Lions are declining Jack Campbell's 5th-year option

really sucks that off ball LBs are counted the same as an edge.

Detroit is going to likely let him go after only four years
 
I think there is plenty of room to get a deal done. Not having the fifth year option costs Detroit leverage, but LBs are cheap and both sides want Campbell to stay there.

Top of the market for an LB is about $20M/yr... that number's doable. Looking at the 2026 free agent class for comparison, Boye Mafe got $20M/yr. Heck, Wan'Dale Robinson got $17.5M/yr. I think that Campbell easily has a Mafe or Wan'Dale sized impact on a game.
 
beware_d-ware said:
I think there is plenty of room to get a deal done. Not having the fifth year option costs Detroit leverage, but LBs are cheap and both sides want Campbell to stay there.

Top of the market for an LB is about $20M/yr... that number's doable. Looking at the 2026 free agent class for comparison, Boye Mafe got $20M/yr. Heck, Wan'Dale Robinson got $17.5M/yr. I think that Campbell easily has a Mafe or Wan'Dale sized impact on a game.
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Detroit declined Campbell's 5th yr option, and he made 1st team All-Pro.
As I mentioned, he's gonna be very expensive if he hits FA.
Just wish the Cowboys had a shot at him.
 
beware_d-ware said:
I think there is plenty of room to get a deal done. Not having the fifth year option costs Detroit leverage, but LBs are cheap and both sides want Campbell to stay there.

Top of the market for an LB is about $20M/yr... that number's doable. Looking at the 2026 free agent class for comparison, Boye Mafe got $20M/yr. Heck, Wan'Dale Robinson got $17.5M/yr. I think that Campbell easily has a Mafe or Wan'Dale sized impact on a game.
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I think declining the 5th year option is just a formality. They have every intention of signing him to a long-term deal IMO.
 
Wow. 22mil Fully guaranteed.
That's an insane ask for a off ball LB.
 
Hawkeye0202 said:
I think declining the 5th year option is just a formality. They have every intention of signing him to a long-term deal IMO.
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Yup, it's a strategy point. If you pick up the 5th year option, that's an automatic 22 mil. Instead, you sign him to a 4-5 year deal where he costs you like 8 mil in 27. Simple strategy.
 
He's going to get ~$22m AAV but they don't want him to have that $22m cap hit.

It is disingenuous to say that that no off-ball LB makes $22m. Roquan Smith's extension ($20m aav) started in 2024 at ~7.8% of cap. For this season, that number would be ~$23.5m. Assuming a $320m cap in 2027, the same contract is $25m.

A $22m contract for Campbell (or Jordyn Brooks, really) puts them at a lesser value than Roquan.
 
Hawkeye0202 said:
I think declining the 5th year option is just a formality. They have every intention of signing him to a long-term deal IMO.
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The Lions Re signed Campbell to a 4 year extension keeping him around until 2030 . Pro Football Talk reported this . Forget Dallas in his future .
 
kskboys said:
If you pick up the 5th year option, that's an automatic 22 mil. Instead, you sign him to a 4-5 year deal where he costs you like 8 mil in 27. Simple strategy.
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LouBrown said:
He's going to get ~$22m AAV but they don't want him to have that $22m cap hit.
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This isn't about cap hit. The 5th year option is not the same as being tagged. If they sign him long term before he plays his option year, it can be restructured.

This is about the money. They don't want to pay him 22M a year. They'll probably get a deal done. Just for less.
 
Flamma said:
This isn't about cap hit. The 5th year option is not the same as being tagged. If they sign him long term before he plays his option year, it can be restructured.

This is about the money. They don't want to pay him 22M a year. They'll probably get a deal done. Just for less.
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They paid him $20.25 and he has a cap hit less than $5m so
 
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