Tag: Tyson Campbell

Tyson Campbell on deal with Jaguars: ‘Blessed to stay in Jacksonville’

Tyson Campbell on deal with Jaguars: ‘Blessed to stay in Jacksonville’

The Jaguars locked in another franchise cornerstone on Tuesday, extending cornerback Tyson Campbell on a four-year, $76.5 million deal.

Jacksonville confirmed Campbell’s extension shortly after the breaking news emerged, with the cornerback and Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke weighing in on the deal via release.

“I’m blessed to stay in Jacksonville and thankful God is allowing me to continue building something special with my brothers on the field and in the community,” Campbell said.

“I want to thank the Jaguars for making my NFL dreams come true three years ago and for still believing in me today.”

Campbell has tallied 203 tackles with six for loss, six interceptions, 30 defended passes, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries including one scoop-and-score in three seasons with the Jaguars, starting in 42 of 43 appearances.

Campbell’s career so far is highlighted by his breakout 2022 season, when he posted three interceptions and 15 pass breakups during Jacksonville’s run to the AFC Divisional Round of the postseason.

He allowed a 54.2% coverage completion percentage that year, per Pro Football Reference.

However, multiple soft tissue injuries derailed Campbell’s 2023 campaign. He hurt his hamstring in Week 6, forcing him out of four nonconsecutive games, and suffered a quadriceps injury in Week 13, making him inactive for another two weeks.

Campbell was limited to 11 appearances last season and posted one interception, five passes defended and one forced fumble. His coverage completion percentage fell to 69.4%.

The Jaguars are banking on the upside Campbell displayed when healthy as a sign of what’s to come over the length of his new contract.

“Tyson is a young, talented player who is an integral part of our defense and core member of our locker room,” said Baalke.

“He is a consummate professional on and off the field and we are confident that his best lies ahead. We have consistently messaged the importance of extending our core players and this is another step forward in honoring that commitment.”

Campbell’s long-term contract extension marked the fifth Jacksonville reached this offseason, following deals for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, edge rusher Josh Allen, linebacker Foyesade Oluokun and guard Ezra Cleveland.

Jaguars extend CB Tyson Campbell on four-year deal

Jaguars extend CB Tyson Campbell on four-year deal

The Jaguars and cornerback Tyson Campbell agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $76.5 million including $53.4 effectively guaranteed, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on Tuesday.

The deal will make Campbell the highest-paid cornerback to have not yet appeared in a Pro Bowl in NFL history. The contract’s $19.125 million average annual value makes Campbell the league’s seventh-highest-paid cornerback currently.

Jacksonville’s second-round, No. 33 overall selection in the 2021 NFL draft, Campbell has started in 42 of his 43 appearances over three seasons with the club.

Campbell, 24, tallied 203 tackles with six for loss, six interceptions, 30 defended passes, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries including one scoop-and-score along the way.

Campbell’s career so far is highlighted by his breakout 2022 campaign. He was a key contributor on the backend of Jacksonville’s defense amid the Jaguars’ run to the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs, recording three interceptions and 15 pass breakups that year.

However, Campbell’s 2023 season was hindered by multiple soft tissue injuries, first a nagging hurt hamstring suffered in Week 6 and then a quadriceps injury endured in Week 13.

He was limited to 11 appearances on the year and posted one interception, five passes defended and one forced fumble.

According to Pro Football Reference, Campbell allowed a 54.2% completion percentage in coverage over 83 targets in 2022, ranking No. 31 among all qualifying defenders (25 targets/16 game pace) in the NFL. His 69.4% completion percentage allowed in 2023 ranked No. 174.

Under a new defensive coaching staff entering 2024, the Jaguars believe the best remains ahead for the now-healthy Campbell, leading Jacksonville’s front office to lock him in with the team long-term.

‘Locked in’: Tyson Campbell encouraging new Jaguars DB coaches

“He’s a pro’s pro. He’s locked in, he’s focused, has tremendous talent,” Jaguars assistant cornerbacks coach Cory Robinson told Jaguars Wire on June 5. “His floor is really, really high. So I think the upside, the ceiling is gonna be pretty special for that player. He’s been everything that we could ask for at this point.”

Jacksonville defensive backs coach Kris Richard shared similar praise for Campbell, specifically regarding his athletic profile.

“I think he’s one of the finer athletes that I’ve been around throughout my coaching career,” Richard said.

