his capabilities, knows his ceiling, knows his floor, and he's going to be reaching for the stars every time he gets out there. But also that little, you know, he's got that Viper in him. He's got that, you know, Commander Mike Metcalf in him a little bit. I like that in a pilot. I like that in a wide receiver because it is something that's going to serve him well, especially when he's trying to set the table for a young quarterback like Drake May so for anybody wondering whether or not you're gonna get a

Stefan digs that's too contrite out there folks now I tell you listen to that press conference again yesterday that confidence is still very much there I think it's gonna serve him well on the field. Yeah, absolutely. I think you know, he sounds like a more mature, you know, guy that understands where he's at. And he understands he's going to be looked at as one of the leaders now, because he has, as he said a couple of times, 10 and a half years of experience. as he said a couple of times, 10 and a half years of experience. And, uh, he said, I got to include that half year.

So, uh, you know, he's got that and we all know his ability to run routes, get open, be press coverage, all of that. And, uh, so I'm expecting really good things from him, maybe not right away, because it's going to take him a little time to, you know, find his feet again after being injured. But I think he's going to have a very, very good year for the Patriots. Yeah, I do as well. And look, I think it's only going to raise the games of everybody in that wide receiver room and everybody on that do as well and look I think it's only gonna raise the games of everybody in that wide receiver room And everybody on that offense as well I mean

He's gonna make Drake may better these two guys are not afraid to go off script and to go off platform if they need to Drake now has the receiver down field or the receiver in any part of the field that can make things happen when he has to Go off platform. He didn't have that last year. Now he will. It takes guys like Kendrick Bourne. It takes guys like the Mario Douglas, Jalen Polk, Javon Baker, K. Sean Booty. And it makes them work just that much harder because they know they have someone like a Stefan Diggs, a former all pro, someone who's been to the puppet show and seen the strings in the immortal words

of Rod Tidwell. Someone who's been to the puppet show and seen the strings in the immortal words of Rod Tidwell He's someone that can command that type of performance from everyone in that locker room and it's gonna want to make them better We're already seeing workout videos pop up Steve on Instagram. DiMario Douglas put one up yesterday So did KB's so did Kendrick Bourne. Absolutely. These are the guys now that are looking at this and saying, okay, now we're really playing pro ball. I have to elevate my game. If we can work together as a unit, we can be a pretty special group and maybe surprise some people. You love to see that type of presence come into a team

and elevate everyone. So far, it's having the right effect. Hopefully, it will continue. Stefan gets healthy. He returns to the field. Everybody stays in good spirits. And this may be one of the better signings in New England Patriots history for an awful lot of reasons.

But it still hasn't answered everyone's questions on the Patriots just yet. And one of the biggest outstanding questions, folks, is who's going to play left tackle? Who's going to protect Drake May's blind side? Well, earlier this week, one of their primary draft targets had himself a pro day. That's right, LSU left tackle Will Campbell way to end, or measured in is a better way

to put it. Was it enough to make the Patriots brass comfortable enough to select him with the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft? Steve and I are going to talk a little Will Campbell to wrap things up here on this weekend discussion on Locked On Patriots, a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team, every day. Patriots fans, thank you once again for joining us here today, spending part of your weekend here on Locked On Patriots as Joining us here today, spending part of your weekend here on Locked On Patriots as we continue to break down the week that was and the biggest stories coming from your New England Patriots. Joanne Bentley, no longer a Patriot.

Stefan Diggs, he is very much a Patriot, signed on the dotted line. But what will be the next big arrival or departure? Well joining me here today to help discuss that matter and more is my good friend and Patriots by Zan Steve Ballestrary of Pat'sFans.com. Steve, with Juwan Bentley hitting the open market, Stephane Diggs now in the fold, a large section of Patriots Nation has had some of their biggest questions answered. But I think one of the biggest questions that still remains on this team, oh, see, this is where your wisdom, your counsel, your reason come into play here, Steve, because

arguably the top offensive lineman in this year's draft, LSU left tackle Will Campbell at his pro day earlier this week in Louisiana. And we knew that Campbell checks off most of the boxes when it comes to the type of prospect any team would want in the type of prospect any team would want in a left tackle than any team would want in an offensive lineman. Physical. Great blocker, technically proficient and instinctively proficient when it comes to the blocking game.

Well regarded by his teammates. Coaches love him, say he's very coachable and someone that can adapt to any style, any type of coaching. Sounds like a stepford pick for the New England Patriots, but the biggest question with Campbell is regarding his size, not his height or his weight, 6'6", 319 pounds. I'd say that's pretty standard, I'd say that's pretty good for an NFL offensive lineman, but sub 33 inch arms and a sub 74 inch wingspan this was coming into his pro day per his measurements at the NFL scouting combine

well oddly enough he actually met the requirement in arm length measurement at his pro day in Louisiana on Thursday measured in exactly at 33 inches which was an upgrade from the 32 and 5 eighths that he measured in at the scouting combine, actually went down in his wingspan. I'm really kind of questioning in my own mind how that's possible, but bottom line, Will Campbell now has met the,

how should I put the minimum requirement, I guess is the best way for me to put it, in terms of what people are looking for with his arm length. So in that regard Steve, should the Pats invest high level capital, whether it be fourth overall or whether it be trading down slightly somewhere in the top 10 to select Will Campbell as the centerpiece of this draft based on his revised measurements at Pro Day, based on everything he brings to the table in your reasonable approach, my friend, would you select Will Campbell with a top 10 draft pick in this year's draft? If Travis Hunter isn't there at fork, yes.

