Despite early losses, Jacksonville could be the right landing spot for former All-Pro defensive lineman Calais Campbell, says one sports media writer.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have had a tough free agency thus far, losing their top two targets, Travis Etienne and Devin Lloyd, to the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, respectively.
CBS Sports recently gave the Jags a D grade for their free agency, highlighting the losses of their All-Pro level players and seeming reluctance to jump to improve on the outside.
However, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone addressed these questions at a March 12 press conference, explaining how losing Etienne and Lloyd may be a blessing in disguise.
“We’re at a stage now where a higher volume of draft capital is what we’re hunting, and those compensatory picks,” Gladstone said.
The Jaguars are in line to receive three compensatory picks so far, a fourth-, fifth- and sixth-round selection. The fourth- and fifth-round picks are courtesy of Lloyd and Etienne's departures with the sixth coming out of the loss of cornerback Greg Newsome II, who signed a 1-year, $10 million contract with the New York Giants.
These picks will be crucial in retooling the Jags, but many valuable free-agent targets remain on the market as well.
On Monday, CBS Sports contributor Zach Pereles highlighted the best remaining free-agent fits for each NFL team, projecting a reunion for a former Jags great.
Pereles tagged three-time All-Pro defensive lineman Calais Campbell as the best remaining fit for Jacksonville, highlighting the Arizona Cardinal's ability on the interior.
Campbell played three seasons with the Jags (2017-2019), recording 195 tackles and 31.5 sacks. These numbers are far greater than any other three-year span of Campbell's career.
During the 2017 season -- his first in Jacksonville -- Campbell earned All-Pro honors at two positions, making the first team on the edge and the second team as an interior defensive lineman.
He also helped lead the Jaguars to an AFC Championship berth, where they fell, 24-20, to the eventual Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots.
Now, Campbell would return to an established Jacksonville edge rushing group as the veteran presence, providing most of his value on the interior of the defensive line. For young talents like Joshua Hines-Allen and former No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker, Campbell would serve as an experienced and established mentor, returning to Jacksonville after bouncing around the past three years.
According to Spotrac, the 39-year old is commanding a market value of $10.9 million, which could be a bit pricy for someone entering the backend of his career. However, Campbell has continued to produce despite his age, recording five or more sacks in four consecutive years.
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