Two-way star Travis Hunter is getting most of the spotlight, and rightly so. That said, it's easy to forget that he's a rookie and may not make an impact right off the bat. Fortunately for the Jacksonville Jaguars, they already have a lockdown cornerback in Tyson Campbell. Although he's struggled to stay healthy the past two years, he's shown he's capable of playing at a high level. Not surprisingly, the 2021 second-round pick was dubbed one of the best corners in the league.
John Kosko of Pro Football Focus ranked the top cornerbacks in the NFL and included Campbell at No. 27, pointing out that injuries have prevented him from performing as well as he did in 2022 but still has lots of talent.
"Another cornerback who has struggled to stay healthy, Campbell has yet to mirror the success he had in 2022, when his 80.7 PFF coverage grade ranked seventh and his PFF advanced coverage grade placed fourth," Kosko said. "If he can stay healthy, Campbell has the talent to be a top-10 player."
For context, Taron Johnson and Jaycee Horn popped up at No. 20 and No. 25, respectively, and both of them have also dealt with injuries that have hampered their play.
In Campbell's case, he has to deal with a nagging hamstring injury dating back to 2023. He's sat out 11 games the past two seasons and hasn't been nearly as reliable when he's played. But as Kosko noted, the former Georgia Bulldog was a top-10 corner in 2022. That year, he gave up a respectable 60.9 percent completion rate and less than 10.0 yards per reception. If that wasn't enough, his three interceptions were tied for the most on the team.
Not surprisingly, Campbell appeared on several top-10 lists and was barely left out of others. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to build off of his impressive performance in 2022. Nevertheless, the Jaguars brass were so confident that the Plantation, Florida native would put it all together that it gave him a four-year deal worth $74.5 million, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history who's never made the Pro Bowl or earned an All-Pro nod.
So far, Campbell's play hasn't matched his deal, but if he stays healthy, he should be able to do it.
Why Tyson Campbell must show out for the Jaguars in 2025
Cornerback was among the biggest needs for the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason, so they brougth in Jourdan Lewis and later drafted Travis Hunter in April. With Jarrian Jones, Tyson Campbell, and Montaric Brown in the mix, they're in much better shape. On the other hand, the surplus at the position should be a wake-up call for Campbell.
At this point, nobody will question his place as the team's top corner. However, that could change as the season progresses. Lewis always showed up for the Dallas Cowboys, Jones flashed as a rookie, and Hunter should eventually get a featured role. If that wasn't enough, Brown is making a strong impression at Organized Team Activities and could potentially compete for a starting job. This may not bode well for Campbell. Working in his favor is that he's shown he can play at a high level.
On the other hand, the veteran corner must prove he can stay healthy, something he's failed to do each of the past two seasons. And that's the thing, you can be the most talented player in the world, but if you can't step on the football field, it isn't of much use. This is a long-winded way to say that availability is the most important ability.
In Tyson Campbell's case, the talent is there, but there's a new regime in place, and either he'll prove he's the corner who ranked in the top 10 just a few years ago. If he does, their defense will benefit greatly. If he doesn't, his future in Jacksonville after 2025 may be in doubt.