Will Campbell Established His Dominance by Knocking Mike Vrabel on His Ass in a Workout

I'm not gonna lie. When the Patriots drafted the guy I wanted and he choked up talking about how he's willing to lay down his life to protect Drake Maye, I broke down and sobbed like I was watching the last five minutes of Field of Dreams while getting maced. Just because I rock doesn't mean I'm made of stone. 

Yes, I know the topic of the day remains Will Campbell's allegedly stubby little toddler arms. And there's been no escaping the photoshops and the memes on the subject:

But I'm done with such talk. We all wanted a left tackle. Now we have one. The best one in the draft. A man who took about 1,600 passing snaps in his three seasons at LSU and surrendered a career total of four sacks. Against the closest thing we have to NFL pass rushers outside the NFL. A guy who was so trusted, and trustworthy, that he's dating his former quarterback's sister:

So he's used to keeping half of an entire family out of harm's way. 

But there are many reasons to feel even better about this pick than I did in real time. First, there's been a obvious upgrade to the offensive line year-to-year, thanks largely to adding Campbell:

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Next, there's the reports the Patriots personnel department didn't just come around on him during the draft process, they were keeping an eye on him long before Mike Vrabel was hired:

MassLive - According to a source, members of the Patriots organization have had their eyes on Campbell dating back to last fall. His play at LSU was so dominant at times that the left tackle was seen as a logical fit for the Patriots. Multiple sources told MassLive that Campbell is viewed as an instant starter at left and a “really good player.”

But this little anecdote is my No. 1 reason to greet today with hope that Maye's invaluable body is in the very best of hands, regardless of how far away from Campbell's shoulders they are:

And that story is not apocryphal. It was quickly confirmed by both parties:

That's the guy you want. Especially at a high leverage, essential position like left tackle. A guy so willing to demonstrate his worth that he'll put the Alpha on the ground. He'll lock antlers with the leader of the herd in order to take his place in the hierarchy. Make others assume the submissive position with their ears back and their tails down and bow to his will. That's how you not only show you belong, but you're in a position of dominance. From then on, you're going to eat first. Drink from the waterhole first. Mate with all the fertile females first and spread your seed. 

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That attitude is what this franchise has been lacking for years now. Through all the failed draft picks and regrettable free agent signings. And now Campbell can help bring that missing edge back. Vrabel was that same way as a player, and still is as a coach. Alpha recognizes Alpha. Which is why getting knocked on his ass by a prospect probably sealed the deal for Campbell at No. 4. I'm looking forward to him drafting more guys like this, regardless of position, starting tonight. It can't come soon enough.