Category: Calais Campbell

Ravens finalizing a new deal with Calais Campbell after acquiring him via trade

Calais Campbell won’t only be with a new team in 2020, but he’ll also have some new money in his pockets.

In addition to joining a new team, former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell will also have some additional money in his pockets once the new league year begins. Per NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Campbell and the Baltimore Ravens are working on a new two-year deal worth $27 million and $20 million of it will be guaranteed.

The Jags traded Campbell Sunday morning after what had already been a busy day for the league in general. The move shocked many because Campbell was highly respected by the organization but it appears they simply didn’t want to take a $15 million cap hit for his services in 2020.

Campbell signed with the Jags in 2017 and had a great deal of success with the team, receiving three Pro Bowl nods and an All-Pro nod (in 2017) while accumulating 195 total tackles and 31.5 sacks. He made a strong case to be the teams greatest free-agent signing (not named Jimmy Smith) and also was great off the field for the community.

Campbell will be inserted into a defense that was third in points allowed, fourth in yards allowed, sixth against the pass, and fifth against the rush. Needless to say, he should still have plenty of success despite being 33 years of age and could even end up getting a ring with a very talented Ravens team.

Jaguars trade Calais Campbell to Ravens for a fifth-round pick

The Jags either have their eyes set on rebuilding or blowing some cash in free agency as they traded veteran defensive end Calais Campbell.

If the Jacksonville Jaguars offseason wasn’t already crazy, it just got a little crazier.

According to NFL Network insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, the Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to trade veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell to the Baltimore Ravens once the new league year starts (Wednesday ). In return, they’ll receive a fifth-round pick.

With Calais Campbell being the best free-agent signing in team history, this move clearly is about freeing up cap space. With a rocky amount of salary cap to begin the offseason (Wednesday, March 25), there had been suspicions on whether the team would ask him to take a pay cut as they attempted to do in 2019. That said, it’s possible the Jags couldn’t find common ground again this offseason and simply decided to part ways with the veteran for some relief.

The Jags brought in Campbell via free-agency in 2017 on a four-year deal worth $60 million with half of that being guaranteed. While with the team he was dominant, going to three Pro Bowls while accumulating 195 total tackles and 31.5 sacks. He was also named an All-Pro in 2017.

Campbell was set to be a $15 million cap hit in 2019. By trading him they will have an estimated amount of $27.4 million in available cap space, per Spotrac’s roster calculator.

Jags DL Calais Campbell selected to NFLPA Executive Committee

The NFLPA names it’s Executive Committee and Jags DL will be one of 11 members on it.

With a crucial voting deadline coming up on the new proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement for the NFL Players Association, the group made an announcement on the 11 players who will serve on their Executive Committee Tuesday. Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell was amongst them, with other notables like Richard Sherman, Malcolm Jenkins, and Alex Mack also being named to the group.

With 12 years of experience to his name and plenty of accolades on and off the field from All-Pro nominations to being named Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2019, Campbell is a perfect player for the committee. In fact, last month he was one of many veterans who took to social media to tell the players to make an informed decision.

Campbell signed with the Jags in 2017 and has made his impact felt in the Jacksonville community and on the field, accumulating 195 total tackles, 31.5 sacks, and three Pro Bowl nods during his three-year tenure with the team. He’s also held various events for the people in Jacksonville like his Christmas with Calais holiday spree and more.

As for the new CBA getting done, the NFLPA’s deadline is set for Saturday, March 14 at 11:59 p.m. EST after it was initially set for this Thursday. To have it passed, the players need a 50%-plus-1 approval rate to progress forward.

Shad Khan hopes to have both Yannick Ngakoue, Calais Campbell back in 2020

Jaguars owner Shad Khan wants both of his best defensive lineman back in 2020 and believes the Jags have the resources to make it happen.

The 2020 combine is right around the corner which means free agency will also be here before fans know it. A big part of the combine aside from the prospects on the field will be the latest in free agency rumors, and for Jacksonville Jaguars fans, that could include more clarity on Yannick Ngakoue’s situation.

