FOXBORO — Will Campbell spent a good chunk of his first NFL joint practice blocking a former Patriot.
Deatrich Wise, who played eight seasons in New England before signing with Washington this offseason, matched up against Campbell in 1-on-1 and 11-on-11 drills. The veteran defensive end said he was impressed by what he saw from the Patriots’ new left tackle, praising Campbell for his hand usage and effort.
Wise also said Campbell told him on the field that he’s still learning as he prepares for his rookie season.
“Great guy,” said Wise, a former Patriots captain. “Really good at using his hands. I would say he does a good job of effort. He told me on the field that he wants to get better and learn, and everything he does, he takes it as a lesson. So kudos to him.”
Campbell, who’s expected to start immediately for New England as the No. 4 overall draft pick, is “a very strong guy at the point of attack,” Wise said. The pair split their two reps in 1-on-1s.
“I met him in the run game a little bit,” Wise said. “We kind of stalemated, ball went the other way. But great player. I think he has a very high ceiling.”
Whether Campbell can succeed against edge rushers with Wise’s physical profile is the biggest question about his pro potential. Campbell has been heavily scrutinized for his 32 5/8-inch arms, which are shorter than most starting tackles’ and three full inches shorter than Wise’s.
Wise sidestepped a question about whether Campbell’s arm length could be a detriment.
“Humbly speaking, nobody has my length,” he said. “But he has really good hands. … I’ve faced tackles who have short arms before, long arms. It’s not about the size of the tackle, but the heart. So he has that.”
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