Calais Campbell OFFICIALLY Signs With Falcons to 'Surprise Some People!'
At 36 years young, defensive lineman Calais Campbell was looking for a winner in free agency after being released by the Baltimore Ravens.
A six-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro, Defensive Player of the Year runner-up and 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year winner, Campbell's accomplished nearly all there is to do on the football field.
Except ... win a Super Bowl.
And when decision time came down for Campbell, four suitors emerged - two reigning playoff teams in the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars, another on the verge of landing MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and ...the Atlanta Falcons, fresh off consecutive 7-10 seasons and no postseason appearances in five years.
But Campbell saw what he needed - quickly.
NFL Network reported Wednesday that Campbell will sign a one-year contract with the Falcons and was so adamant in his decision that he called off visits with both the Bills and Jets. ... and on Friday, that signing became official.
So, why Atlanta? Why, in perhaps one of his last professional seasons, did he choose the team that will likely enter the year with the fewest number of projected wins?
Quite simply, Campbell sees the vision.
Per the 929MorningShift's Tiffany Blackmon, Campbell opted for the Falcons because he "believes in what they are trying to do (and) feels like with this roster, they have a chance to surprise some people this season."
Atlanta's enjoyed an active free agency, signing Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III and New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata and linebacker Kaden Elliss, among others.
The Falcons have focused on revamping their defense, building around the likes of defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and cornerback A.J. Terrell.
Further, coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot will be expecting growth from young players such as safety Richie Grant, linebacker Troy Andersen, defensive tackle Ta'Quon Graham and outside linebackers Arnold Ebiketie and DeAngelo Malone, among others.
As a result, there's plenty of optimism surrounding Atlanta's defense ... and Campbell believes he can play a part in turning that offseason buzz into a strong product on Sundays.
"It really came down to where I felt like I could have the biggest impact both on and off the field." Campbell told ESPN.
The 36-year-old Campbell started all 14 games in which he played this past season, recording five and a half sacks, four tackles for loss and 14 quarterback hits.
Beyond the numbers, Campbell is a valuable piece in the locker room; the 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year winner was viewed as an outstanding leader and overall culture-changer.
Perhaps the final selling point for Campbell was a 40-minute call with owner Arthur Blank, in which the two discussed mostly off-field topics including charity and community work; he's committed to being an asset to Atlanta as much off the gridiron as he is on it.
With the Falcons, he'll be put into a position where he can do both and keep building on the strong culture that Smith and Fontenot feel they've already established.
Equally as important is the impact Campbell can have on some of his younger teammates like Graham, Ebiketie and Malone - just take it from Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who spoke at length on the topic last summer.
"It's massively valuable, because those guys look up to him," Harbaugh said. "These young guys grew up watching Calais Campbell and all these other veteran guys. These are the guys that they watched when they were in high school or even junior high, in some cases – dare we say elementary school, in Calais' case."
By default, most will still be looking up to the 6-8, 300-pound Campbell ... but now have the value of soaking in his wisdom after 15 professional seasons.
The Falcons finished last year with more players on their roster 26 years old or younger than anybody else in the league; having the ability to add impact veterans is highly beneficial, but so much of what Atlanta hopes to accomplish will bank on the growth made by its youth.
There's no formula for player development, but the Falcons are essentially adding an on-field coach who can still get after the quarterback once the ball is snapped.
Atlanta's ranked last and second-to-last in sacks during the past two seasons, respectively. Campbell's skill set alone will bring improvement, but his impact on the Graham's, Malone's and Ebiketie's of the locker room can be the ingredient needed to get over the top.
By all accounts, this is a culture signing for the Falcons - but it's also a statement that they're ready to soar to new heights in 2023, which may "surprise" some on the outside ... but not Campbell.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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