While most of the football world was looking forward to the upcoming NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals were making moves. The Cardinals have brought back interior defensive lineman Calais Campbell in free agency.
According to Ian Rapoport, Campbell has signed a one-year deal with Arizona worth $5.5 million. The deal has a maximum value of $7.5 million, presumably including bonuses.
Campbell joins Josh Sweat and Dalvin Tomlinson as big-name free agent signings along Arizona's defensive front. The Cardinals are clearly being aggressive in fixing what was a major weakness on last year's roster. Arizona has now dished out over $110 million to defensive linemen during this free agency period.
Calais Campbell signs with the Arizona Cardinals
Calais Campbell is near and dear to the hearts of many Arizona Cardinals fans. Arizona drafted Campbell out of Miami in the second round back in 2008. He played nine seasons with the Cardinals, logging 56.5 total sacks.
In the years since his departure, Campbell has spent time with the Jaguars, Ravens, Falcons, and Dolphins. At 38 years old, Campbell is one of the most senior players in the NFL. After 17 seasons in the league, he remains a productive force on the interior. Campbell had 52 total tackles and five sacks in Miami last season.
How does Calais Campbell fit with the Arizona Cardinals?
The Arizona Cardinals have built out a dangerous interior defensive line through free agency. Calais Campbell could immediately take over a starting role alongside Darius Robinson and Dalvin Tomlinson. With Justin Jones, Bilal Nichols, and Dante Stills on the roster as well, the Cardinals have a deep rotation on the inside.
Campbell played over 600 snaps for the Dolphins last season. While it's fair to expect some regression from a player of his age, Campbell has proved that he can still be an impactful player in the NFL. With the depth of the Cardinals rotation on the interior, Campbell will be able to play a more limited role if necessary.
Whether Calais Campbell is a full-time starter for the Arizona Cardinals defense or not, he serves as an improtant addition to the unit. Each of the three primary starters on the interior have now been replaced, indicating a targeted plan from the Cardinals front office.
As the NFL Draft draws closer, the Cardinals have put themselves in position to draft the best players available on their board, regardless of positional needs.
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