In the moments following Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles, Ravens defensive lineman Calais Campbell revealed some news while part of Sky Sports’ coverage broadcasted to the United Kingdom.
Despite speculation about his football future dating back to last summer, the six-time Pro Bowl selection isn’t ready to call it a career, especially after watching the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium on Sunday evening.
“I’m not retiring. I watched this game, and the feeling I have right now after seeing them celebrate a Super Bowl championship, I have a desire to go out there and play football and to compete,” Campbell said on Sky Sports. “I’m definitely not retiring. I’m coming back.”
Whether Campbell is coming back to the Ravens remains to be seen as he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent next month. Though still one of the best run-stopping interior linemen in the league over his two seasons with Baltimore, the 6-foot-8, 300-pound Campbell will turn 36 in September and registered his lowest sack totals — four in 2020 and 1 1/2 last season — since his rookie year in 2008. For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus still graded the 2019 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year eighth among all qualified interior defenders in the NFL and as Baltimore’s top defensive player despite the unit plummeting to 28th in efficiency this past season.
General manager Eric DeCosta said earlier this month that he had already spoken to Campbell since the season ended and planned to have additional discussions regarding his future plans. However, the Ravens executive acknowledged the “need to get younger” on the defensive line, which could complicate Campbell’s return. According to PFF, the veteran is projected to receive a one-year, $8 million contract this offseason, a price that could prove too steep with Baltimore needing to address so many areas on their roster.
Of course, Campbell will weigh his options in terms of which potential suitor gives him the best chance to win a Super Bowl at this late stage of his career. The former Arizona Cardinal came up short playing in Super Bowl XLIII as a rookie and hasn’t returned to that stage since, losing in two other conference championship games during his career.
“I really admire Calais as a leader, as a player. He still plays at a high level and has a great attitude,” DeCosta said. “He’s great for the younger guys. I’m excited about some of the other guys we have as well that we think will make the next step. But I would say that the defensive line is definitely something that as we looked out two years ago and last year, we felt like 2022 would probably be the year that we would have to find some more young guys.”
Campbell has registered 93 1/2 sacks over his 14 seasons with the Cardinals, Jacksonville, and the Ravens.
He isn’t the only Baltimore veteran defensive lineman scheduled to hit the open market with longtime nose tackle Brandon Williams and top backup Justin Ellis also becoming unrestricted free agents next month. Derek Wolfe will turn 32 later this month and remains under contract through 2023, but he recently underwent hip surgery after missing the entire 2021 campaign, making it difficult to know what to expect from a player who already had an extensive injury history before joining the Ravens two offseasons ago.
No matter how DeCosta proceeds, the defensive line is clearly in need of impact contributors beyond 2020 draft picks Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington, who each saw a sizeable increase in snaps from their rookie season. The Ravens signed defensive tackles Isaiah Mack and Kahlil McKenzie to reserve-future deals last month after they played sparingly as elevations from the practice squad, but DeCosta will likely need to use meaningful draft picks or cap dollars — perhaps both — in order for the defensive line to not be viewed as a substantial concern entering 2022.
