Giardi: More nuggets from the Combine, plus Patriots free agency preview at QB and TE

It's official: Will Campbell has short arms. The LSU product's official measurements showed an arm length of 32 5/8 inches and a wingspan of 77 3/8 inches. 

For context, only six starting tackles (regulars) last season were under the 33-inch threshold: Kaleb McGrary, Bernhard Raimann, Alaric Jackson, Kendall Lamm, Braden Smith, and Luke Goedeke. 

Not great. 

However, what Campbell did in testing shows why everyone I talked to in Indianapolis (see my Weekend Notes column) believes this is a good to potentially great player (at what position is the question). 

Since 2003, there are only four players to weigh 315+ pounds, have over a 30" vertical jump and run sub-5.0 in the 40: Trent Williams (2010), Tristan Wirfs (2020), Armand Membou (2025) and Campbell. Campbell also cracked 20 MPH on his 40 (4.98). For a 6'5", 319 pounder, those are some absurd testing numbers.

My understanding of the Patriots' position on Campbell is that they like the player and, as reported earlier this week, see him as a tackle first. That said, those I talked to weren't adamant about that, making me question if he's in play at #4. 

Also, consider this: the Pats plan to acquire a left tackle in free agency, even if it's not Ronnie Stanley (Stanley and the Ravens continue to work on a long-term deal). There are not many options out there, which is good news for Dan Moore (Steelers) and Cam Robinson (Vikings) bank accounts. They could be the classic overpay, but considering how bad the Patriots were up front, they must do what needs to be done, which - as Eliot Wolf reminded us - they failed to do last year.

- Meanwhile, Membou slipping outside the top 10 at this point feels unlikely. The right tackle out of Missouri (he's just 20 years old) capped a 4.91 with a rebel yell, and his overall RAS is eye-popping. Combine that with his performance this past year, and what I'm told have been solid interviews, and it's clear he made the right choice leaving college early.

- Even with Boise State's Ashton Jeanty opting to sit out the testing, the running back class did what we've been telling you they would do in Indy - kick ass. Eight players ran 4.43 or less, and the average 40-time of the group was the best since 2003. Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) solidified his spot as RB2 (behind Jeanty), clocking a 4.48 at 221 pounds, and his 10-foot-10-inch broad jump showed the power and explosiveness in his lower half. I wouldn't want to tackle that man. 

Put UCF's R.J. Harvey in that category, although in an entirely different package. He's 5'8", but a rocked up 205 pounds. Dense comes to mind. Harvey had a 38-inch vertical and a 10'7" broad. One scout told me, "He backed up everything on the tape." And what's on that tape? "Incredible patience, a runner who can drift then put his foot into the ground and go. Excellent contact balance."

- With Tet McMillan deciding to sit out the proceedings in Indy and signaling that he won't run at Arizona'a pro day either, the wide receiver is doing nothing to dispel the notion that he's a 4.7(ish) 40 guy. He's still viewed as the best 'X' receiver in the draft, but several others solidified their position and, in some cases, continue to rise. First and foremost is Matthew Golden of Texas. He clocked a 4.29 in the 40 and had a 1.49 10-yard split. He didn't do anything else, which was disappointing, but that speed - which hasn't always shown up on tape - would pair nicely with who Golden is as a route runner. His fluidity into and out of breaks is "first round" worthy, per one front office exec in a text to me Saturday.

Also, there must be something in the water in Ames, Iowa. Two Iowa State pass catchers are climbing like ivy at Wrigley. Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are entirely different prospects in that Higgins is an 'X' and Noel is a slot. First, Higgins measured over 6'4" and, at 214 pounds, ran well (4.47). He is one of the better prospects in terms of his ability to beat press-man and should be a second-rounder. His teammate, Noel, was the best guy (in my estimation) at the Senior Bowl and then went wild in testing and the workouts (4.39 40/41 1/2 inch vertical/11-foot-2 broad jump) and ran the gauntlet drill at a speed you don't usually see. The Pats may have Pop Douglas, but he's not the athlete, nor does he possess the strength Noel does (Noel is 194, Pop plays at 182ish). 

One more wideout to watch is Ole Miss' Tre Harris. He's also a prototypical 'X'. Harris ran about what was expected (4.54), but his vertical jump (38.5 inches) and broad jump (10'5") backed up the power post-catch and his in-air explosiveness. He didn't participate in positional drills but is expected to do so at the Rebels pro day. "If I were him, I'd run again. I think he's got a little more in there," one scout texted me. "Solid player."

- There is still no franchise tag on Tee Higgins. The Bengals have until Tuesday to decide one way or another. Part of their problem is Ja'Marr Chase. Despite GM Duke Tobin's declarations that Cincy had the framework of a deal with their #1 receiver, there are reports that the two sides are still far apart. If Chase is truly pushing for $40 million per, that could complicate their negotiations with Higgins. So yes, there's still a chance (at least as of the writing of this column!).

PATS CAN LOOK TO SUPPLEMENT THESE SPOT

Today's free agency is a combo platter. Quarterback and tight end. 

Drake Maye is far from a finished product, but he did more than enough to make the organization, the locker room, and the fan base believe that he's got franchise quarterback written all over him. Thank goodness for that. The Cam Newton/Brian Hoyer/Jarrett Stidham/Mac Jones/Bailey Zappe/Jacoby Brissett experience sucked the life out of a lot of us. The Patriots couldn't even be entertaining for much of that time. If you're going to be bad, at least be explosive on occasion instead of the five-and-dime bullcrap we witnessed nearly every week.

