The Jacksonville Jaguars have inked cornerback Tyson Campbell to a four-year, $76.5 million contract extension, with $53.4 million guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Campbell is now “the highest-paid CB in NFL history who has not yet been named to a Pro Bowl.”
The deal makes Campbell the seventh-highest-paid player at his position, with an annual salary of $19.125 million, according to Over The Cap. Only Jaire Alexander, Denzel Ward, Jalen Ramsey, Marlon Humphrey, Marshon Lattimore, and Trevon Diggs earn more per year.
It took like three tries but the Jags did it. They got another shutdown corner pic.twitter.com/q0JUOgarUG
— Gus Logue (@gus_logue) November 19, 2022
Campbell was chosen with the 33rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Jaguars’ picks that year included Trevor Lawrence (first overall), Travis Etienne (25th), Walker Little (45th), and Andre Cisco (65th). This draft class is shaping up to be one of the best in the franchise’s 30-year history, with Campbell being the second member to sign a second contract. Lawrence signed a five-year extension in June.
Campbell has played 45 career games over three seasons, including playoffs, with 44 consecutive starts. The former Bulldog missed two games due to a toe injury in 2021 and six games in 2023 due to persistent soft-tissue injuries.
Tyson Campbell's stats allowed in each of his premier matchups this season (shadowed Weeks 3, 8, 9) via @PFF
Halfway thru 2022, Davante Adams is the only receiver to catch more than two balls against Campbell in a game pic.twitter.com/gsIXzoLkCs
— Gus Logue (@gus_logue) November 24, 2022
Campbell isn’t yet widely recognized on a national level. He hasn’t made a Pro Bowl and was recently ranked outside the top 20 in cornerback rankings by Pro Football Network and PFF. To be fair, Campbell has recorded the 23rd-most pass deflections (30) and allowed the third-most touchdowns (17) since 2021.
One reason he’s allowed so many touchdowns is that he’s still learning to turn his head and play the ball in man coverage, a weakness he’s had since college. However, analytics indicate Campbell has been one of the league’s better zone corners early in his career.
When he has his eyes on the quarterback, Campbell can disrupt plays as well as anyone. In 2022, his only full 17-game season, Campbell led the league in yards allowed per coverage snap (0.4) in zone coverage, according to Sports Info Solutions. He also ranked first among all corners in their WAR metric and was second only to Sauce Gardner in pass breakups on throws of 20-plus yards.
Another reason Campbell has allowed many touchdowns is that he always draws the toughest matchups. He’s been the best corner on the team since his rookie season and was utilized as a shutdown defender in his sophomore year. That season, he played at a Pro Bowl level to help the Jaguars win their most recent division title.
What most stats don’t show, and therefore what most people don’t realize, is that Campbell is a game changer.
“Heck of an athlete,” defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen said of Campbell at OTAs. “There’s nothing he can’t do athletically. Really a smart player.”
Campbell’s traits allow him to cover a significant area, enabling the Jaguars to flood the rest of the field with extra defenders, a luxury many teams don’t have. He’s also worked on his ability to turn his head and play the ball.
Tyson Clampbell in cover 4 pic.twitter.com/yzGb8XnWak
— Gus Logue (@gus_logue) January 5, 2023
Few cornerbacks under 25 rival Campbell’s talent. His high school teammate, Patrick Surtain II, and Gardner are considered the best at their position. Another fully healthy season from Campbell might make him just as popular.
“He’s a pro’s pro. He’s locked in, he’s focused, has tremendous talent,” assistant cornerbacks coach Cory Robinson said of Campbell, according to Zach Goodall of Jaguars Wire.
“His floor is really, really high. So I think the upside, the ceiling is gonna be pretty special for that player. He’s been everything that we could ask for at this point.”
The Jaguars have seen enough to make Campbell one of the highest-paid players on the team. From this writer’s perspective, it’s a sharp investment. But the team is counting on many of its players, not just Campbell, to exceed expectations outside Northeast Florida.
We’ll see if the bet pays off.
