Campbell is 6-foot-6 and nearly 320 pounds and has ample athleticism, and he has proven to be a strong pass blocker and run blocker in college. A native of Monroe, La., he spent three years at Louisiana State and is a two-time first-team All-SEC selection, as well as the winner of last season’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy.
Given how much parity there is among draft prospects this year, there is always a chance that Campbell slips more than expected in the draft, especially since some may be a bit leery of taking an offensive lineman with one of the first few picks.
Expert NFL analyst Brian Baldinger said if that happens, the San Francisco 49ers need to at least consider taking him with the No. 11 pick.
“If Will Campbell from LSU somehow slips to number 11, the 49ers have got to consider this left tackle,” Baldinger said via 95.7 The Game. “He’s been the starting left tackle now at LSU for three years in a row. He’s gone up against [former Alabama and current Texans DE] Will Anderson Jr., he’s gone up against [former Florida State and current Rams edge] Jared Verse. He’s gone up against the best of the best.
“Now, he’s 6-6, he’s 319 pounds. He ran a 4.98 [40-yard dash]—very fast for a guy that size. His knock right now is that his arms aren’t quite 33 inches, but he wins with his feet, and he’s got anvils for hands. And you just watch him, he’s got a great short jab. And once he locks on to guys, he just stays on his feet, and he can anchor with the best of them right now. A lot of great tape on Will Campbell.”
.@BaldyNFL on why the #49ers should consider LT Will Campbell (@will_campbell66) if he’s available at the No. 11 pick pic.twitter.com/Q745VqvRXy
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) April 15, 2025
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After narrowly losing in Super Bowl LVIII, the 49ers stumbled last season amidst an unbelievable rash of key injuries and finished 6-11, which meant they missed the playoffs. Many feel their biggest need is an infusion of talent on their offensive line, which has future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams, who is 36 years of age, and a young stud in right guard Dominick Puni, but very little of note otherwise.
If they’re lucky enough to snag Campbell, he could be a worthy heir apparent to Williams, who has been an immovable object for San Francisco since he arrived in 2020. His experience playing against Anderson and Verse should help him succeed at the next level.
Baldinger implied that perhaps Campbell could start out playing the left guard position, even though he never played guard in college. That would greatly help San Francisco give quarterback Brock Purdy more pass protection, which in turn could help Purdy get back to the type of near-elite production he had in 2023.
Purdy’s touchdown percentage and pass completion percentage dropped significantly last season. While many have been eager to declare that he has been exposed, at least some of the drop in his production was due to the injuries the Niners offered.
A few of those injuries were sustained by offensive linemen, such as Williams, who missed the last seven games of the 2024 campaign because of an ankle ailment.
