Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins reportedly competing for Pro Bowl defensive lineman
The Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins have been two of the quieter teams in NFL free agency, making marginal additions to the roster without splurging big on top players. With the price of the remaining free agents coming down, Miami and Baltimore are both competing for a familiar name.
Baltimore’s free-agent signings focused on the offensive side of the ball. The Ravens signed quarterback Cooper Rush to back up Lamar Jackson and landed wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. In addition, the club also re-signed Patrick Ricard and Tylan Wallace.
Miami also spent most of its money on the offense, landing guard James Daniels and wide receiver Nick Westbrook. The team also re-signed linebacker Tyrell Dodson and landed safety Ifeatu Melifonwu. With a few holes filled, both teams are now attempting to bolster their defensive line.
According to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, defensive lineman Calais Campbell is considering signing with the Ravens, Dolphins and a third unidentified team. He’s also open to retiring, but the current expectation is that he’ll take the field entering his age-39 season.
The 6-foot-8 defensive tackle was one of the oldest NFL players in 2024. A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, he finished second on the Dolphins’ defense in tackles for loss (12) and third in sacks (5).
Baltimore had a deal in place ahead of the NFL trade deadline to acquire Campbell, but head coach Mike McDaniel nixed it. Campbell spent three seasons in Baltimore, earning his sixth and final Pro Bowl selection in 2020. Now coming off a season where he played 600-plus snaps in Miami, Campbell could still be a primary contributor for either the Ravens or Dolphins this fall.
Dolphins’ McDaniel explains where things stand with Campbell, Armstead and Zach Wilson
The Dolphins remain in discussions with key veterans Terron Armstead and Calais Campbell but don’t yet know if either will be on the team this season, Mike McDaniel indicated Monday. Armstead, the Pro Bowl left tackle, remains under contract but hasn’t decided whether to retire. Campbell, a free agent defensive lineman, is mulling whether he wants to sign with the Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens or another team. Retirement isn’t out of the question, either. “Calais, specifically, is in a unique situation where he’s assessing multiple options as a player in the 45th year of his career,” McDaniel said at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach on Monday. Campbell, who turns 39 on Sept. 1, is considering whether to play an 18th season. “There’s a lot in play in that, in regard to, your play is high, you’re excited to play another year,” McDaniel said. “He’s assessing those options, and he was a very important player to the team last year. I see him having the opportunity to be a very important player on the team this year.”
The Dolphins are in a precarious position with their defensive line; Zach Sieler is the only above-average player under contract. Miami also has a middling defensive tackle signed (Benito Jones) as well as two journeymen (Neil Farrell, Matt Dickerson). So Campbell’s return seems vital. “I feel like we have some options at the position. [Campbell] has some options,” McDaniel said. “That position, in particular, has been a focal point of mine this offseason. And I feel good about how it could play out, and there’s a couple different scenarios of how it could play out.” With regard to Armstead, McDaniel said his future remains unresolved.
“I just feel he’s getting close,” McDaniel said. “He’s getting closer to having conviction. We’re in constant communication with him. “We have had unbelievable amount of conversations about his body and how he feels. I think, tied into that, where he’s at relative to other years and how we can realistically forecast that, I think that’s going to really shape the answer to that question. “It hasn’t ever been about Terron’s play, right? It’s been about how he’s been available, and he’s been straining to be more available for us than a counterpart would. He’s played through a lot of stuff.”
