Packers plan to sign free agent LB De’Vondre Campbell, per report

Since entering the NFL in 2016, De’Vondre Campbell has been a solid starting linebacker. A fourth-round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons, Campbell played in 59 of a possible 64 games over four seasons with the team, starting 54 of those, before signing a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals last season.

Now, Campbell appears poised to join the Green Bay Packers to provide a veteran presence on the interior of the team’s defense. Rob Demovsky of ESPN reports that the Packers are hosting Campbell for a visit and a signing is “expected” if there are no unexpected issues. According to SI’s Bill Huber, Campbell was a “player of interest” for the Packers last offseason, but the team eventually signed Christian Kirksey instead. Because of the timing of his imminent acquisition, this signing would not count against the Packers’ compensatory draft pick calculation for 2022.

After signing with the Cardinals, Campbell started all 16 games in 2020 at inside linebacker, recording 99 total tackles with two sacks, a forced fumble, and three pass breakups. That came on the heels of arguably his best season in 2019, when he picked off two passes, forced three fumbles, recorded two sacks, and totaled 129 tackles while playing in the Falcons’ 4-3 scheme under Dan Quinn.

Campbell has been targeted heavily in coverage over the past few years, however, according to Pro-Football-Reference’s advanced stats. He has seen at least 56 passes come his way each of the past three seasons, allowing completion rates of 70 percent or more and a passer rating between 100 and 105 each year.

Possessing length and speed, Campbell is an intriguing player. At the 2016 Combine, he measured in at 6-foot-4 and 232 pounds, while running the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds.

During OTAs, the Packers rotated through a trio of inside linebackers, with Krys Barnes, Kamal Martin, and Ty Summers receiving the primary reps with the first team. If he does indeed sign with the team, Campbell will likely spend the summer learning the Packers’ defensive playbook and should have an opportunity to earn a roster spot and significant playing time in training camp.