The Detroit Lions were interested in signing veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell, but the free agent chose the Atlanta Falcons instead.
According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, star defensive lineman Calais Campbell has opted to sign a one-year deal with Atlanta Falcons.
This is important because on Tuesday, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell confirmed that the team is interested in signing Campbell in this free agency.
“Look, we turned on the tape, man, and I’ll tell you what, you’re talking about a lot of respect for a big man,” Campbell said. “Oh my. I just keep watching it and I’m like, there’s no way he can feel good, that body can not feel good. But it feels good because he is a force to be reckoned with. You put him in a closed end, you don’t run there. He can rush as a 3-technique, anyway, on third down. Male, long, sizeable, still fast. We will see. We are not the only ones he has.”
While the Lions don’t have many needs after an active start to free agency, defensive tackle remains a position that could use an upgrade. The Lions re-signed Isaiah Buggs to a two-year deal, but general manager Brad Holmes openly admitted that his role in 2022 is too big and he would be better off in a more complementary role. With no real additions in the room this offseason, the Lions will need to sign or draft a big man inside if they want to optimize Buggs’ playing time.
Campbell would have been interesting. While he’s 100 percent cultural—especially as a former recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award—he’ll be 37 years old this season. There’s no doubt that Detroit could use more veteran leadership on the defensive side of the ball, and Campbell’s play is still up there from last year, but this will be a very short, temporary fix in something that needs long term solution. However, if the Lions plan to make a deep run in 2023, Campbell will undoubtedly help.
But Campbell is a popular free agent. The Jets, Bills, and Jaguars also pursued him, in addition to the Falcons and Lions.
Back to the drawing board.
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