Ravens Sign DL Calais Campbell
MAY 8: Full details on the Campbell deal have now emerged, courtesy of Spotrac. As expected, $5.5MM is the base value of the pact, with $4.75MM of that total fully guaranteed. A notable locked-in figure is no surprise after multiple suitors showed interest in this case. Campbell can earn an additional $500K through incentives during his return to Baltimore.
APRIL 30: Future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Calais Campbell will play his age-40 season in 2026. Campbell is reuniting with the Ravens on a one-year pact, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Eighteen years since the Cardinals took him in the second round of the 2008 draft, Campbell has suited up for five teams. Also a former Jaguar, Falcon and Dolphin, Campbell previously played for the Ravens from 2020-22. He earned one of his six Pro Bowl nods in their uniform. The Ravens nearly brought him back in a 2024 deal with the Dolphins, but it fell apart before the trade deadline.
After short stints in Atlanta and Miami, Campbell returned to Arizona on a one-year, $5.5MM deal in 2025. Despite his advanced age, the 6-foot-8, 315-pounder remained durable and productive. During his third straight 17-start season, Campbell played 45.72% of defensive snaps and notched 43 tackles, 16 QB hits, nine TFL and 6.5 sacks. Campbell ended the year as Pro Football Focus’ 23rd-ranked interior defensive lineman among 122 qualifiers, suggesting he has plenty left in the tank.
Although he remained a quality contributor last year, the 2010s All-Decade Team member seriously contemplated retirement after the season. Campbell said last August he was likely entering his last year, but he has had a change of heart eight months later. Now that Campbell is coming back, he will be in position to vault to No. 1 on the all-time list of games played by a defensive lineman. At 278, Campbell is third behind Jim Marshall (282) and Bruce Smith (279). Campbell is also 34th on the all-time sack list (117).
Campbell is signing up to join a new regime in Baltimore, which replaced longtime head coach John Harbaugh with Jesse Minter earlier in the offseason. While Minter was the Chargers’ defensive coordinator over the previous two seasons, he and Campbell have some familiarity with each other. Minter was the Ravens’ defensive backs coach during Campbell’s first year in Baltimore.
As a rookie head coach, one of Minter’s key tasks will be to help orchestrate a defensive turnaround. The Ravens finished a disappointing 24th in total defense last year, largely because standout D-tackle Nnamdi Madubuike missed 15 games with a neck injury. Madubuike is expected to return next season. If that happens, Campbell will provide a solid complement. If not, Campbell should give the Ravens a nice fallback option up front.
Along with Madubuike, there is uncertainty surrounding Broderick Washington, who is working back from an Achilles injury that cost him 14 games in 2025. Before agreeing to terms with Campbell, the Ravens’ other options included Travis Jones, John Jenkins, C.J. Okoye, Aeneas Peebles and 2026 seventh-round pick Rayshaun Benny. It was clear a post-draft D-line addition was in order, and the Ravens have now picked up one of the most accomplished players left on the market.
Calais Campbell Addresses Ravens Deal
Earlier this week, Calais Campbell officially signed the deal which will see him return to the Ravens for 2026. A 19th NFL season is now in store, something the defensive line stalwart did not envision coming to pass.
“I’ve always told myself once I got old, it was one year at a time,” Campbell said (via the Ravens’ website). “Play well enough that if you want to play again, you’ll have opportunity. It’s cool to still be wanted.”
The 2010s All-Decade Team member noted multiple suitors showed interest in him during free agency. Campbell is preparing to play his age-40 season, so having multiple destinations to choose from illustrates the regard in which he is still held. Campbell will spend a fourth campaign in Baltimore and first since 2022, although efforts were made on the part of the Ravens to bring about a reunion earlier.
Baltimore released the former Defensive Player of the Year in a cost-shedding move following the 2022 season. The team’s intention was to retain Campbell at a reduced rate, but he wound up signing with the Falcons. One year in Atlanta was followed by a Dolphins campaign; Baltimore worked out a trade to re-acquire Campbell but then-Miami coach Mike McDaniel nixed it.