“He’s able to run in transition. He’s got a bit of a perpetual motion thing … he’s got that proverbial ball-type movement where he’s not a hesitant, stiff type of guy. He’s just rolling, you know, he’s just rolling.”

Before paying Campbell, Jacksonville extended the contracts of fellow starters, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, edge rusher Josh Allen, linebacker Foyesade Oluokun and guard Ezra Cleveland earlier this offseason.

This is a breaking news story that will be updated.

PFF joins list of outlets saying Jaguars need another CB

PFF joins list of outlets saying Jaguars need another CB

One of the first way-too-early 2025 NFL mock drafts, released April 30 by The Athletic, paired the Jaguars with Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke in the first round.

In May, ESPN wrote that a trade sending cornerback Marshon Lattimore from New Orleans to Jacksonville “should happen.” Bleacher Report followed up in June, suggesting a “shocking” trade proposal in which Jacksonville would acquire cornerback James Bradberry from Philadelphia.

Then earlier this month, CBS wrote that the Jaguars’ “biggest need” entering the 2024 season is — you guessed it — cornerback help.

Pro Football Focus is the latest reputable outlet to suggest Jacksonville would benefit from adding to its cornerback room with the NFL’s major offseason roster transaction windows, free agency and the 2024 NFL draft, in the rearview mirror.

Analyst Thomas Valentine called the position “bare” behind the Jaguars’ projected starting corners, Tyson Campbell and Ronald Darby.

The Jaguars still have a need at cornerback. They added veteran Ronald Darby after his strong 2023 season in Baltimore, but the jury is still out on Tyson Campbell. And beyond that, the position is bare.

A career journeyman, Jacksonville marks Dabry’s sixth team since entering the NFL in 2015. Despite his jumping around the league, he’s been a dependable coverage option at almost every stop.

Darby has allowed a sub-50% completion percentage in coverage each of the last two seasons, 44.2% in 16 games with Baltimore in 2023 and 38.9% in five games with Denver the year before, per Pro Football Reference.

Darby signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract with the Jaguars in March. In his eight-season career, he’s compiled eight interceptions, 97 defended passes and 401 total tackles, including nine for loss.

Campbell, Jacksonville’s first second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, has tallied six interceptions, 30 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and 203 total tackles in three seasons with the Jaguars. He shined in 2022 by allowing a 54.2% completion percentage over 83 targets.

However, multiple soft tissue injuries limited Campbell to 11 appearances in 2023, and his performance level regressed when he was available. He allowed a 69.4% completion percentage over 62 targets and defended fewer than 10 passes in a season for the first time.

‘Locked in’: Tyson Campbell encouraging new Jaguars DB coaches

The Jaguars picked two cornerbacks in April’s draft, Jarrian Jones in the third round and Deantre Prince in the fifth round. They also signed free agent corner Tre Flowers in May.

Per Over the Cap, seven unsigned cornerbacks played on at least 50% of their team’s snaps in 2023: Xavien Howard (formerly with Miami), Adoree’ Jackson (New York), Stephon Gilmore (Dallas), Patrick Peterson (Pittsburgh), Fabian Moreau (Denver), Ahkello Witherspoon (Los Angeles) and Jerry Jacobs (Detroit).

Rapoport: Jaguars CB Tyson Campbell in for big payday

Rapoport: Jacksonville Jaguars CB Tyson Campbell in for big payday

Jacksonville handed out several contract extensions this offseason, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and edge rusher Josh Allen‘s mega-deals headlining the Jaguars’ in-house spending and linebacker Foyesade Oluokun and guard Ezra Cleveland‘s new agreements not to be forgotten.

Who might be next? NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport believes Jacksonville cornerback Tyson Campbell is on the shortlist to get paid, either by the Jaguars or another team. 2024 marks the final season of Campbell’s rookie contract.

Asked on “The Insiders” which Jaguars player is well-positioned to leap forward this season, Rapoport pointed to Campbell and utilized the exercise to provide the intel.

“Campbell quickly comes to mind,” Rapoport wrote on X. “A player to build around.”

Rapoport noted Jaguars owner Shad Khan’s June comments regarding the team’s history of spending big in free agency and how Lawrence and Allen’s extensions mark a “sea change” for how the franchise approaches roster building, by drafting and developing talent.

Under that premise, Campbell has proven himself worthy of following that trend, at least in Rapoport’s opinion.

“The Jaguars obviously have spent in free agency but what they’ve wanted to do, and owner Shad Khan came out and said a couple days ago, ‘We can’t be addicted to free agents.’ Well, okay, well they have a couple really good players on their roster who eventually will get some big-time paydays,” Rapoport suggested.

