One of the top free agent defenders is now off the board, as the Jaguars are expected to sign defensive lineman Calais Campbell, reports Dianne Russini of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Campbell’s new deal will average $14MM per season, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). The Redskins were the runner-up in the bidding for Campbell, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Jacksonville is no stranger to spending on its defensive line, as the club invested in Malik Jackson just last year. With Campbell now in tow, the Jaguars will feature a front four that includes Jackson, Dante Fowler Jr., Roy Miller, and Yannick Ngakoue, among others. While Jacksonville’s defense showed improvement in 2016, the presence of Campbell may help the unit take another leap during the 2017 campaign.
Despite entering his age-31 season, Campbell was one of the prizes of this year’s free agent market — he ranked as PFR’s No. 9 overall free agent and No. 1 interior defender. Capable of playing tackle or end, Campbell placed as the No. 2 interior player in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus, earning strong marks against the run and pass. Last year, he managed eight sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception while playing more than 800 snaps.
Campbell will now leave Arizona after nine seasons, joining Tony Jefferson — who has signed with the Ravens — as free agent defections. The Cardinals were fully expecting to lose Campbell after using the franchise tag on Chandler Jones, but they can probably expect to reap a 2018 compensatory pick as a result.
With Campbell now under contract, the interior defender market is now topped by the likes of Johnathan Hankins, Brandon Williams, Dontari Poe, Chris Baker, and Bennie Logan.
YEEESSAAAS. Zietler and maybe Bouye next! The magic of Coughlin and oodles of cash is real ya’ll
talk about magic when it turns into W’s right now it’s just a man with a checkbook
Still a D Line starter away. Campbell, Jackson and Fowler r above average starters. Miller and Ngakoue r rotation players.
But that’s gunna b a good D. Only really missing 1 D Lineman, 1 Linebacker and a corner
And a QB that doesn’t turn the ball over
If anything, it would be reverse for Ngakoue and Fowler. Ngakoue was known as a good pass rusher and would need to show development against the run to really turn into anything…which he did. Fowler really disappointed considering his draft status.
Last time I checked Yannick was the better DE .. Fowler is the rotational player
Either way. Still one dline starter away
Not every player is all he will be in their first season.
Those already disappointed in Fowler need to relax.
He missed a full season due to his first injury in his life.
Let’s give him another season eh?
Campbell-Jackson-Miller-Ngakoue-Fowler-Day-Abry Jones-Marks(maybe) is a damn fine group to rotate!
While this hurts Arizona in the short term and he’s been excellent there his entire career, this is exactly the kind of FA you let walk at this point of his career. He’s on the back 9 of his time in the league, you got every bit out of him as a player, and you didn’t part ways on bad terms. He will be missed here in the Phoenix community though because he does a lot of work in that respect and always has. Jacksnoville on the other hand is spending money on what exactly I don’t think was a problem for them. They might have been way better off backing a truck up at one of the premier guards’ houses or something because that offensive line is very bad. I’m still not sold on Bortles, but being able to run the ball to at least hide him if you need to would be a good start, which they haven’t been able to do for years now.
As a Cardinals fan I’m sad he’s gone, but happy they didn’t pay him that much at 31 years old
Well I think it’s safe to assume the Jags end up going Fournette in the draft now?
Maybe it will be obvious if they add 1 or two linemen.
There’s no OL worth taking at the top of the draft this year.
The class is full of guards
Loved the guy as a Cardinal fan, but that’s way to much money. Regardless, he’ll be a leader on that crappy team