Campbell noted the Ravens tried once again to trade for him in 2025. Instead, the Cardinals (the team with which his decorated career began) elected to retain him. While waiting until April to make a determination on his playing future, Campbell noted Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta made another push to bring him back. This latest effort led to the six-time Pro Bowler choosing to return to the Ravens despite interest on the part of the Cardinals in working out a deal for 2026.
During his three-year run in Baltimore, Campbell operated as a full-time starter and made consistent contributions against the run and pass. He will be expected to do so upon return with retirement questions delayed once more for the time being. In the event Campbell does continue playing in 2027, though, he could have a notable free agent market.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/5/26
Here are Tuesday’s NFL minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: T Trevonte Sylvester
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: G Sidney Fugar
Miami Dolphins
- Received international exemption: TE Seydou Traore
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OLB Isiah King
- Reverted to IR: S Tucker Large
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Reverted to IR: S Daequan Hardy
The Ravens and Cowboys opted to cut two linemen from their recently signed undrafted free agent classes, while the Steelers and Eagles both made moves to waive their safeties with an injury designation then revert them to injured reserve. For as long as they are on IR during the offseason, they will not count against the team’s 90-man roster limit.
Traore will also not count against Miami’s 90-man limit; the team’s fifth-round pick out of Mississippi State was born in France but raised in London before moving to Florida in an attempt to play college ball. He earned a scholarship offer from Arkansas State, where he played for two years before transferring to the Bulldogs.
Replacing the UDFA they reverted to IR, the Eagles have added King, a versatile linebacker, after he went undrafted out of Idaho. A two-year starter for the Vandals, King split his time fairly evenly last year between the box, the slot, and the edge.
Giants Still “In The Mix” For DT D.J. Reader
The Giants continue to be connected to D.J. Reader. Jordan Schultz reported last week that the Giants are “very much in the mix” for the free agent defensive tackle, but the reporter does caution that the organization has some “real competition.” Jason La Canfora echoes that sentiment, noting that John Harbaugh is still expected to “lure” Reader to New York.
The veteran met with the Giants about a month ago. We heard that Reader was expected to wait until after the draft to sign with a team, allowing him to survey the defensive line landscape while also allowing his suitor to avoid the 2027 compensatory-pick formula. Notably, the Giants have added Shelby Harris and Leki Fotu to the mix, and they drafted Auburn DT Bobby Jamison-Travis in the sixth round. Still, Schultz believes these additions won’t have any influence on Reader’s decision.
As for the unnamed competition, the only other team that’s been definitively connected to the free agent is the Ravens. Baltimore has since made a significant addition at the position in Calais Campbell. While New York’s DL additions may not have any bearing on the Reader sweepstakes, Campbell’s addition could take the Ravens out of the running. For what it’s worth, Dan Duggan of The Athletic says the Giants were never in the mix for Campbell’s services.
Reader spent the past two seasons with the Lions, starting all 32 of his appearances. He finished his first year in Detroit with three sacks, four TFLs, and eight QB hits, but those numbers dropped to zero sacks, zero TFLs, and four QB hits in 2025. The 31-year-old still earned similar PFF grades between the two years, including a 2025 showing when he ranked 32nd among 127 qualifying interior defenders. Any suitor would be hoping Reader can return to his performance from Cincinnati, where he ranked between sixth and 11th during his final three-year stretch with the organization.
The Giants needed some reinforcement at the position entering the offseason, and that need only intensified after they acquired the No. 10 pick for Dexter Lawrence. In addition to the players mentioned above, the team also has former third-round pick Darius Alexander and offseason acquisitions Sam Roberts and Marlon Tuipulotu at the position. Reader would represent an upgrade over any of the existing options, and it sounds like it’s only a matter of time before he joins the organization.
Ravens Hire JoJo Wooden As Front Office Consultant
JoJo Wooden has found his next gig. The long-time NFL executive has joined the Ravens front office in a “consultant-like capacity,” per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
Wooden started his executive career with the Jets in 1997, and he’s been in NFL front offices for the past three decades. In New York, he worked his way up to director of pro scouting and assistant director of player personnel before taking a promotion as director of player personnel with the Chargers in 2013.