“I’m going to call attention to Tyson Campbell, the young corner who I think very quietly has emerged as one of the better young corners in the NFL. At some point, whether [it is] this year, in free agency, whenever, [he is] gonna end up being one of the higher-paid corners in the NFL. Stats aren’t great, coverage is great. This is the kind of guy that the Jaguars are going to want to pay and want to build around.”

‘Locked in’: Tyson Campbell encouraging new Jaguars DB coaches

The stats were there for Campbell in 2022, a breakout season in which he posted three interceptions, 15 defended passes, one forced fumble and a 54.2% completion percentage allowed. The latter stat ranked No. 32 among 270 qualifying coverage defenders in the NFL, per Pro Football Reference.

But multiple soft tissue injuries limited Campbell to 11 appearances last year, several of which he played hurt.

Campbell allowed 69.4% of his targets in coverage to be caught (ranking No. 174 out of 268 qualifying defenders) and recorded one interception, five defended passes and one forced fumble in 2023.

If the Jaguars view Campbell’s most recent campaign as an outlier — for what it’s worth, they made Lawrence one of the highest-paid players in NFL history despite his multiple injuries and 0-5 record over his final five games in 2023 — perhaps Jacksonville will prove Rapoport’s theory correct and make him one of the NFL’s higher-paid cornerbacks.

“After spending the last couple of years in free agency, it’s time to focus on their own guys,” Rapoport said. “They did it with Trevor Lawrence and we will see who ends up being next.”

Colts take CB Tyson Campbell over Kwity Paye in 2021 re-draft

In a 2021 NFL re-draft from the 33rd Football Team, the Colts take CB Tyson Campbell over defensive end Kwity Paye.

In a 2021 NFL re-draft, Marcus Mosher of the 33rd Football Team had the Indianapolis Colts taking cornerback Tyson Campbell at 21st overall and not defensive end Kwity Paye.

Mosher would instead have Paye going to the Minnesota Vikings two picks later.

Campbell was a second-round selection by Jacksonville in that draft and has spent his first three seasons with the Jaguars.

The 2022 season, Campebell’s second, was his breakout year. He had the 7th-best coverage grade from PFF, allowing 53 completions on 87 targets and holding opponents to just 9.7 yards per catch.

Campbell also had three interceptions and nine pass breakups, along with a quarterback rating of only 86.0 when targeted.

Unfortunately, an injury limited Campbell to only 11 games in 2023, but now fully healthy this offseason, Mosher believes he would be a good fit for the Colts, providing them some needed stability at the cornerback position, where some of their biggest unknowns lie heading into training camp.

Paye has been a rock solid pick for the Colts, who earlier this offseason, exercised his fifth-year option for the 2025 season.

Paye’s production has steadily increased each season and culminated in 2023 with a career-high 8.5 sacks.

While Paye made the most of his opportunities around the quarterback, where he can take another step forward in 2024 is in his consistency to generate pressures.

Despite producing 8.5 sacks, Paye ranked 69th out of 100 edge rushers in pass rush win rate, and his 28 pressures were tied for 76th. Realistically, if Paye is going to recreate that sack production this season, he’ll need to give himself more opportunities to do so with pressures.

Paye has, however, been very good against the run, ranking X in PFF’s run defense grade last season. That ability, coupled with the addition of Laiatu Latu, should form a strong defensive end duo—along with Samson Ebukam and Dayo Odeyingbo—whose skill sets complement each other well.

‘Locked in’: Tyson Campbell encouraging new Jaguars DB coaches

‘Locked in’: Tyson Campbell encouraging new Jaguars DB coaches

The 2023 season didn’t go as planned for Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell.

Following his breakout 2022 campaign when he produced three interceptions, two fumble recoveries with one scoop-and-score, 15 defended passes and an allowed completion percentage of 54.2%, the Jaguars’ 2021 second-round NFL draft pick was expected to make another jump in his third pro season.

But multiple soft tissue injuries, including a nagging hurt hamstring first suffered in Week 6, limited Campbell to 11 appearances in 2023 and negatively impacted his play when he was available. He finished the year with one interception, five passes defended and a 69.4% completion rate given up.

“We don’t control every circumstance, right? But we do control our every thought,” Jacksonville defensive backs coach Kris Richard recapped Campbell’s last nine months, including his transition to a third pro defensive coaching staff, with Jaguars Wire on Wednesday.

