As active as the Patriots have been in free agency, they still have some notable holes, none bigger than left tackle. Picking fourth in just about any other year in recent memory would have given them that opportunity to fill that role. As we've discussed, this year is a little more nebulous.
I've continued to mine my sources across the league and gather more intel on the top handful of players, and I will continue to do so in the coming weeks. But, for now, here's the latest.
Will Campbell: Is he a left tackle to set and forget for the next decade? Or is he a guard? I've spent far too much of my life these last few months consulting line coaches, head coaches, execs, and scouts about his 33-inch arm length (or is it 32 5/8?) and his stunningly short wingspan (77 3/8 inches), the lowest ever measured for a tackle at the Scouting Combine. Think about that for a second. Or too many seconds, like me. Do you trust Campbell to be a historical outlier? And can you dare do that at 4th overall?
"For two years, nobody had any measurements on me, and nobody said anything about my play," Campbell said Wednesday at 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."
I like the fire Campbell showed. He started for LSU as a freshman and has 2,500 or so snaps playing the position in the SEC.
"There's a lot of good tape on him, but the more we dove in, the more you see the lack of length and - despite his testing numbers in Indy - what shows as average athleticism in games," said one AFC executive whose team needs line help. "He gets beat across his face more than a no-doubt left tackle should."
Why?
"He consistently has to overset to give himself a better shot at speed rushers trying to get the edge on him. And when he doesn't overset, he's vulnerable."
Obviously - because I'm a smart ass - my response was, "But other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?"
"Look, when he initiates the fight, he has a strong punch, which wins for him. A bunch. He can anchor down and use his opponent's leverage against them. He's a strong run blocker, and I like his ability to get to the second level. He'll do some good work for you on wide receiver screens and the like."
So what is he?
"I'd start him at tackle, but I'm not sure he'll last long out there."
How does he project as a guard?
"I have some concerns about his play strength and how it might translate to the interior, but he's got an excellent football brain and should handle the chaos there."
There is some love for Campbell at One Patriot Place. Is that love enough to take him at #4? No one is tipping their hand (nor should they), but my thought is that you can't draft someone who might project to be an average starter (at tackle) this high in the draft, and even though there is more money than ever being spent on guards, that too seems rich at this point in the draft. If they pull the trigger on Campbell, they'd better be right.
Armand Membou: Disclaimer. The more I watch, the more I think he is a right tackle and a right tackle only. That hasn't changed my love for him. Even after signing Morgan Moses, I would have no problem picking him at #4 (you know, were I actually in charge of that). On to the latest I've picked up on Membou (33 1/2 inch arms/81 inch wingspan)...
"Such a good athlete. You see it on the tape. So strong. He hits you with a well-timed punch, and usually, it's over. He's won," an NFC scouting director told me. "On occasion, he'll screw himself up going for that knockout punch, and get beat inside, although he's got the quickness to recover. He's never on the ground unless he's covering up someone's ass he kicked."
"I think I saw him lose more against bull rushes by what I'd deem as smaller, faster players," added a scout. "It's almost as if he predetermined this kid can only beat me with speed and then doesn't anchor down or exposes too much of his chest and gets moved."
Several folks told me they could foresee trying Membou on the left side, and per usual, one thought he'd be best served as a guard. I will note that in the excellent Bob McGinn draft preview, he cited one scout telling him Membou isn't a day-one starter and that he would need some refining before taking over. That doesn't scare me because of Moses's presence.
Kelvin Banks: I've found a few in the scouting world that are more bullish on Banks as a left tackle - or at least giving him that initial opportunity - than I did over the past six months.
"Those edge guys don't lose him, you know what I mean?" said one scout. "He stays in contact with the rusher, uses his length to keep the defender off him, and can change direction and redirect. And Banks finishes the play."
He allowed 10 pressures last year and one sack (Campbell allowed 18 pressures).
"He's consistent," said another scout. "I know that coaching staff had supreme confidence in him, that he would handle business and rarely needed help. He may not look like an athlete but watch how often they ran wide receiver screens to his side. Banks did good work in space."
Has 33 1/2 inch arms and an 84 3/8 inch wingspan.
"I think, ultimately, he's a guard," said another scout who isn't buying the LT hype. "Too often, you see him leaning on guys and letting them dictate terms. He needs to improve his handwork and placement.
I know the contrast in how one person may view a player versus how another frustrates some of you. Welcome to the world of evaluating these players. It's rare that everyone sees it the same way.
Josh Simmons: The medical here will be critical. It's rare to see an offensive lineman rupture his patellar tendon. That's what Simmons did in the Oregon game. He did some work on the Ohio State pro day, but I haven't heard anything about a realistic timetable.
As I've written and said before, Simmons also is someone whose character needs to be evaluated. Mike Vrabel talked with him at one point during the pro day, and if anyone is going to get the full intel on the left tackle, it's Vrabel, thanks to his ties to the program.
If Simmons (33-inch arms and 82-inch wingspan) were healthy and you think the off-field stuff is manageable — he reportedly isn't fond of practicing, for instance — he'd be a top-10 pick, maybe even a top-5 pick.
"Athletic dude," said one exec. "Smooth. Great mover. Fundamentally sound. Uses his length to his advantage. I think he's the only real left tackle in the draft.
"Not strong enough, but that can be corrected."
Josh Conerly: I was on this player before the Senior Bowl, and nothing has changed. In fact, his two reps after Mike Green blew him up in one-on-ones (it went viral) sealed the deal. Conerly won both of them.
"We aren't in the market for a tackle, but if we were, he has everything you need to play left tackle in this league," said an NFC exec. "In pass protection, you see he's got excellent feet, uses his hands well, and competes."
"Definitely needs to get stronger, and I think that impacts his work in the run game," said an assistant coach."He's fine, but whoever gets him will have to work on that. Needs some help with his technique, too. He's unmolded clay, but I'd like to work with it."
Arms are 33 1/2 inches. Wingspan is 82 1/4 inches.
Aireontae Ersery: He is a ginormous human being. But his measurements didn't necessarily match up (It's that kind of year at this position). The arm length is 33 1/8 inches. Wingspan is 80 7/8 inches. Ersery has started a ton of games at left tackle but "makes too many mistakes," said one scout, and "lacks an edge," while an AFC exec added, "he doesn't bring his feet with him. It's why he's on the ground a lot."
Ersery does have plenty of fans, however.
"Gets up for better opponents," said an NFL assistant coach. "His tape against (Abdul) Carter is solid (editor's note: Conerly also did well against Carter)."
"He's got what you can't teach (his size)," added another coach, "and he moves well. He starts at one of the tackle spots, and if you can motivate him, he'll be there for a long time.
I'll unload on some of the other tackle candidates later in the process.
LEAGUE MEETINGS QUESTIONS?
Bedard here at the league meetings in Palm Beach. We will hear from Mike Vrabel on Monday morning, and Robert Kraft on Tuesday.
In our annual tradition here, what questions would you ask them? I like reading the responses.