That stint with the franchise lasted more than a decade, with Wooden notably being involved in the transition from Philip Rivers to Justin Herbert. When GM Tom Telesco was fired towards the end of the 2023 campaign, Wooden took on the role of interim general manager, but he naturally didn’t stick around as the organization pivoted to a new front office in 2024.
That led Wooden to Las Vegas, where he was named as the Raiders senior director of player personnel. The team finished that season with only four wins, and Wooden was ousted after only one year with the franchise. He was out of football for the 2025 campaign.
Now, he’ll be joining Baltimore’s front office. Eric DeCosta has been with the Ravens for decades, so Wooden’s stop in Baltimore may be temporary as he pursues another high-ranking gig next offseason. Still, he should provide the front office with some veteran leadership as they navigate their first season without John Harbaugh.
The Ravens made another few moves. ESPN’s Seth Walder reports that the team has hired Kenan Clarke and Eliana DeTata as Coaching Analytics Fellows. Clarke recently worked for the Raiders, while DeTata served as a student football analyst at Michigan.
Ravens Sign QB Skylar Thompson
The Ravens are expected to add a fifth quarterback to their offseason roster. Skylar Thompson is expected to be added among Lamar Jackson‘s backups, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The Ravens have since announced the signing.
Thompson, who spent last season on the Steelers’ practice squad injured list, will join a crowded Ravens QB room. The team re-signed Tyler Huntley — Thompson’s former Dolphins teammate — and added Diego Pavia and Joe Fagnano as UDFAs.
Teams do not regularly carry five QBs, pointing to one potentially being jettisoned before training camp, but Thompson has found another gig nearly 18 months after being given a Steelers reserve/futures contract. Thompson, 28, has made four NFL starts (counting a 2022 wild-card game in Buffalo) and appeared in 10 contests.
Miami drafted Thompson in the 2022 seventh round. While the Kansas State product entered that season as the Dolphins’ third-stringer, injuries to Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater forced him into action. Thompson took over for an injured Bridgewater — after a concussion sidelined Tagovailoa — in October 2022 and then needed to play again late in the season. Thompson, who started the Dolphins’ Week 6 game that season, returned for a Week 18 start after another Bridgewater injury. He then struggled in a 34-31 loss to the No. 2-seeded Bills in the wild-card round.
The Dolphins did not need any Thompson starts in 2023, but he did beat out Mike White for Miami’s QB2 job in 2024. However, the Dolphins brought in Huntley after Thompson struggled in relief of Tagovailoa early that season. Thompson then made his way to Pittsburgh in January 2025, but an injury intervened months later.
Huntley’s QB2 job appears safe; the Ravens gave their multi-stint backup a $3.5MM guarantee. Pavia is set to compete with Fagnano — who played at Maine and UConn — for the third-string position, Eric DeCosta said during a WBAL appearance (h/t ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley). The Ravens held their rookie minicamp over the weekend, and it is worth wondering if Thompson insurance came up after the duo’s early work. It would stand to reason Thompson will be vying for the QB3 gig with Pavia and Fagnano. Pavia received no guaranteed money, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.
Pavia finished as last season’s Heisman runner-up, dazzling at Vanderbilt. He has also become somewhat of a polarizing prospect, standing 5-foot-9 and not exactly come off as a mature presence on social media. The Thompson signing likely shortens Pavia’s leash with the Ravens.
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta Discusses Center Need; Team Could Trade For C
MAY 4: Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic confirms it is “possible, if not probable” the Ravens will trade for a center this spring. Baltimore currently has over $27MM in cap space, so finances should not be an issue if a deal is sought out in the near future.
MAY 3: While the Ravens shored up the interior of their offensive line this offseason by adding John Simpson in free agency and selecting Vega Ioane in the first round of the draft, there is a glaring hole at the center position. Tyler Linderbaum, who manned the pivot for Baltimore for the last four years (earning Pro Bowl acclaim in each of the last three), signed a record-setting deal with the Raiders in March, and the Ravens are still seeking an adequate replacement.
