Jacksonville Jaguars land Calais Campbell, per report, instantly improving defense
By Luke Sims
The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to be a whole lot better when Calais Campbell joins the team in 2017.
After a bit of a false start to the Calais Campbell news yesterday, the Jacksonville Jaguars found themselves in a bidding war of sorts with the Denver Broncos. The Broncos had “hometown” leverage over Campbell, but, ultimately, the Jaguars and their money won out.
While nothing is official until free agency opens at 4:00pm, the Jaguars are reportedly set to land Campbell for four years and $60 million.
After considering Denver, Calais Campbell is going to sign a 4-year, $60 million deal that includes $30M gtd with Jacksonville, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2017
This is the kind of big move that the Jaguars needed on defense. Able to play multiple spots on the defensive line, Campbell may fit best as a 5-technique defensive end. The Jaguars need someone with his physicality and talent to open things up on the defensive line and produce.
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Most importantly, landing Campbell will give the Jags their first premiere pass rusher in around a decade. The team has been whiffing in the NFL Draft and in free agency for years, but they finally have a player with proven production and is still in the prime (albeit, the latter side of 30) of his career.
To say that this signing instantly makes the Jags defense a juggernaut would be a bit optimistic, but it does help turn a quietly above-average defense into one of the better defenses in the NFL.
Campbell seems to be a Tom Coughlin guy and that connection was a key part of his choice to come to Jacksonville. Per Josina Anderson, who had a text from Campbell: “Chose #Jags because Tom Coughlin is a winner, they brought in two other big free agents and they also have been drafting well the last few years. They are a young and hungry defense that I want to lead.”
Now it’s time to put it all together and actually win.