That's a very good caveat. Yeah. Yeah, because I think Hunter is a generational type talent. And I can just imagine Josh McDaniels having a smile this big. If it starts the year off with Diggs, Hunter, and the other players that they have, including their tight ends and you know, running backs. I mean, that just puts that offense into another category. And all of a sudden, you know, your offense goes from one of the worst to a really intriguing and fun one to watch because I think McDaniels can work wonders with that. the worst to a really

intriguing and fun one to watch because I think McDaniel's can work wonders with that. However, if Hunter isn't there, I'm fully on board with taking camel. even if they slide back a couple of picks but II think, you you know if there's not a trade to be made there and Hunter isn't there by all means take you know take Will Campbell and now all

of a sudden your left side of your offensive line is now secure you know you have that left tackle for the future we We seen the tape and as you and I've talked about, the tape is the thing. Measure rules are fine. I think they're important to a degree, but you can have the greatest measurables in the world. But if your tape isn't good, but you know, what does it do for the team to you so I think that's important and his tape speaks for itself I love his attitude I love that he's got that edge to him he plays with the edge I think Mike Ravel would fall in love

with a guy like him so yeah that's my caveat but if like I said if Hunter and I think he's going to fall the left tackle as well. They And then you have Will Campbell on the left and you know, Michael Owenu. Uh, I think, uh, the offense is going to be leaps and bounds ahead of where it was. Hmm. Very good point. And I'm glad that you mentioned, uh, the juxtaposition of right and left tackle. Cause I'm going to put my good friend and Patriots pies on, on the hot seat in just a moment, but I think you're right on the money when it comes to Campbell as we've said before Steve When Dante Scarnecchia comes out and gives you an endorsement as he did with Will Campbell saying I've watched this kid

He's got the intangibles don't marry the idea of certain measurements in order for him to be able to play the position he plays with the attitude he plays with the skill set. And in a lot of ways, I agree with you. I kind of like the attitude that he's bringing to the table. I think he's hearing all this. I think he's absorbing everything he's hearing from national pundits, maybe local pundits here in New England and other markets of other teams that are looking to bring Will Campbell in and be their starting left tackle.

I think he realizes this is where he wants to be. He wants to play this position. And if he's going to do that, he needs to prove out there that he can do it. That miniscule amount on a measuring tape is not going to define the type of player that he's going to be. I still believe this kid has all the intangibles to be able to be a solid tackle in this game. I think his instincts and I think his playing style suits him to playing on the edge, not in the interior. So bottom line, I think you're on to something and I think it's going to be fun. Here's where I want to throw maybe a little bit of

caution to the wind and I want to get your reasonable take on this because some are saying that yes, Will Campbell may be worth a top 10 pick, but at number four overall, there is a big risk because if for any reason you do bring him in and he does not work out as a tackle, you're going to probably have to kick him inside the guard. Someone like an Armand Membou, who is right now a right tackle primarily, could end up playing the left side if he's able to move over. But Membu comes with his problems too because as we saw last year and what the Patriots tried to do with Caden Wallace, grooming a right tackle and trying to make him a left

tackle is not a very quick process. Sometimes it can take up to a year and sometimes it can even not take it all depending on the player. So I think one of the reasons why a lot of people are looking at Membu as an option now is because they figure well if he doesn't work out on the left side just move him back over to right when Morgan Moses leaves and you've got your right tackle of the future. So in that regard Steve you look at the possibility of drafting Campbell not working out moving him over to left guards because it would be a left tackle moving to the left guard position. Or you draft Membu as a left tackle. He doesn't work out. He slides in as your right tackle. Who do you think may be more worth the effort or who do you think may be the smarter pick at that point?

Which one would you go with if you're the Patriots GM and that was your choice? Well, here's my feeling on that entire situation. If there's any doubt in your mind that Campbell can't be a left tackle, then I would not draft him. Thank you. That's exactly the answer. I was like, yeah, if there's any doubt in your mind, say, you know, I mean, it's always a crap shooting the draft. We understand that. Yeah. And in my opinion, if there's any

doubt in your mind that he can't play left tackle, don't draft him, you know, look elsewhere. You know, even if it's a different position. Now, like I told you, my dream scenario that Travis Hunter would still be there at number four, and then I would trade back into the first round and go for Josh Simmons. Yeah, absolutely. And again, you're looking at the skill set Simmons checks all the boxes. He is a natural left tackle. I agree with you. I think it's too risky to draft someone and to say, oh, well, we can always use him somewhere if he's not in the position we wanted. Yeah, that's too much draft capital to invest. That's too much of a risk to take at too high of a selection level in the draft. Once again, folks, this

is the reasonable knowledge that we need. That's why we call him the resident voice of reason. That's why he lends that reason each and every week here on Lockdown Patriots. Thank you, my friend, once again, for talking us off the ledge and giving us a reasonable approach to the 2025 NFL draft. But thank you. And it's always a pleasure, my friend. Let's do this again real soon. Absolutely. Can't wait, my friend. That's fansome technical difficulties for the end prevented us from saying a proper

goodbye to our Patriots by Zan Steve Balastrari. But I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart for joining us here today on this weekend episode of Locked on Patriots. And as we move closer to the draft, keep a sharp eye out because more national experts will be joining us here to break down what the Patriots should do, what they shouldn't do, and maybe even make their best attempt at discussing what they will do. And for all of you out there that continue to send in your mock drafts, don't forget, Mock Draft Monday is this Monday, March 31st, so make sure

to get those mock drafts in over the weekend. We definitely can't wait to feature all of your great work here on Locked On Patriots. In the meantime, I'm Mike Debate, and on behalf of Steve Ballestrieri, I want to thank all of you for tuning in today, all of you every dayers especially, for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. Until Monday, stay safe, stay well, be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great weekend everyone and we'll see you back here again next time on Locked on Patriots.