Why former NFL O-Linemen believe Will Campbell's issues are not due to arm length

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots’ 29-13 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 was marred by a relentless pass rush that battered rookie quarterback Drake Maye and, by extension, rookie left tackle Will Campbell. Campbell, the fourth overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, was charged with 14 pressures by Next Gen Stats—the highest single-game total recorded this season—drawing immediate scrutiny toward his 32 5/8-inch arms, a measurement that fueled pre-draft debate.

Over the Patriots’ four-game postseason journey, Campbell yielded 29 total pressures and was credited with four of the 21 sacks Maye absorbed, according to Pro Football Focus. The numbers have intensified speculation that Campbell’s future may lie at guard rather than on the edge, yet a chorus of former NFL tackles is pushing back against the arm-length narrative.

“His feet are constantly moving backwards before contact on 90% of these reps!” wrote three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead on X. “Damn near impossible to anchor against power if your feet are not in the ground!!!” Armstead, who spent a decade protecting quarterbacks in New Orleans and Miami, contends Campbell’s primary obstacle is foundational technique, not anatomical limitation.

Justin Pugh, an 11-year veteran who started 129 games at tackle and guard for the Giants and Cardinals despite 32-inch arms, echoed the sentiment. “Arm length may slightly impact him,” Pugh posted, “but the bigger issue is that he’s still learning.”

The chorus expanded with Hall of Fame finalist Willie Anderson, longtime Browns and Chiefs right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, and respected offensive-line evaluator Duke Manyweather. Each identified correctable flaws—mastering vertical pass sets, sharpening punch timing, and establishing early anchor points—as the true culprits behind Campbell’s postseason slump.

Campbell’s rookie year was further complicated by an MCL sprain sustained in Week 12, an injury that lingered into the playoffs. With a full offseason ahead, the Patriots anticipate intensive technical work rather than a positional relocation. Club officials have given no indication they intend to abandon their investment after one season, and depth-chart reinforcements are viewed as complementary rather than replacements for the LSU product.

For now, the debate surrounding Will Campbell centers less on the tape measure and more on the teaching tape—evidence, veterans argue, that his struggles are a solvable riddle of footwork and timing rather than an immutable physical constraint.