It’s been made clear that the Jags want to retain him by general manager Dave Caldwell and coach Doug Marrone, and last week owner Shad Khan broke his silence on the matter, too. When asked about keeping Ngakoue and veteran Calais Campbell, who also is a question mark to return, Khan stated that he’s hopeful both will be back in 2020.

“I think he’s a fabulous guy,” Khan said about Campbell to Jaguars.com reporter Ashlyn Sullivan. “And I think his contributions everybody understands, knows, [and] respects. Both of these players, Yannick [Ngakoue] and Calais [Campbell], I had chats with them after this season. So I mean certainly I’d love for them to be back and I’m very hopeful they’re gonna be back.”

The feeling has always been that both will be back despite Campbell being a $15 million cap hit in 2020 and Ngakoue being a free agent when the new league year begins.

Campbell is basically viewed as the heart and soul of the team and has mentioned signing an extension to potentially lower his cap hit since the regular season ended, but added that the deal must “make sense” from his perspective. However, even if the Jags have to bite the bullet and pay him $15 million on the season, they likely won’t have any problems with doing so.

As for Ngakoue, he’s likely eying a deal along the lines of DeMarcus Lawrence’s, which is a five-year contract for $105 million with $65 million guaranteed. The deal Frank Clark got last year (five years, $104 million with $62.3 million guaranteed) could also be one that could garner his interest.

With figures like that on his mind and the Jags having several needs in free agency, it wouldn’t be a shocker to see Ngakoue franchised to some capacity — at least temporarily. If he’s given the non-exclusive franchise tag the Jags could be looking at a contract of approximately $19 million for one season and would allow Ngakoue and his party to negotiate a deal with another team for the Jags to match. If they elect not to match it the other team would have to compensate the Jags with two first-round selections.

“We very much want him to be [back],” Khan added. “I’ve talked to him — but absolutely it’s our desire that he be back.”

I think a simple fix could be structuring a long-term deal like Clark’s where his cap hit is small the first year ($6.5 million or a little more). However, time will tell if the Jags feel Ngakoue is worth $65 million guaranteed because it remains to be seen how they value him.

Calais Campbell hoping 2 London games will give Jags advantage over opponents

Calais Campbell believes two games in London will be tough, however, it could also put the team at an advantage.

While the fans have sounded off (mostly negatively) about the Jacksonville Jaguars’ decision to move two games to London, the players on the current roster didn’t speak out on the matter. However, after doing an interview on Sirius XM Radio, Calais Campbell broke that silence as 2020’s trip to London will be his fourth.

As expected, the veteran admitted the trip would make things tough on the team but also added that it could give the Jags an advantage over whoever  the Jags face across the pond.

 

“It’s one of those things where it’s gonna be tough,” Campbell said to SiriusXM NFL Radio. ‘It’s gonna be a situation where you’re gonna be in a new place — we’ve been there before, we have some familiarity with it — it’s gonna be a little bit tougher. I hope that whoever those teams we play, we get an advantage over them.”

Campbell is right, if there is any good to come from this situation it’s that the Jags are familiar with the routine of traveling to London. Sure, that hasn’t been the case in their last two games in London against the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans, but those were two playoff caliber teams. Simply put, maybe they could have more success this time around if it’s a team that isn’t nearly as talented, or perhaps one that is coming off a week against a tough opponent.

As for the second game, the Jags could be at an advantage because they would have their initial trip over with while that might not be the case for the opponent. The key to playing in London is all about routine. That already puts the traveling team at a disadvantage as the Jags will be waiting in London. The opponents, however, would be on an irregular schedule.

While the Jags lost to the Texans during their last trip to London, maybe they should hope for two divisional games in the United Kingdom, which is unlikely. After all, they need every advantage they can get in a crucial year for the franchise.