Maye has some serious electricity in that 6'4" frame and gave life to a season that was doomed before it started (even if it didn't result in more wins). Now, he's got a chance to work for an established head coach and an offensive coordinator who helped develop the best QB of his generation. That should excite you. It's exciting Maye.

"We need to be coached," he told Chris Long on the 'Green Light Pod.' "Even great players that we have and veteran guys, we want to be coached hard. I don’t know everything, especially me, trying to make a jump to my second year. You want to be coached hard. Coach McDaniels, offensively, he’ll bring that for us. He coached, I think, the best to ever do it and get a chance to, ‘Hey, this is what Tom was thinking on this play.’ And this concept could be pretty sweet to sit in there in the film room and say, ‘Hey, Tom was wrong a few times, too.’ It would be pretty cool to see that.”

Of quarterbacks who played at least 50% of his team's snaps, Maye was 12th in completion percentage, 20th in yards per attempt, 15th in PFF's big-time throw metric, 19th in average depth of target, and 17th in adjusted completion percentage. He was also 4th in turnover-worthy plays, which the former UNC star will have to curb going forward (or risk driving McDaniels nuts). Maye can play the position at a high level, but to quote a previous coach or two here, don't put him in the Hall of Fame just yet. Does he want to be great? We're about to find out because this staff will push him, and this team needs that second-year leap.

Beyond Maye, the Pats may have found something in 6th-round pick Joe Milton. No, I'm not going to lose my mind over how he played in the season finale against the Bills backups in a throwaway game for Buffalo, but there was growth there. In particular, Milton's pocket presence improved significantly from what we saw in the summer. He still wants to throw everything 100 miles an hour - with that arm, I don't blame him - so the next step will be to display some touch and layer the ball consistently. But there is no doubt Milton has the physical gifts to play the position. 

Beyond those two, Jacoby Brissett is a free agent. He played two good games to start the season and authored a win over the Jets after Maye suffered a concussion. If the Pats have any thoughts of trying to cash the Milton chip in the trade market, perhaps they would consider re-upping him. 

As for the tight end position, Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper were worth every penny. Henry tied for the team lead in catches (66, with Pop Douglas) and proved to be a competent and competitive blocker, as usual. If there was any concern that the year before was the beginning of the downward slide, last season proved there's plenty of acreage between Henry and the cliff. He also remains a well-respected guy in the locker room, and this team needs more of those players, not less.

As for Hooper, he was a good run blocker and showed he, too, has plenty of juice as a receiver. Hooper's 45 receptions were his most since the 2020 season, and his 476 yards were his best since 2019. If the Pats new regime isn't high on Jaheim Bell, or thinking they'll dip into this draft class for one, Hooper makes a lot of sense to remain. He is set to be a free agent.

Signed for 2025

Maye (2025 cap hit $8.3 million/signing bonus $5.86 mil/$1.5 million roster bonus/dead cap $29.9 mil)

Milton (2025 cap hit $1 million/dead cap $137K)

Henry (2025 cap hit $10.5 million/signing bonus $2.5 mil/$1 million roster bonus/$350K workout bonus/dead cap $11.65 mil)

Bell (2025 cap hit $986K/79.9 K dead cap)

RUN IT BACK, BABY

1. Hooper and Brisssett: Eliot Wolf knows what both guys are about. Ditto for Vrabel, who coached Hooper for a year in Tennessee, and McDaniels, who had Brissett as a rookie. Last year, the Pats leaned too hard into retaining big chunks of a 4-13 team. This wouldn't be that (even if 4-13 was the number again). Both pros, and neither thrust into primary roles. In fact, Brissett might be the emergency guy going forward, which he may not want.

2. Jarrett Stidham: Knows the offense. Can sling it a little bit. Has starting experience, albeit it is brief. This would also be related to Milton getting moved (and again, I'm not sure what the market is).

Spotrac projects $2.6 million for one year.

BET ON PROMISE

1. Hunter Long (TE): Former BC product and a third-round pick of Miami in 2021. The Fins couldn't make it work, but Long hooked on with the Rams, and Sean McVay likes him as a move tight end (albeit, it didn't show up on the stat sheet. He had 7 catches). Long is just 26. Dice roll?

Spotrac estimates $3.5 million for one season.

2. Harrison Bryant (TE): A 4th rounder in 2020, Bryant's career got off to a solid start in Cleveland, and by year three, it looked like he was a low-end starter in the league or a solid #2. Cleveland phased him out of the offense for whatever reason, and Bryant left for a season in Vegas. His numbers (12 catches over 9 games) weren't pretty in Sin City, but the QB play was putrid. Another move tight end, and at 230, he's around 13 pounds lighter than Long.

HEY, OLD MAN, WE THINK OUR GUY IS BETTER THAN YOURS

1. Zach Ertz: McDaniels would have fun moving the 34-year-old around, much like Kliff Kingsbury did in D.C. this past year. It was there where Ertz reminded everyone not to count him out. As the season progressed, he ate targets from Jayden Daniels, finished with 66 catches (magic number, apparently), and added another 18 in the playoffs (over 3 games). I see almost zero reason for him to want to leave Washington, but the tape says Ertz can help. 

PFF projects 1 year at $3.5 million. Spotrac estimates $5.3 million over a single season.

Other TEs of note: Juwan Jennings, Tyler Conklin, Tommy Tremble, Stone Smartt