Tag: Calais Campbell

PFF names one free agent the Falcons can’t afford to lose in 2024

Pro Football Focus named one free agent the #Falcons cannot afford to lose this offseason

After announcing their decision two weeks ago, the Falcons finally introduced their next head coach, Raheem Morris, during a press conference on Monday afternoon. Once Morris finishes assembling his coaching staff he will likely turn his attention to free agency.

Atlanta has 21 players set to hit free agency this offseason, but unlike in recent years, the team has enough cap space to retain some key players. So which free agents will the Falcons look to keep?

Pro Football Focus named one player that each team cannot afford to lose in 2024. PFF listed veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell as the free agent the Falcons need most.

Atlanta recruited the ageless Calais Campbell over from the Baltimore Ravens last offseason, and despite the departure of defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta should work to keep Campbell in the fold.

Campbell’s 9.2% run-stop rate was one of the top marks across the league in 2023, and an anchor along the defensive line as the Falcons continue to add talent across the unit would provide a solid foundation, especially as Grady Jarrett recovers from an injury. – Brad Spielberger, PFF

The team has struggled to find adequate help for defensive lineman Grady Jarrett for much of his time in Atlanta. However, before Jarrett got hurt in 2023, the Falcons’ defensive line was playing a lot better.

Campbell accounted for 42 total pressures and seven sacks last season. Even at 37 years old, the veteran defensive lineman still appears to have gas left in the tank.

Check out the full list of Falcons free agents in 2024 HERE!

Two Falcons players featured on PFF’s top 150 free agents

Just two Falcons players were featured on PFF’s list of the top 150 NFL free agents

While the Atlanta Falcons are busy looking for their next head coach, fans can take comfort in knowing that the team has very few high-profile players set to hit free agency this offseason.

Just two Falcons players were listed on Pro Football Focus’ list of the top 150 NFL free agents in 2024. Defensive line Calais Campbell was the team’s lone player in the top 100, coming in at No. 88. The 37-year-old has been a standout player in almost every year he has been a part of the league and could be looking for one more team before calling it a career.

In 2023, Campbell registered seven sacks, 42 total pressures, and 36 tackles. Here’s what PFF’s Brad Spielberger wrote about the veteran defensive lineman:

Campbell is an ageless wonder who continued to be one of the strongest players in the NFL at his new stop in Atlanta this past season, with a dip in burst off the line when rushing the passer made up for by an anchor against the run as difficult to displace as any defensive lineman in the NFL – Brad Spielberger, PFF

Additionally, Falcons linebacker Bud Dupree just barely cracked PFF’s list, coming at No. 147. Dupree finished the season with 6.5 sacks, 38 pressures and 2 forced fumbles.

Until the team hires a coaching staff, it’s tough to know whether or not Dupree and Campbell will return to Atlanta next season. The Falcons have interviewed 14 candidates for their head coach opening so far.

Falcons DL Calais Campbell: ‘I don’t think this was my last game’

“I don’t think this was my last game,” Falcons defensive lineman Calais Campbell said after Sunday’s loss to the Saints

As the dust begins to settle from the Falcons’ 48-17 loss to the Saints, fans are wondering what the future holds for this Atlanta team. Will head coach Arthur Smith be retained? What about 37-year-old defensive lineman Calais Campbell?

While we don’t know what Smith’s future holds, it sounds like Campbell may not be ready to hang up his jersey just yet. The veteran defensive lineman is still playing at a high level, finishing the season with 56 tackles (32 solo) and 6.5 sacks.

“I don’t think this was my last game,” Campbell said after Sunday’s loss to the Saints, per Josh Kendall of The Athletic:

Campbell signed a one-year deal in Atlanta over the offseason but has been hesitant to say whether or not this season would be his last. On Sunday, Campbell came up with another sack and has been a durable and versatile piece for this Falcons defense.

Whatever happens, Campbell made sure to voice his support for Arthur Smith and the rest of the Falcons coaching staff to return, per ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1360]

Calais Campbell congratulates Josh Allen on breaking sack record

“Proud of my guy!”

Calais Campbell’s name was scratched from a spot in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ record books Sunday when Josh Allen recorded his second of three sacks against the Carolina Panthers.

Now at 16.5 sacks in 2023, Campbell’s 14.5-sack season in 2017 no longer stands as the best year ever for a Jaguars pass rusher.

Campbell, 37, wasn’t sad to see the record go, though. Allen said he received a text before the game from the former Jaguars and current Falcons lineman telling him to break it. A day after the game, Campbell gave a shoutout to his former teammate:

Campbell and Allen played just one season together after the latter was drafted in the 2019 NFL draft. The Jaguars traded Campbell to the Baltimore Ravens during the 2020 offseason.

Allen, 26, is on his way to a “very big payday” indeed, although the real haul from his breakout 2023 campaign could be off on the horizon still. Rather than a massive extension exceeding $100 million, Jacksonville’s easiest route to retaining Allen may be to use the franchise tag, which would guarantee the pass rusher about $22 million in 2024.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Falcons Week 17 injury report: 7 players limited Wednesday

Falcons Week 17 injury report: Seven players, including QB Taylor Heinicke, were limited on Wednesday

The Atlanta Falcons (7-8) released their first injury report of Week 17 on Wednesday. Running back Cordarrelle Patterson and defensive lineman Calais Campbell were each given a veteran rest day while seven other players were limited.

Quarterback Taylor Heinicke, guard Chris Lindstrom, center Drew Dalman, linebacker Lorenzo Carter and offensive tackle Jake Matthews were among those limited on Wednesday. Check out the team’s full injury report below.

