Breaking ... after watching more film on all the possible left tackles in this year's NFL draft, I don't love any of them.
And that puts the Patriots in a brutally tough spot.
Really, I wouldn't blame them whichever path they took. There aren't any great options in a draft that is very thin on blue-chip prospects.
First, let's go over the possible draft options for the Patriots to start the 2025 NFL season at left tackle:
Josh Simmons, Ohio State: There is little question in my mind that Simmons is the best talent on film. You can see him as a franchise left tackle more than any other prospect. However, he has two major drawbacks. He had surgery for a torn patellar tendon on Oct. 12. He might not be ready to go until August, and that is a very tough injury for a big fella to overcome. It's pretty rare on the offensive line; you'd much rather have an ACL or MCL repair. There are also major football character red flags. From Bob McGinn's report on Go Long!:
Removed from consideration by one team for makeup issues. Another team expressed serious reservations. “Kind of a f----p,” said a fourth scout. “His (issues) are more football character. He has a complete bullshit sense of urgency, like a total finesse player. Mental is an issue. Lacks power, struggles to anchor. Fundamentals are poor. Plays like a guy that was at a JUCO and just came here. Now, he is a natural athlete and a knee bender. He’s got quickness, balance and body control, real light on his feet. He can pull and get to the second level. I did see the athletic positives but the whole football player I wasn’t crazy about.”
BOTTOM LINE: I'm definitely not taking that kind of player at 4, and I'm not sure I'm interested in investing in extra picks to trade up for him. But, man, is he tempting. If you unlock his code, you could hit the bonanza. But most of those guys bust eventually.
Will Campbell, LSU: Phenomenal makeup, reportedly. Smart, tough and nasty. His lack of length and resulting lack of punch does show up on film a lot more than you would like. He's probably not a long-term answer at left tackle. Possibly right tackle and most likely a guard for the balance of his career.
BOTTOM LINE: He would make the Patriots better this year, but I'm not sure by how much. Eventually he's going to get exposed. He would improve the team but I don't think you're winning a Super Bowl with him at left tackle. More of a mid-round selection.
Kelvin Banks, Texas: Too heavy-footed for me at left tackle. Looks like a right tackle or guard to me. But he does have a chance.
BOTTOM LINE: A mid- to late-first selection in my mind.
Armand Membou, Missouri: Moves really well but nothing on film jumps out to say he'll be able to move over to the left side. Misses some things that make you question whether you want to throw new things at him.
BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for a right tackle to come in and start, he's your guy. Not for the 2025 Patriots.
Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota: Probably has the best chance to be a left tackle, but there are a lot of scary whiffs and poor play on film that remind you of Vederian Lowe. Would have to have a lot of confidence he can be developed.
BOTTOM LINE: Would only be a trade-up or pick at 38 for me.
Josh Conerly, Oregon: Decent feet but he plays small and needs to show vast improvement in the run game. Feels like a RT or guard to me.
BOTTOM LINE: This would be a big future bet that he's going to develop under better coaching. Looks like a guard to me.
Ozzy Trapilo, BC: Great size, good enough athlete but doesn't have that feet for LT. Should start for 10 years at RT in the league.
BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for a double-dip to fix both LT and RT for the future, he would be a good second-round draft pick.
Charles Grant, William & Mary: Has all the great athletic traits but he's very raw and might only be a guard due to powerful lower body.
BOTTOM LINE: Would be a great future bet, but I would not be holding my breath that he would start as a rookie. Outside chance at left guard for the Patriots. Could develop into a LT in time.
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So with all that in mind, what should the Patriots do?
The obvious is that they should pray day and night that someone wants to come up for somebody, like Mason Graham, Ashton Jeanty or Tyler Warren.
But I doubt that's going to be an option.
So, they're on the clock at 4, no one is calling and now what?
I would understand if they stuck and took Will Campbell. He gives them the best chance to improve in 2025, and they can tread water for a season. If he proves himself at LT, great. If not, they go back to the free agent/draft well in 2026 and move Campbell to guard. I do think he'll be very good in there. There is zero bust factor with Campbell. It's just the LT ceiling isn't great.
The baller move for Mike Vrabel and his band of merry men would be to take the best player available at 4, and then pay the piper to trade up later in the first round for the left tackle.
But that also raises a ton of questions. There really isn't a definite BPA at 4.
Ashton Jeanty would probably be it, but inserting him into a situation where the offensive line is a huge question mark - not to mention the Patriots extended Rhamondre Stevenson - doesn't make a ton of sense. A year or two, it could be a different situation.
Mason Graham could be a possibility, but the Patriots already have a ton invested in the defensive line, and he's really small and could get exposed in the NFL.
Georgia LB Jalon Walker has great makeup, but he's really undersized for the edge and may really be a stack backer.
TE Tyler Warren might be the best option because he does fill a more immediate need (the Patriots' TE room is not getting younger or more dynamic). And he could be an elite positional playmaker who would be a great pairing with Drake Maye for years to come.
I could see the Patriots going with any of those players above. In this draft, there's an argument for each of them at 4 over any of the tackle prospects.
If the Patriots did that, I would have no argument. It would probably be the best thing for the franchise long-term.
But I'll tell you this: they better have a defined and clear path to a potential left tackle in a trade-up. They can't eff this up again. It needs to be set up before the draft with someone they trust.
If there is any doubt about the ability to trade up and the possible target, just take Campbell and get it over with.
But there's no question the Patriots are in a brutally tough spot.