Here’s what this pick was.
But absolutely just what this franchise needed at this particular moment.
It was the football equivalent of getting the grown up, practical things you actually need for Christmas.
Some AAA Membership in case something goes wrong with your car.
As opposed to the shiny new object of a gaming system or whatever.
Maybe not what you were dying for; but definitely what you needed.
What I wanted out of this draft was something approaching normalcy.
With all due respect to Bill Belichick, we needed to get away from unorthodox thinking.
Hunches like N’Keal Harry.
Overdrafted reaches like Cole Strange, who might not even make the 2025 roster.
No crazy trade downs to pick up some mid-round picks.
Just a solid decision in an area of need that’s been neglected for years now.
In fact, the only unexpected part of this selection was that the Patriots No.
Moses is the unquestioned right tackle and presumptive veteran leader of this unit to replace David Andrews.
It’s still the Prime Directive.
Everything else is secondary.
More to the point is his production at LSU.
Despite being just 21 years old, he’s already played 38 games.
None them in 2023 when he was blocking for Jayden Daniels.
All while facing the best competition in the country in the SEC.
But again, he just turned 21.
And one of the things you hear in every assessment of him his how high his Football IQ is.
He’s a huge film study guy.
So with coaching and time, he’ll Ace that question on the SATs.
Last year the Pats were only 24 in pass attempts.
But somehow still managed to crack the Top 5 in sacks allowed.
With an abysmal 4th worst sack percentage of 9.0%.
In Pro Football Focus grades, they were 31st in pass protection and dead last in run blocking.
So in response, Mike Vrabel has selected the consensus best left tackle prospect in the Class of 2025.
The best player at a critical area of need at a high leverage position.
None of which should be taken as suggesting Campbell is a mortal lock.
No draft pick ever is.
But the bust rate among skill position guys is so incredibly higher than offensive tackles that it’s laughable.
You’ve turned that home run you were hoping for into a gap shot double.
But you still win.
I like Campbell as a tape measure home run.
So far, so good to the Mike Vrabel administration.
And right again, Old Balls.
