Calais Campbell Reportedly Mulling Return to Ravens, But Has 'Multiple Options'
Calais Campbell is again being linked to the Ravens.
It was reported last November that the Ravens were set to acquire the six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle from Miami at the trade deadline, but Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel nixed the deal.
Now the Ravens are reportedly one of the teams pursuing Campbell in free agency.
Campbell is mulling whether he wants to sign with the Ravens, Dolphins, or another team, according to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, who noted that retirement is also a possibility.
McDaniel acknowledged at the NFL owners meetings Monday that Campbell, who turns 39 in September, is "assessing multiple options."
Campbell, who played three seasons in Baltimore (2020-2022), has continued to perform at a high level. He had five sacks last season and 6.5 the year before in Atlanta. Campbell was Pro Football Focus' seventh-highest graded interior defender last season.
He also has been durable, playing in all 17 games the past two seasons and never appearing in fewer than 12 games in a season throughout his 17-year career.
The retirement of nose tackle Michael Pierce this offseason has created a void on the defensive line and defensive end Brent Urban is still a free agent, which Head Coach John Harbaugh spoke about at the owners meetings.
"We have to make sure we have a good solid defensive line," Harbaugh said. "The good news is the draft is really deep there, and there's also some options. We can bring some guys back. I like our guys, too, that we can bring back."
Ravens Playing in Two of Pundit's Top Revenge Games of Next Season
NFL.com’s Adam Rank listed his 10 favorite revenge games on the 2025 schedule, and the Ravens were involved in two:
Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs
"The Ravens have gone on their annual quest to add wide receiver help for Lamar Jackson, landing on DeAndre Hopkins in free agency. Last season, Hopkins played for the Titans and Chiefs, who traded for him after Rashee Rice's season-ending injury. Well, played for feels generous, because the Chiefs didn't really target Hopkins an awful lot (59 targets, 41 receptions and 437 yards in 10 regular-season games). Hopkins to the Ravens can still draw a headline, and the 32-year-old did top 1,000 receiving yards with seven receiving TDs with the Titans in 2023, but it's been a while since Hopkins really put up some serious numbers. The days of D-Hop taking over games feel like they came and went eons ago. Maybe this tilt against his recent former team will motivate him."
Ravens at Buffalo Bills
"The Ravens were the No. 1 seed in the playoffs in 2023 and lost to the Chiefs at home in the AFC title game. Well, they did not fall to K.C. again in the 2024 playoffs – but unfortunately for them, it was because they lost to the Bills in the AFC Divisional Round before they could get a chance to face Patrick Mahomes and Co. Baltimore did win the teams' regular-season meeting last season, but I'm not sure how much that changed the tone of a series in which the Ravens have dropped three of the past five games (including playoffs). And then there's this added wrinkle: Josh Allen just kept Lamar Jackson from claiming his second straight (and third total) MVP award. I get the feeling everyone is going to bring it for this one."
All-Trade Mock Draft Has Ravens Acquiring Former First-Round Pick From Chargers
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell conducted an all-trade mock draft. He had the Ravens sending tight end Mark Andrews, the 27th-overall pick, and a fourth-round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for guard Zion Johnson and the 22nd-overall pick.
Johnson was selected 17th overall by the Chargers in 2022. He has started 49 games, but Barnwell said Johnson "hasn't lived up to expectations."
"Andrews is the more prominent player, but Johnson might be equally as desirable given his youth and the recent positional importance of guards," Barnwell wrote. "The Ravens have lost multiple starting offensive linemen over the past few years, and they might like their chances with the 25-year-old Johnson."
Andrews is entering the final year of his contract, which has led to speculation about his future in Baltimore. However, Harbaugh said Monday that he expects the three-time Pro Bowler to remain with the Ravens.
"I do fully expect him to be playing for us next year. He's just too good a player," Harbaugh said.
In other draft-day trade speculation, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport proposed a swap involving the Ravens that he believes is plausible.
Davenport had the Ravens sending their first-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the 32nd-overall pick and third- and fifth-round picks.
Draft Analyst Says Ravens Should Take Edge James Pearce Jr. Over Guard Prospect in First Round
Alabama guard Tyler Booker and Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr. have been linked to the Ravens in mock drafts. ESPN draft analyst Field Yates was asked which one he would choose if both were available when Baltimore is on the clock.
Yates said Booker "makes a lot of sense," but he went with Pearce, who he acknowledged is a polarizing prospect.
"We're talking about a 248-pounder who ran a 4.47 40, like, are you kidding me?" Yates said on ESPN's Mina Kimes' podcast. "He can really bend the edge. Some of the advanced metrics like James Pearce. He had a high edge pressure percentage last year. He had 7½ sacks last year; he had 9½ sacks the year prior.
"This is not the kind of guy who I think is going to go teeth-to-teeth with a guard who's pulling and want to meet him there and make life miserable for that guard. But the Ravens play with a ton of leads, and when you have a lot of leads, you're protecting against the pass. James Pearce can get home, and they really need another rusher."
Tyler Linderbaum Named Ravens' Most Underpaid Player
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon named each team's most underpaid player. For the Ravens, it's center Tyler Linderbaum.
"Linderbaum and Kyle Hamilton are both key Ravens who are underpaid as critical first-round picks from 2022," Gagnon wrote. "Both are 24 years old and already perennial Pro Bowlers, but we'll go with Lamar Jackson's steady center as he makes a little less ($3.3 million per year, versus $4.1 million for Hamilton)."
Linderbaum and Hamilton are eligible for contract extensions, and both could reset the market at their positions.
