Analyst says one NFL team must draft LSU's Will Campbell if he's available

A batch of the speech astir the champion prospects successful this year's NFL draught people has centered astir quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, borderline rusher Abdul Carter and wide receiver/cornerback hybrid Travis Hunter, and for bully reason. But different antheral who is expected by galore to beryllium 1 of the archetypal players taken is Will Campbell, an violative tackle from Louisiana State.

Campbell is 6-foot-6 and astir 320 pounds and has ample athleticism, and helium has proven to beryllium a beardown walk blocker and tally blocker successful college. A autochthonal of Monroe, La., helium spent 3 years astatine Louisiana State and is simply a two-time first-team All-SEC selection, arsenic good arsenic the victor of past season's Jacobs Blocking Trophy.

Given however overmuch parity determination is among draught prospects this year, determination is ever a accidental that Campbell slips much than expected successful the draft, particularly since immoderate whitethorn beryllium a spot leery of taking an violative lineman with 1 of the archetypal fewer picks.

Expert NFL expert Brian Baldinger said if that happens, the San Francisco 49ers request to astatine slightest see taking him with the No. 11 pick.

"If Will Campbell from LSU someway slips to fig 11, the 49ers person got to see this near tackle," Baldinger said via 95.7 The Game. "He's been the starting near tackle present astatine LSU for 3 years successful a row. He's gone up against [former Alabama and existent Texans DE] Will Anderson Jr., he's gone up against [former Florida State and existent Rams edge] Jared Verse. He's gone up against the champion of the best.

"Now, he's 6-6, he's 319 pounds. He ran a 4.98 [40-yard dash]—very accelerated for a feline that size. His sound close present is that his arms aren't rather 33 inches, but helium wins with his feet, and he's got anvils for hands. And you conscionable ticker him, he's got a large abbreviated jab. And erstwhile helium locks connected to guys, helium conscionable stays connected his feet, and helium tin anchor with the champion of them close now. A batch of large portion connected Will Campbell."

.@BaldyNFL connected wherefore the #49ers should see LT Will Campbell (@will_campbell66) if he’s disposable astatine the No. 11 prime pic.twitter.com/Q745VqvRXy

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After narrowly losing successful Super Bowl LVIII, the 49ers stumbled past play amidst an unbelievable rash of cardinal injuries and finished 6-11, which meant they missed the playoffs. Many consciousness their biggest request is an infusion of endowment connected their violative line, which has aboriginal Hall of Fame near tackle Trent Williams, who is 36 years of age, and a young stud successful close defender Dominick Puni, but precise small of enactment otherwise.

If they're fortunate capable to snag Campbell, helium could beryllium a worthy heir evident to Williams, who has been an immovable entity for San Francisco since helium arrived successful 2020. His acquisition playing against Anderson and Verse should assistance him win astatine the adjacent level.

Baldinger implied that possibly Campbell could commencement retired playing the near defender position, adjacent though helium ne'er played defender successful college. That would greatly assistance San Francisco springiness backmost Brock Purdy much walk protection, which successful crook could assistance Purdy get backmost to the benignant of near-elite accumulation helium had successful 2023.

Purdy's touchdown percent and walk completion percent dropped importantly past season. While galore person been anxious to state that helium has been exposed, astatine slightest immoderate of the driblet successful his accumulation was owed to the injuries the Niners offered.

A fewer of those injuries were sustained by violative linemen, specified arsenic Williams, who missed the past 7 games of the 2024 run due to the fact that of an ankle ailment.