Both local and national pundits linked the Green Bay Packers to veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell this offseason. But any pipe dream of Campbell coming to Green Bay for the 2026 NFL season died Thursday.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Thursday morning the Baltimore Ravens signed Campbell to a 1-year contract. The defensive lineman will return to Baltimore to play his 19th NFL season this fall.
SI on Packers’ Bill Huber was the latest to suggest Campbell as a target for Green Bay this offseason. On Wednesday, Huber included the veteran defensive lineman on a list of free agents “who could push Packers over top.”
Huber, along with others, connected the Packers to Campbell because of what he could bring to Green Bay’s defensive line on a short-term basis in 2026. Campbell also played for new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon last season.
With Gannon and the Arizona Cardinals during 2025, Campbell registered 43 combined tackles, including nine tackles for loss. He also had 16 quarterback hits, 6.5 sacks, and two pass defenses in 17 games at 39 years old.
Campbell will turn 40 in September before Week 1.
Potential Packers Free Agency Target Calais Campbell Signs With Ravens
Campbell played in the Super Bowl as a rookie at the end of the 2008 season. Since then, though, he hasn’t returned to the big game.
Twice since Super Bowl XLIII, Campbell has played in the championship game. With the Cardinals, Campbell played in the NFC championship game following the 2015 NFL season.
Two years later, he returned to the championship game in the AFC with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Campbell’s team lost both contests.
Therefore, it makes a lot of sense Campbell is signing with a Super Bowl contender. That’s part of why Green Bay was a potential destination for the defensive lineman.
However, Campbell hasn’t previously played for the Packers.
The defensive lineman spent 2022-22 with the Ravens. His most recent Pro Bowl nomination came with Baltimore in 2020.
Campbell made first-team All-Pro in Jacksonville during 2017. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting to Aaron Donald that season.
The veteran defensive lineman also made second-team All-Pro in 2014 and 2016.
From 2014-20, he made the Pro Bowl every year except 2016.
Packers Defensive Line Depth in 2026 NFL Offseason
Fortunately, Green Bay didn’t absolutely need to sign Campbell. Huber put it best when describing his potential addition as something that could put the Packers “over the top.”
In free agency, the Packers signed veteran defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. The new Green Bay lineman is 33 years old, but he’s also a former Pro Bowler and could play a lot more snaps than Campbell at his age.
Hargrave is likely to start. The Packers, though, also have several other defensive tackles. In fact, Hargrave is one of 10 defensive tackles on Green Bay’s offseason roster.
One of the others is Devonte Wyatt, who started 10 contests for the Packers last season.
Hargrave will likely work as a replacement for Colby Wooden. Green Bay traded the young interior defensive lineman to the Indianapolis Colts in the deal for linebacker Zaire Franklin during March.
Warren Brinson, Karl Brooks, Anthony Campbell, Jaden Crumedy, James Ester, Jonathan Ford, Jordon Riley and Nazir Stackhouse are Green Bay’s other defensive tackles.
That deep group could be why the Packers didn’t more seriously consider Campbell in free agency. The veteran could have been a valuable contributor in a rotational role, but he would have been a luxury addition.
Perhaps the Packers could pursue another luxury signing at a different position this summer after seeing their full roster on the field in offseason workouts.
Packers Lose Chance to Add Ex-All-Pro to Potentially ‘Push’ Defense ‘Over Top’