“And so, these soft tissue injuries, whatever took place last year, all that stuff has to be wiped clean. It’s a clean slate.”

Taking over Jacksonville’s secondary this offseason under newly-hired defensive coordinator, Ryan Nielsen, Richard is offering all of Jacksonville’s defensive backs a fresh start, allowing them to prove their worth within the scheme Nielsen is installing.

Campbell has quickly risen to the occasion, participating in offseason team activities with his injuries seemingly behind him. At least athletically, Campbell appears to have regained full strength, and Richard has noticed.

“I think he’s one of the finer athletes that I’ve been around throughout my coaching career,” Richard proclaimed, noting his 100 and 200-meter state championship victories as a track star for Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage in high school.

“He’s able to run and transition. He’s got a bit of a perpetual motion thing … he’s got that proverbial ball-type movement where he’s not a hesitant, stiff type of guy. He’s just rolling, you know, he’s just rolling.”

Oct 1, 2023; London, United Kingdom; Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (32) defends against Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) in the first half during an NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Nielsen shared similar praise for Campbell in May: “There’s nothing he can’t do athletically,” he said, adding Campbell’s been similarly quick to learn Nielsen’s defensive scheme. 

The Jaguars believe Campbell can return to form with his injuries behind him and new voices guiding him along his development track.

Jaguars assistant cornerbacks coach Cory Robinson, who was hired alongside Richard, commended Campbell for buying into the new staff’s vision for the defense.

Recalling what he put on tape over the first two seasons of his career, Robinson believes Campbell has proven himself to be a capable NFL cornerback, who still has room to grow into a star.

“He’s a pro’s pro. He’s locked in, he’s focused, has tremendous talent,” Robinson described Campbell. “His floor is really, really high. So I think the upside, the ceiling is gonna be pretty special for that player. He’s been everything that we could ask for at this point.”

Citing that the coaching points apply to Jacksonville’s entire secondary, Richard has emphasized eye discipline and aggression as he’s steered Campbell through their first offseason together, to hone in on the opposing wide receiver’s route direction and prevent quarterbacks from keying openings in coverage as a result.

With a reloaded secondary to support him — not only fresh coaches but also a new opposite starting cornerback in veteran Ronald Darby, a seasoned safety addition in Darnell Savage, and two draft pick corners in Jarrian Jones and Deantre Prince to pair with other returning talent — Jacksonville sees Campbell’s arrow pointing up entering 2024.

“You see the profile here, height, length, speed, size, all that type of stuff. Getting him at the line of scrimmage, how many guys can actually run past him?” Richard contemplated.

“So [I’m] just helping him, teaching him [to] utilize his skill set, keeping his eyes disciplined and staying true to his strength, and then watching him maximize it.”

In which 2023 games did each Jaguars defensive star shine brightest?

The Jaguars’ defense tailed off late in the year, but it still had some impressive moments in 2023.

Before the 2023 season began, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive unit was expected to be a weakness. But there were a handful of weeks when defense won the game for the Jaguars.

When Jacksonville was at its best en route to an 8-3 start to the year, the defense was a key piece to the team’s success. The Jaguars’ played well as a unit, but the players stepped up individually at different points throughout the season.

While the defense eventually came unraveled and struggled down the stretch, here were the best single-game performances for each of the Jaguars’ key defensive players during the 2023 season:

Contract projections for 6 Jaguars in line to receive new deals

How much would it cost the Jaguars to keep Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, and a few other players with new contracts? Spoiler: a whole lot.

When Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke spoke to reporters at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, he revealed the team is in talks with three of its impending free agents — Josh Allen, Calvin Ridley, and Ezra Cleveland — to bring them back.

Later, in an interview with NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, he said the Jaguars have started talks with quarterback Trevor Lawrence too.

So how much would it cost to sign all four of those players to new contracts? Spoiler alert: a lot.

With the salary cap soaring, several Jaguars players are well-positioned to secure pricy contracts if the team hopes to keep them for the foreseeable future. Add defensive backs Tyson Campbell and Andre Cisco to the mix (Baalke mentioned them in an interview as players who will “eventually need contracts”) and the Jaguars could be handing out several big deals to some of their key players.

Here’s a guess at how much it’d cost for the Jaguars to keep those six players if they signed new contracts this offseason:

It sure sounds like new Jaguars DC Ryan Nielsen wants cornerback help

Was Ryan Nielsen’s press conference a hint that cornerback will be a top priority for the Jaguars this offseason?

