Offensive line play can make or break a team’s season. For many years, Dallas Cowboys fans were treated to some of the best in the league, with names like Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, and Travis Fredrick. That era has officially come to an end, with all three players retired, including Smith and Martin, who each held retirement press conferences this offseason.
It’s time to turn the page, and with the draft coming up this week, Dallas will have an important decision to make with the No. 12 overall pick. While the prospect of selecting a standout running back like Boise States Ashton Jeanty or a complementary wide receiver such as Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan to play alongside All-Pro CeeDee Lamb would excite fans, the need to rebuild the offensive line cannot be overlooked. In his recent mock draft, NFL analyst and Pro Football Focus founder Chris Collinsworth has the Cowboys focusing on strengthening its front five with the selection of LSU standout tackle Will Campbell.
Will Campbell vs Jihaad Campbell. Don’t think he’ll be rushing off the edge much in the league. pic.twitter.com/Uy8ISX7rdN
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) April 14, 2025
What Cris says: “I still had Will Campbell on the board here and feel like that’s a little too far for him to fall. I think if you’re Jerry Jones and you see the Eagles win the Super Bowl with a great offensive line, you think that you’d want to get some of that.”
Bottom line from PFF’s 2025 NFL Draft Guide: Campbell is an offensive lineman’s offensive lineman. He approaches the position with excellent respect for what it takes to be great in the trenches: fundamentals, IQ and competitive toughness. His length and flexibility limitations might push him inside in the NFL, but this is a starting-caliber player at all five spots on the line.
Campbell, who grew up in Monroe, Louisiana, and supported LSU, played 37 games for the Tigers from 2022 to 2024. The 6-foot-6, 319-pound tackle, who allowed just four sacks and 13 QB hits in three seasons, concluded his career with two First Team All-SEC selections, was named a Consensus All-American, and received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, an award given to the top blocker in the conference.
Choosing a top-tier tackle would place the Cowboys in an intriguing situation with Tyler Guyton. Last year’s first-round pick could likely shift to right tackle, which would leave Dallas facing a crucial decision about veteran Terence Steele.
Will Campbell Scouting Report – NFL.com Lance Zierlein
Athletic left tackle prospect who’s durable and battle-tested but has elements of high risk, high reward in his game. Campbell is a thumping run blocker who can clear out B-gaps with forceful down blocks and displace base blocks with his “strike and run” technique. He struggles to win laterally, though. He will lunge and miss against stunts and movement. Campbell operates with good athleticism and agility in pass protection but is way too leaky against inside moves. He has a jarring, heavy punch and can latch in to control the rep. However, he has short arms and when he’s beaten to first action, the footwork and technique go out the window, forcing him to scramble and survive to save the pocket. His play is determined, spirited and aggressive, which works in his favor, but Campbell must learn to vary his pass-set technique and operate with optimal hand timing in order to thrive at tackle instead of being moved to guard.
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: PFF sends Cowboys SEC OL in Chris Collinsworth mock draft