As ESPN’s Jamison Hensley details, general manager Eric DeCosta said the two center prospects in the 2026 draft class he believed could make an immediate impact were taken in the second round, which he considered a surprise. Presumably, he is referring to Logan Jones, who went to the Bears with the No. 57 pick, and Jake Slaughter, whom the Chargers selected with the No. 63 choice. With his own second-round pick, DeCosta opted to bolster his pass rush (Zion Young, No. 45 overall), and by the time the Ravens were back on the clock at No. 80, Jones and Slaughter were long gone.
DeCosta acknowledged during an interview on WBAL (via Hensley) that the center position remains in a state of flux, though he indicated he could address that need via trade. Of course, he did not name possible trade targets, though players like Chicago’s Garrett Bradbury or Miami’s Aaron Brewer could speculatively fit the bill.
The Bears just acquired Bradbury via trade this offseason but then drafted Jones. The Dolphins restructured Brewer’s deal in order to absorb the dead money created by the Jaylen Waddle trade and have expressed an interest in extending the snapper, a 2025 second-team All-Pro. Still, the ‘Fins are rebuilding, and after the club’s new regime traded a former cornerstone in Waddle, moving a contract-year player like Brewer who appears poised to cash in thanks in part to Linderbaum’s mega-deal could make sense.
Players like Graham Glasgow, Ethan Pocic, and Ryan Bates are still free agents, and the Ravens will presumably continue to evaluate Corey Bullock, a 2024 UDFA who took extensive reps at center last summer and who is currently penciled in atop the center depth chart. Baltimore also signed Danny Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn this offseason, but neither of those players presently profiles as a viable starting option for a club with championship aspirations.
AFC Draft Rumors: Ravens, Dolphins, Patriots, Colts, Jets, Bengals
When the Ravens were on the clock at No. 14 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, the number of options available to the team had general manager Eric DeCosta seeking an opportunity to move back. Baltimore thought it had a deal in place, but it “fell apart,” according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
The top option for the Ravens was always offensive guard Vega Ioane, but surprisingly, when the team was on the clock, Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. was still on the board. Not to mention, DeCosta had interest in grabbing a weapon for his star quarterback, if they were able to move back and still secure USC receiver Makai Lemon or Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. DeCosta felt comfortable the team could trade back and still land one of those four players without leaving the teens.
Per Michael Silver, also with The Athletic, DeCosta thought he had a deal in place to do so while also returning “extra fourth-round picks in each of the next two drafts” to Baltimore. Similar to how DeCosta and the Ravens backed out of their trade agreement at the turn of the new league year, though, the team he thought would make the deal “changed their mind,” changing their half of the deal in the process and leading to the Ravens moving on without a trade and with Ioane instead.
Here are a few other recent draft rumors from across the AFC:
- The Dolphins also got hurt by the trade game during the draft. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Miami had its eye set on Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields in the third round before the Giants sent three picks to Cleveland for the right to move just ahead of the Dolphins at No. 74. With Fields off the board, Miami pivoted to the next wide receiver on their board, Caleb Douglas out of Texas Tech, a pick that was generally criticized as a bit of a reach by analysts.
- Miami almost got targeted again in the fourth round, per Tony Pauline of EssentiallySports. Pauline claims the Patriots were interested in trading up on Day 3 for Texas defensive end Trey Moore, whom the Dolphins took at No. 130. New England had given up their 125th overall pick to move up three spots in the first round and would’ve had to trade up from the fifth round to land Moore. They didn’t end up selecting a pass rusher until the seventh round, when they took Boston College’s Quintayvious Hutchins just before the final compensatory picks.
- The Colts were able to land Georgia linebacker CJ Allen after trading back six spots. It was a gutsy move to delay the selection right when a run at the position had begun. General manager Chris Ballard had been eager to add more picks heading into Day 3, and the move back was a perfect opportunity to do just that. According to Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star, Ballard desired the picks enough to consider moving back again, but after playing with fire once already, he opted not to risk losing the services of the linebacker they coveted.