NFL.com gives Jags an A- for 2019 draft class in season review

In a year where a lot didn’t go right for the Jacksonville Jaguars, many would agree that the team’s 2020 draft class did their part. Count NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice amongst those who were impressed with the group as he gave the Jags’ class an A- in …

In a year where a lot didn’t go right for the Jacksonville Jaguars, many would agree that the team’s 2020 draft class did their part. Count NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice amongst those who were impressed with the group as he gave the Jags’ class an A- in his recent review of the league’s draft classes.

A big reason for praising the class, of course, was the impact of rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew II, who went 6-6 as a starter.

Let’s start with the most interesting development in an otherwise-forgettable Jaguars season: MINSHEW MANIA!! OK, I won’t go completelyoverboard here, because let’s be honest: At least some of the allure had to do with the mustache and the headband and the distinct je ne sais quoi that tickled the average football watcher’s fancy. That said, the Jock Strap Kingposted a 21:6 TD-to-INT ratio and went 6-6 as a rookie starter for a team that finished the season at 6-10. Fumbles were an issue, but overall, he clearly outplayed prized free-agent signee Nick Foles.

As many would imagine, Filice also praise the performance of the Jags’ first-round selection, Josh Allen, as he lead all rookies in sacks in 2019 with 10.5.

Five rounds and 171 picks prior, the Jags had Allen fall right into their lap, and the no-brainer selection paid off in a major way, racking up 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Resident draft guru Daniel Jeremiah ranked Allen as his No. 5 overall rookie (second on defense, behind only Nick Bosa) and offered this enticing appraisal: “He has the potential to eventually lead the league in sacks.”

Without a doubt, the Jags got two of the most productive rookies in the whole 2020 class between Minshew and Allen, but when you add in the fact that right tackle Jawaan Taylor was the only rookie in the league to play 100% of his snaps, it’s hard not to have hope about the future production of the roster.

In his review, Filice looked ahead to the needs of the Jags heading forward. He stated what many have echoed and that’s the fact that the Jags need to pay Yannick Ngakoue and deemed Marcell Dareus as a player who could be released or restructured to make the cap space for Ngakoue’s deal. He added that Calais Campbell was in the same boat as well as cornerback A.J. Bouye.

Of the three, I believe Campbell, who is the heart and soul of the defense is the most likely to stay. Releasing Dareus, which I feel is likely, would be a tremendous relief off the cap as he’d free up over $20 million.

Bouye on the other hand may have a 50-50 shot to stay or be released. He’d free up over $10 million if released. His fate could boil down to whether or not he wants to restructure, and if he doesn’t, the Jags may look in the draft for an answer.

Calais Campbell comes in at No. 26 spot of PFF’s top-101 players list

Despite the lack of team success on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ part, Calais Campbell has had a very good 2020 when looking at January and February. Within two weeks he went from winning the defensive MVP award at the Pro Bowl to winning the Walter …

Despite the lack of team success on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ part, Calais Campbell has had a very good 2020 when looking at January and February. Within two weeks he went from winning the defensive MVP award at the Pro Bowl to winning the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, proving he’s good both on and off the field.

Wednesday, Campbell received another accolade (minor this time) as he was named the league’s 26th best player by the standards off Pro Football Focus, who released their annual top-101 players list. His place on the list made him the only Jag to make PFF’s top-101 and a big reason for his recognition was his skills against the run.

The winner of PFF’s Best Run Defender Award for 2019, Calais Campbell continues to play the best football of his career over the age of 30. Campbell had the best run-defense grade of any edge rusher (90.6) and also added 71 total pressures as a pass-rushing force for the Jaguars. Campbell isn’t always deployed as a true edge rusher for the Jags, as he moves around the defensive line and uses his size and versatility to make impact plays from a more interior alignment, as well. Regardless of where he lines up, he is a problem for offensive lines and blocking schemes to handle.

