Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly host Calais Campbell for visit: 3 takeaways

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn't make any moves in the first wave of free agency but they've finally gotten into the action, adding depth to their running back room and their defensive line. Now, they're setting their sights on defensive end Calais Campbell, who was hosted for a visit Thursday.

Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union was the first the break the news and Michael DiRocco of ESPN later reported that Campbell left without a deal, via the 1010 XL/92.5 FM. As of this writing, the player known as The Mayor hasn't joined the Jaguars but it might be a matter of time before he dons the Black and Teal for the second time in his NFL career.

A second-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2008, Campbell signed with Jacksonville in 2017 and quickly became a mainstay of their defense. He played a pivotal role on a Jaguars team that ended up winning the division and appearing in the AFC Championship game.

Although the Jags came crashing down and won just five games in 2018, Campbell had a pretty dominant campaign registering 13.5 sacks, 74 total tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, and three forced fumbles. Moreover, he earned a First-Team All-Pro designation. The 2019 season was more of the same, the Jaguars couldn't get anything going on offense but Campbell was still highly productive.

Following the conclusion of the 2019 season, then-general manager Dave Caldwell initiated a soft rebuild and began to move on from several key players. Feeling that his time was coming, Campbell helped orchestrate a trade that landed him with the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a fifth-round selection.

Campbell promptly got a two-year, $25 million extension. He said that other teams made more lucrative offers to join them but he believed that the Ravens would give him the best chance to win. After a productive three-year stint in Baltimore, the former Miami Hurricane is looking for a new team, and here are three thoughts on potentially playing again for the Jaguars.

3. Calais Campbell's leadership could be huge for the Jacksonville Jaguars

If the Jaguars chose to bring back Campbell, he might not have a feature role but his presence off the field would be huge. The franchise struggled to find playmakers in the 2010s and Campbell was one of the few. Besides playing an immense role in their 2017 playoff role, he became a fan favorite and a veteran presence in the locker room.

Although most of his former Jaguars teammates are gone, a few remain. Outside linebacker Josh Allen was a rookie in Campbell's last year in Jacksonville. Tyler Shatley plays offense but was also part of the 2017 team. 93 could enter the Jaguars' locker room and immediately command respect because of the impact he previously had in Jacksonville, both on and off the field.