Player Injury Wed Thu Fri Status
Calais Campbell Rest DNP
Cordarrelle Patterson Rest DNP
Chris Lindstrom Ankle LP
David Onyemata Ankle LP
Drew Dalman Ankle LP
Jake Matthews Knee LP
Kaleb McGary Knee LP
Lorenzo Carter Neck LP
Taylor Heinicke Ankle LP

Updated 2024 NFL draft order

Twitter reacts to win over Colts

Falcons Week 17 depth chart

Falcons Week 16 PFF grades

Falcons 7-round mock draft

Falcons’ Calais Campbell earns $500K bonus incentive vs. Colts

Falcons defensive lineman Calais Campbell hits $500,000 bonus incentive with sack of Colts QB Garner Minshew

After a slow start, the Atlanta Falcons defensive line has come alive under defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. The team recorded six sacks during Sunday’s 29-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Rookie Zach Harrison led the way with two sacks, but veteran Calais Campbell finished with 1.5 sacks of his own. Not only did the Falcons get the victory, but Campbell earned himself a nice little Christmas Eve bonus.

The veteran defensive lineman hit a $500,000 contract incentive with his sack of Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew, per ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.

Campbell has been everything the Falcons could have asked for this season. The 37-year-old still brings it each week and his leadership in the locker room has been a huge plus, especially with Grady Jarrett out for the season.

Atlanta’s playoff hopes are still alive following Sunday’s win. The team heads to Chicago next weekend to take on Justin Fields and the Bears.

10 takeaways from Week 16

Twitter reacts to win over Colts

Falcons 7-round mock draft

Watch: Arthur Smith on Sunday’s win

Vote: Falcons Player of the Game

Josh Allen on Jaguars’ sack record: ‘I think about it too much’

Josh Allen is ready to be done chasing the Jaguars’ single-season sack record.

Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen only needs one more sack to tie Calais Campbell’s single-season franchise record and 1.5 sacks to take the title for himself.

It’s a record he’s ready to claim and be done chasing.

“I think about it too much,” Allen said of the record this week. “I’ve got to stop thinking about it. I’ve got to stop thinking about it, just go out there and play football.”

Defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell is also ready to see Allen get the job done.

“I wish he got it last week, it’s time for him to get it,” Caldwell said Thursday. “Let’s go get it out of the way. Hopefully he gets it and gets it early, once that happens, I’ll be happy for him. At the end of the day, he understands that’s something special for him. But getting a victory will mean more to him I think.”

Getting sacks and a victory have gone hand in hand for Allen. The Jaguars won all four times the pass rusher recorded at least two sacks this season and six of the seven times he finished with at least a half sack.

In losses to the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens in the last two weeks, Allen was held to zero sacks.

With 13.5 sacks through 14 games, Allen has already passed Tony Brackens and Yannick Ngakoue, who were tied for the second most sacks in a Jaguars season, with 12 each.

Allen, who is scheduled to become a free agent in the offseason, is 14 sacks behind Brackens for the franchise’s career record of 55 sacks.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

WATCH: Falcons DL Calais Campbell sacks Panthers QB Bryce Young

WATCH: Falcons defensive lineman Calais Campbell sacks Panthers QB Bryce Young

Sunday’s game between the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers has been a defensive slugfest through the first quarter. Falcons defensive lineman Calais Campbell is having a nice game on a day when David Onyemata is inactive.

Watch as Campbell brings down Panthers QB Bryce Young for his 103rd career sack, as shared by the Falcons’ social media team below.

Falcons Twitter reacts to ESPN report

Falcons new 7-round mock draft

Falcons Week 15 depth chart

Falcons 53-man roster by number

4 questions the Falcons must answer

WATCH: Falcons DL Calais Campbell mic’d up for Week 10

WATCH: Falcons defensive lineman Calais Campbell was mic’d up for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals

Falcons defensive lineman Calais Campbell has seen a few things over the course of his 16 NFL seasons. The 37-year-old has appeared in 237 games since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2008.

Campbell has been a positive addition to Atlanta’s defense this season, racking up 29 combined tackles, three sacks, nine QB hits, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 10 games.

Sunday’s game against the Cardinals was a bit of a homecoming for Campbell, who spent nine seasons in Arizona from 2008-2016. The Falcons defensive lineman was mic’d up for Week 10. Watch below, per the team’s Twitter account.

[lawrence-related id=126131,125623,126112,126103,126094,126038]

Cameron Jordan and Jason Pierre-Paul have the most sacks of any active duo

Cameron Jordan and new Saints pickup Jason Pierre-Paul have the most combined sacks of any active duo in the NFL:

As many of us know by now, New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan set the official franchise record for most sacks, and he currently sits at 117.5. This number puts Jordan at number two on the active sack leaders list, behind only Von Miller of the Buffalo Bills.

Newly acquired pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul is also near the top of that list, with 94.5 sacks in his career (No. 6 among active players). And few teams boast the combined resumes of those two sack artists. Jordan and Pierre-Paul have more career sacks than any other duo around the league. Here are the five duos with 150 or more combined sacks, per Pro Football Reference and Stathead:

  1. Cameron Jordan (117.5) and Jason Pierre-Paul (94.5): 212 sacks
  2. Von Miller (123.5) and Leonard Floyd (54.5): 178 sacks
  3. T.J. Watt (88) and Cameron Heyward (78.5): 166.5 sacks
  4. Khalil Mack (93.5) and Joey Bosa (67): 160.5 sacks
  5. Calais Campbell (102) and Bud Dupree (49.5): 151.5 sacks

Hopefully Pierre-Paul will continue to add to that sacks total this season for New Orleans, as he had three last season with the Baltimore Ravens and a fourth in the playoffs on limited snaps. The Saints need all the help they can get while tied for the fifth-fewest sacks (18) in the league going into their Week 11 bye.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]