The Patriots made a significant impact in the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting LSU’s left tackle Will Campbell at No. 4. However, one has to wonder if they would still make the same choice if given the chance to redraft.
Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport wrote an interesting article redrafting the 2025 draft, suggesting that the Patriots should’ve selected left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. with the No. 4 pick.
“The Patriots made it all the way to Super Bowl LX last year with a rookie starting at left tackle,” Davenport wrote on Sunday. “But the postseason (and especially that Super Bowl) were a nightmare for Will Campbell—enough so that the Patriots are going to go with a different offensive lineman at No. 4 overall.
“Kelvin Banks was a top-10 selection in his own right last year, and the 6’4″ 320-pounder was most reliable and consistent first-year tackle in the league. Despite playing almost 300 more snaps than Campbell last year per Pro Football Focus, Banks allowed the same number of snaps and had higher PFF grades both overall and as a run blocker.”
The Saints selected Banks with the No. 9 pick out of Texas, and he may have a higher upside than Campbell. While both players excelled in their rookie seasons, there are some questions about how long Campbell can hold down the left tackle position, particularly given concerns about his arm length.
If New England has to move Campbell to guard in the coming seasons and Banks becomes an elite left tackle, that could come back to haunt the Patriots. It’s generally more challenging to find top-notch tackles in the NFL than it is to find guards.
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