Jaguars’ decision to draft CB Tyson Campbell paying off

The NFL draft is the culmination of months of evaluating potential prospects. It can be deflating if you make the wrong pick, especially when you invested so much time. Similarly, it’s reassuring your hard work pays dividends. The Jacksonville Jaguars must be in the latter category after watching Tyson Campbell develop into a reliable starting cornerback over the last few weeks.

Defensive coordinator Joe Cullen met with the local media Thursday and talked about Campbell’s growth throughout the 2021 season. He said he’s felt encouraged by the rookie cornerback’s progress and his performance against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14.

"He had his best game of his short career and I mean he attacked the football he was coming up making tackles, great play on the interception. He continues to get better every week. He was fighting through some you know, every everyone this time of year has the bruises and the necks and all that stuff. He was fighting through that."

Cullen went on to credit secondary coach Tim Walton and defensive backs coach Joe Danna for their work with Cambell and all the Jaguars secondary. The former Georgia Bulldog was selected 33rd overall by Jacksonville in the 2021 NFL Draft and was the first of two second-round selections they had, the other being offensive tackle Walker Little.

The Jaguars find a starting cornerback in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Campbell struggled in the preseason and the season opener but has improved considerably since then. From Week 1 to 4, he allowed an 80.7 percent completion rate when targeted. Since Week 8, he’s given up a 56 percent completion rate. As the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator said, the rookie had the best game of his NFL career in Week 14, logging two passes defensed and an interception. Also, he posted a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 90.9, the highest among Jacksonville’s defenders and rookies around the league.

Campbell started the regulars season in the slot, in place of an injured Tre Herndon. However, he moved outside when the team’s brass traded C.J. Henderson to the Carolina Panthers after Week 3. The Florida product sat out Weeks 5 and 6 with a neck injury and you could make the case he could be even better right now had he not missed those two games.

Looking back, the Jaguars’ decisions to draft Campbell and later trade Henderson to make room for him paid off. Their trust for him never wavered even though he struggled to start the season. Now, they need to give more playing time to other first-year players such as Little and safety Andre Cisco, their third-round pick.