Historically speaking, the Green Bay Packers do not like to spend big money on outside free agents. However, the team had a drastic shift in philosophy, signing safety Xavier McKinney and running back Josh Jacobs to massive deals. To make room for these contracts, the Packers had to part ways with some established veterans. Just two years removed from earning First-Team All-Pro honors, the Packers released De’Vondre Campbell, allowing the former fourth-round pick the opportunity to sign with a new team as a free agent before the league year officially begins.
After spending four years with the Atlanta Falcons and another season with the Arizona Cardinals, De’Vondre Campbell signed with the Packers as a free agent before the 2021 season. Originally playing on a one-year deal, the former fourth-round pick had the best season of his career, recording two sacks, 146 tackles, and six tackles-for-loss while earning First-Team All-Pro honors. The Packers rewarded this stellar play with a five-year, $50 million contract.
While he remained a good player, Campbell never matched his 2021 level of play. With injuries limiting him to just 24 games over the past two seasons, the Packers decided the linebacker wasn’t worth his $14.2 million cap hit. By releasing him with a post-June 1st designation, Green Bay saved $10.54 million in cap space.
Packers Release De’Vondre Campbell, Should Have Free Agent Suitors
De’Vondre Campbell might not be a $14 million per year player anymore, but this shouldn’t be the end of the road for the free agent. According to Pro Football Focus, the linebacker finished the 2023 season with a 65.1 PFF grade, the 47th-best mark out of 82 eligible players. Maybe he’ll never match his All-Pro form, but he can be a solid role player for multiple teams.
Note: This article was written on the morning of March 12th. Future signings could impact the likelihood of De’Vondre Campbell signing with the following five teams.
Possible Team Fits
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens will almost certainly lose Patrick Queen as a free agent, and they could bring in De’Vondre Campbell to replace him. Campbell isn’t as good as Queen, but he won’t need to be the star of this defense. Roquan Smith is one of the best linebackers in the league, and having him will allow Campbell to play to his strengths. Chances are, he’ll be a cost-effective replacement with a minimal dropoff from Queen.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have one of the best rosters in football. However, if there is one weakness on this team, it’s probably the linebacker. The team already signed Jordan Hicks to a modest deal, but the nine-year veteran is not a difference-making talent. If De’Vondre Campbell doesn’t break the bank, the former first-team All-Pro can be a sizable upgrade that should be a crucial contributor to one of the best units in football.
New England Patriots
Nobody loves linebackers more than the New England Patriots, and that’s not likely to change Jerod Mayo running the show. Despite the abundance of cap space, the Patriots have been relatively quiet thus far in free agency. While they’re probably waiting for the wide receiver market to kick off, they could take advantage of their patience by signing De’Vondre Campbell as a free agent.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers need some linebackers, especially after releasing Eric Kendricks. As of this posting, the cap-strapped Chargers have yet to upgrade the position, but they could target a cheaper free agent like De’Vondre Campbell. Jim Harbaugh loves old-school football, and he’d probably love to get his hands on a consistent tackler in the heart of the defense.
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are of the biggest spending in free agency, already agreeing to terms with linebacker Frankie Luvu and a few other defensive pieces. However, this defense is so bad that their work is not yet done. Luvu is a great jack of all trades who can do a little bit of everything, but he can’t save a defense all by himself. Combining him with another strong free agent linebacker in De’Vondre Campbell will give Washington a strong defensive core.
Main Photo: Dan Powers – USA Today Sports
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