In his first press conference, new Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen kept his cards close to the vest. Sure, he talked about his desire to build an “attacking and aggressive” defense, but there aren’t exactly coordinators talking about constructing a cordial, peaceful defense.

When asked a specific question about his vision for Travon Walker’s role, Nielsen only said “we’ll put our guys in the best positions for them to have success.”

But if there was a moment when Nielsen actually pulled back the curtain a bit, it was when he was asked about generating pressure on third down. While the Jaguars finished the 2023 season 25th in the NFL in sacks, it wasn’t the team’s pass rushers that Nielsen pointed to as the issue.

“The first thing we have to do is affect the quarterback in that we can’t allow the ball to come out of his hand quickly,” Nielsen said. “Then the rush doesn’t get there. If the coverage has holes in it or give an easy throw, it doesn’t matter who we’ve got coming off the edge. We’ve got a couple of good edge guys here. We have to get the quarterback to hold it.”

It seems Nielsen has no concern with Walker and Josh Allen getting to the quarterback. He’s instead focused on making sure the team’s defensive backs aren’t getting beat off the line of scrimmage.

Tyson Campbell struggled through injuries for much of the 2023 season, but has a good chance at being a cornerstone of the Jaguars defense moving forward. Darious Williams had a much better year than Campbell, but has a much murkier future in Jacksonville due mostly to an $11.5 million 2024 cap hit that could result in his release.

The rest of the Jaguars’ depth chart at cornerback consists of players they found late in the NFL draft (Gregory Junior, Montaric Brown, Christian Braswell, Erick Hallett) and undrafted free agency (Tre Herndon).

When the Jaguars hunted for talent at the midseason trade deadline, cornerback was one of the spots they considered to be most in need of a boost before eventually addressing the offensive line instead.

There’s no doubt that the team’s lackluster pass rushing depth is an issue. Nielsen has seemingly identified the team’s cornerbacks as the higher priority, though.

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Is the Jaguars’ need for man cornerbacks ‘blown out of proportion’?

Trent Baalke says Ryan Nielsen’s usage of man coverage has been “blown out of proportion.” The numbers say otherwise.

When the Jacksonville Jaguars hired Ryan Nielsen to be their new defensive coordinator, it seemingly signaled that a significant shift in philosophy, scheme, and personnel was on the way.

While the Jaguars defense under Mike Caldwell leaned heavily on Cover 3 zone coverages, the Atlanta Falcons primarily employed Cover 1 coverage under Nielsen. In layman’s terms, Jacksonville had three defensive backs divide responsibility for the deepest part of the secondary into thirds, while Atlanta had players mostly cover receivers one-on-one with a solitary safety patrolling the middle of the secondary.

So, the Jaguars better get some cornerbacks who can cover man-to-man, right? Not so fast, according to general manager Trent Baalke.

“This idea that [Nielsen’s] a full man-coverage guy is fully blown out of proportion,” Baalke told reporters Thursday. “I think I’ll let him speak on scheme. It’s really a zone-based system, not a man-based system but a lot of times when you play zone, and you play it well it turns into man with the match concepts and everything else.

“Schematically, there’s going to be a change. It’s not going to necessarily affect the type of personnel we look for. The thing that’s are neat is the preparation that Ryan had put in to getting ready for the interview, knowing our roster the way he did, talking through how he sees those pieces being utilized in his defense.”

It’d seem that Baalke believes the group of cornerbacks already on the Jaguars’ roster are plenty capable of playing in Nielsen’s scheme, which — in his words — is “really a zone-based system.” Yet, statistics don’t exactly support that statement.

The numbers also don’t speak well to the Jaguars defensive backs making a smooth transition to more man coverage. Cornerback Tyson Campbell was in man on 17 percent of his coverage snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus, and was credited with allowing a 154.4 passer rating when targeted.

Opposing passer rating in man coverage was above 100 for Tre Herndon, Devin Lloyd, Montaric Brown, Foye Oluokun, and Gregory Junior too.

Perhaps Nielsen’s scheme will yield better results for Campbell and co., especially if the defense is able to produce more pressure up front. But Baalke’s insistence that Nielsen employs a zone-based system that won’t force the team to change the type of players it looks for is a head-scratcher.

Prior to the hire of Nielsen, cornerback looked like it’d be near the middle of the Jaguars’ offseason needs. Baalke doesn’t seem too concerned about bumping it up the list of priorities.

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