Don’t Overlook the Calais Campbell Addition
Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Most of the talk this offseason for the Miami Dolphins has been about improving the offense, signing Calais Campbell means that the team didn’t overlook the defense. In turn, you shouldn’t overlook Campbell. The defensive tackle might not be the flashiest signing on paper, especially given he’s now 37 years old. But it’s not always the attention-grabbing moves that raise a team’s ceiling. Inking Campbell could end up being the addition that improves the interior of the defense, making Miami true title contenders.
Campbell is entering his 17th NFL season, and although he hasn’t ever played with the Dolphins before, this is a personal homecoming for him. Campbell played for the Maimi Hurricanes in college before the Arizona Cardinals drafted him 50th overall way back in the 2008 draft.
A 37-year-old defensive lineman comes with some risk, but Campbell hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. In 2023 for the Atlanta Falcons, Campbell started every game and was a stalwart in the middle of the defense. The 2019 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year finished with 17 quarterback hits and 6.5 sacks.
The Dolphins lost some major production on the defensive line this offseason with Christian Wilkins’ departure, and before the Campbell signing, they hadn’t brought in any veteran leadership to help some of the young guns. While Campbell can’t quite replace what Wilkins brought, Miami couldn’t afford the $110 million the Las Vegas Raiders could pay him. They could pay the six-time Pro Bowler.
Campbell proved last season with the Falcons that he still has a lot left in the tank, but his ability to help Chop Robinson long-term could be the most important trait he brings. At every stop along his career, teammates, and coaches have raved about his leadership in the locker room and the community. There isn’t a better potential mentor to get Robinson acclimated to the NFL and help him toward stepping into Wilkins’ role as a pass-rusher.
In 2019, Campbell won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, which honors a player’s commitment to philanthropy and community impact, as well as his excellence on the field. At the time, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone gave rave reviews about what Campbell meant to the Jaguars team and the Jacksonville community.
“Calais means so much more to the NFL than being a great player on the field each and every Sunday,” Marrone said. As a tenured veteran, Calais has made an impact everywhere he’s been during his football career, both inside the organizations he’s played for with his teammates, coaches, and the staff, as well as in the community with his neighbors. With every second of free time, it seems like he’s always out in the city looking for a way to give back and make a difference. I’m honored to have had the privilege to coach a player and a man like Calais Campbell.”
It’s important that Campbell has a huge impact on the field in 2024, something he should be able to do instantly. Wilkins is obviously the better heading into 2024, but Campbell protects against a quantum drop in production that might have been had the Dolphins addressed that roster spot in-house.
The Dolphins offense is one of the best in the NFL, but the defense is the big question mark right now. Last season, the Dolphins offense averaged 29.2 points per game, which was 2nd in the league. The defense was a different story, giving up 23 points per game, which ranked 23rd in the NFL. The front part of the defense sets the tone, and even at his advanced age, Campbell can be the anchor of an entire defense. If the front four of a defense struggles, it makes life harder on the second and third level. Campbell has made a career of spending time in opponents’ backfields, which isn’t something that will change in 2024.
Long-term, his signing will continue to help the team if he can have a positive impact on Robinson. Campbell should help him adjust to the NFL quickly, and by the end of the season, we could see more production out of Robinson, which will be a direct result of Campbell’s leadership. The rest of the NFL has made a mistake in letting Campbell return to South Beach. The Dolphins have Super Bowl expectations, and Campbell gets them one step closer to the ultimate goal.
Up Next