It’s stats like the ones mentioned by PFF that make a strong case as to why Campbell likely will be returning despite his hefty cap hit of over $15 million. Simply put, he’s the heart and soul of not just the defense, but the team in general. With more additions around him, things have a chance to turn around for the Jags’ defense, and that’s likely the approach general manager Dave Caldwell will take this offseason.

Campbell ultimately finished the 2020 season with 56 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and 6.5 sacks in the regular season. Despite being the team’s oldest player at 33 years of age, it appears many fans feel he can continue to have success in 2020, but again, the team will need to do their part and make upgrades around him.

Jags boost DL, OL in Todd McShay’s new mock draft

Todd McShay has completed another mock draft and the Jags managed to land one of the draft’s tastes risers: Javon Kinlaw.

With Super Bowl LIV out of the way, ESPN’s Todd McShay released another mock draft for the 2020 season Tuesday and it had the Jags adding help in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

In the first round, the Jags were slotted arguably the draft’s fastest rising star in South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw. He unquestionably rose his stock at the Senior Bowl (which McShay attended) and with a need to get younger in the interior, McShay added that he’d boost the Jags’ pass-rush which already has at least one outside threat returning in Josh Allen.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars

Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina

If you don’t know about Kinlaw yet, do yourself a favor and go watch some highlights from his two days of Senior Day workouts. He is an absolute physical freak with the versatility to play on the interior or off the edge, and he has the power to walk offensive linemen back into the quarterback. The Jaguars missed on Taven Bryan when they took him in the first round in 2018, and they might not be able to keep Yannick Ngakoue in northeast Florida next season. Putting Kinlaw next to last year’s top-10 pick, Josh Allen, would help lighten the loss of Ngakoue and shore up a run defense that was the fifth worst in 2019 (139.3 yards per game).

While some would argue that linebacker, help for the offensive line, or tight end may be bigger needs, Kinlaw represents pretty good value at the No. 9 overall pick. It may look as though the Jags don’t need him now but Marcell Dareus is all but gone as he’ll be a cap hit of over $20 million (most feel he won’t be re-signed either), while Calais Campbell is the team’s oldest player. Besides, if there is anything we learned from the Super Bowl it’s the fact that a team can never have enough pass-rushers if they are to have a shot at beating the Kansas City Chiefs.

With their second drat pick in round one, McShay slotted the Jags some help on the offensive line.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR)

Austin Jackson, OT, USC

Kinlaw cleans up the defensive front, but the offensive side of the trenches warrants a look, too. The Jaguars struck gold when they caught the sliding Jawaan Taylor early in the second round last year, and they shouldn’t be done working on the unit. The desperate need for more help there means they’d be OK with reaching for Jackson, who is my No. 46 prospect. The 6-foot-6 junior is raw, but if given some time to develop, he can contribute in pass protection for whomever Doug Marrone starts under center.

While the Jags need help on the offensive line, Austin Jackson feels like a huge reach at No. 20, and besides, the Jags are more of a team that considers value with their early picks.

Based on who was available, the Jags could’ve grabbed Gardner Minshew II or Nick Foles a pretty solid receiver in Henry Ruggs III, Justin Jefferson, or Tee Higgins. On defense, Grant Delpit, who would be a tremendous value pick at No. 20, and Kenneth Murray were both available. Regardless, all are better overall players than Jackson, who should be more of an option for the Jags in the second round as opposed to the first.

Poll: Should Calais Campbell be put into the Pride of the Jags eventually?

The 2019 NFL season officially came to a close for the whole league Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV after a comeback win against the San Francisco 49ers. The Jacksonville Jaguars weren’t as fortunate as either team as they fell …

The 2019 NFL season officially came to a close for the whole league Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV after a comeback win against the San Francisco 49ers. The Jacksonville Jaguars weren’t as fortunate as either team as they fell well short of the playoffs, registering half of the wins the Chiefs had and less than have of the 49ers’ total. However, if there was a positive to come from this past weekend it was the fact that Calais Campbell was named Walter Payton Man of the Year, adding to what has already been a great run on and off the field with the Jags.

