Inside linebacker is getting it done for Arizona Cardinals
By Jim Koch
De’Vondre Campbell has been everything that the Arizona Cardinals could’ve hoped for since they signed him this past March
Heading into the 2020 offseason, the Arizona Cardinals made a particular segment of the team a priority. Anyone who watched the squad last season became well aware of the Cards deficiencies on defense. With an ample amount of salary cap space to work with, general manager Steve Keim set out on a mission to make things better on the defensive side of the ball.
One of the holes that needed to be filled was the inside linebacker spot next to Jordan Hicks. De’Vondre Campbell, a free agent who had spent four campaigns with the Atlanta Falcons, was recruited to the desert. The 27-year old was inked to a one-year deal that will pay him $6 million over the next few months.
Based on the past two weeks, it appears that the Cardinals got a bargain. Campbell, a former fourth-round draft pick of the Falcons, has been everything the club could’ve hoped for and more. The veteran has been a tackling machine for Arizona, and has also helped the defense greatly in another area as well.
Just one year ago, the Cards were ravaged by opposing tight ends on an almost weekly basis. Thus far this season, Campbell has shown that he’s more than capable of shutting down that position. The 6’3, 232 pounder has a reputation for being one of the NFL’s best coverage linebackers, and has not disappointed in the least.
In a week one upset over the San Francisco 49ers, Campbell totaled seven tackles for the Cardinals. Last Sunday, the University of Minnesota product registered 10 tackles and two pass breakups in a win over the Washington football team.
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Campbell’s stellar play has relegated first-round selection Isaiah Simmons to backup status. The pairing of the Florida native and Hicks has given Arizona one of the most-productive inside linebacker duos in pro football. If Keim was smart, he’d start working on an extension for the talented Campbell as soon as possible.