Campbell, who joined the Jags in 2017, has had such an impressive run he’s undoubtedly established himself as the best free-agent signing in Jags history, and now fans have begun to debate if he belongs in the Pride of the Jags.

Currently, the group includes offensive tackle Tony Boselli, former owners Wayne and Delores Weaver, tailback Fred Taylor, quarterback Mark Brunell, and receiver Jimmy Smith. All of the aforementioned names had been with the Jags at least six years in comparison to Campbell’s three. However, his impact on the team and community has been tremendous in that short amount of time.

Since playing with the Jags, Campbell has participated in played in every regular season game possible (48) as well as every postseason game (three). He’s managed to garner 195 tackles, 31.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and two touchdowns, all of which are solid figures. He’s also gone to the Pro Bowl all three years and was named an All-Pro in 2017.

Off the field, he’s held countless events including hosting several Christmas with Calais shopping events, various Salute to Service visits and has done work with the Jaguars For a Day program. That being said, I don’t think anyone could argue that the organization brought in a class act and great human being into the community.

When considering all of his act off the field and exemplary work in just three short years, Campbell is certainly worthy of going in the Pride of the Jags in my eyes. However, with the Pride of the Jags holding a special place in the hearts of Jags’ fans, some may feel he hasn’t been a part of the team long enough to get the nod yet but I could be wrong.

That said, we’d like to hear from you in the poll below. Does Campbell belong in the Pride of the Jags once he steps away from the game? Let us know in the poll below.

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Josh Allen on Calais Campbell: ‘I’ve got to fill the shoes that he made for myself’

From the day he stepped on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice field, Josh Allen has had the support of veteran Calais Campbell. When he was drafted last April, the rookie made it known that he wanted to learn from Campbell and the Jags’ other …

From the day he stepped on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice field, Josh Allen has had the support of veteran Calais Campbell. When he was drafted last April, the rookie made it known that he wanted to learn from Campbell and the Jags’ other veterans and it turned out to be a good situation for him in the end.

Despite only starting in four games, Allen was able to achieve great heights as a rookie. He was able to set the Jags’ rookie sack record (10.5), lead all rookies in sacks during the regular season, and become the franchise’s only rookie to make the Pro Bowl.

While attending the annual all-star game, Allen spoke highly of Campbell, who also participated in the Pro Bowl and ended up being the game’s defensive MVP.

“That’s my big brother,” Allen said at the Pro Bowl. “If I see him doing something right, if I see something that I want to do, or something that he’s saying that I can really learn from, I’m going to be there. He’s definitely getting me involved with different players and stuff [at the Pro Bowl], so, that’s real big for myself and just a confidence standard. And he’s definitely hyping me up to a lot of people so now I’ve got to fill the shoes that he made for myself. Just being with him, it’s just an awesome feeling.”

Allen is certainly off to a good start in terms of filling Campbell’s shoes. However, despite that success, Campbell has made it a point of emphasis for the young Jaguar not to get complacent as he’ll be coming up on a crucial 2020 season in which the team must improve.

“I always want to keep him motivated so I’m going to always push him to do better,” Campbell said. “He has a lot he can work on, but for a rookie he did very well. He’s going to continue to get better and I can’t wait to see how good he becomes. I’m always going to push him to be the best he can be, but he had an incredible year.”

There are a lot of issues with the Jags’ roster but one bright spot fans can smile about is Allen. Most fans knew the team was fortunate to land him in April as he was projected to be a top-4 pick. From the moment he touched the field, he looked to part of an elite college player, and the crazy part about it is that he’s just scratching the surface.

As for the brotherhood between Campbell and Allen, the two will have at least one more season together as it appears the Jags are looking to keep the veteran on the last year of his deal. If the Jags can add some help at linebacker and in the interior of the defensive line, we could see the pair have an even stronger campaign as the Jags will look to re-establish the dominance from Campbell’s first year.