- One of the biggest debates leading into the 2026 NFL Draft was who the Jets were going to select at No. 2 overall. They ended up choosing Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey over Ohio State hybrid linebacker Arvell Reese. According to Jets senior reporter Eric Allen, while New York liked both prospects, Bailey’s established pass-rushing prowess and demonstrated production made him a better fit for what the team is trying to do. Per head coach Aaron Glenn, they still believe Reese will go on “to have a really good career” but felt more secure with Bailey as their pick.
- The Bengals made a bold move trading away a top 10 draft pick for former Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. A pick that high is usually considered a guarantee to land a franchise with a blue chip prospect, but this year’s draft crop was seen as thinner than usual. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero appeared on the Rich Eisen Show before the draft and claimed that the lack of blue chip prospects convinced Cincinnati to make the move for Lawrence. Per Pelissero, the Bengals only had seven players graded as blue chip prospects and didn’t foresee any of them falling to them at No. 10, so they traded for a player they knew was a blue chip prospect. It would be interesting to know if Bain had been one of those seven, and whether or not they would’ve preferred to have Bain fresh out of college, but ultimately, Lawrence is a decent consolation prize.
2027 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker
May 1 marked the deadline for teams to decide on fifth-year options on 2023 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:
- Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
- One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
- Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th top salaries at their position:
- At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
- A 75% snap average across all three seasons
- At least 50% in each of first three seasons
- Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position
PFR’s Offseason Outlook series examined each of these decisions in-depth. Twenty-two options were exercised this year. Here is how each team with an option decision proceeded with 2023 first-round contracts:
- QB Bryce Young, Panthers ($25.9MM): Exercised
- QB C.J. Stroud, Texans ($25.9MM): Exercised
- DE Will Anderson Jr., Texans ($21.51MM): Exercised
- QB Anthony Richardson, Colts ($22.48MM): Declined
- CB Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks ($21.16MM): Exercised
- LT Paris Johnson Jr., Cardinals ($19.07MM): Exercised
- DE Tyree Wilson, Saints ($14.48MM): Declined
- RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons ($11.32MM): Exercised
- DT Jalen Carter, Eagles ($27.13MM): Exercised
- RT Darnell Wright, Bears ($19.07MM): Exercised
- G Peter Skoronski, Titans ($19.07MM): Exercised
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions ($14.29MM): Exercised
- LB Lukas Van Ness, Packers ($13.75MM): Exercised
- LT Broderick Jones, Steelers ($19.07MM): Declined
- DE Will McDonald, Jets ($13.75MM): Exercised
- CB Emmanuel Forbes, Rams ($12.63MM): Declined
- CB Christian Gonzalez, Patriots ($18.12MM): Exercised
- LB Jack Campbell, Lions ($21.93MM): Declined
- DL Calijah Kancey, Buccaneers ($14.48MM): Exercised
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks ($23.85MM): Exercised
- WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers ($18MM): Exercised
- WR Zay Flowers, Ravens ($27.3MM): Exercised
- WR Jordan Addison, Vikings ($18MM): Exercised
- CB Deonte Banks, Giants ($12.63MM): Declined
- TE Dalton Kincaid, Bills ($8.16MM): Exercised
- DT Mazi Smith, Jets ($13.93MM): Declined
- RT Anton Harrison, Jaguars ($19.07MM): Exercised
- DE Myles Murphy, Bengals ($14.48MM): Declined
- DT Bryan Bresee, Saints ($13.93MM): Exercised
- LB Nolan Smith, Eagles ($13.75MM): Exercised
- DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Chiefs ($14.48MM): Declined
Ravens Sign 19-Man UDFA Class
As the Ravens spent the early days of free agency under the impression that Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson were both coming to take up a significant portion of the team’s salary cap, they watched unrestricted free agents parade out of Baltimore without being able to add much more. As a result, the Ravens have plenty of room to bring in bodies, and they’ve announced the signing of these 19 undrafted free agents to go along with their 11 draft picks and make up a 30-man rookie class:
- Cortez Braham, WR (Memphis)
- Ethan Burke, OLB (Texas)
- Nick Dawkins, C (Penn State)
- Dominic DeLuca, LB (Penn State)
- Joe Fagnano, QB (UConn)
- Aaron Graves, DT (Iowa)
- Matthew McDoom, CB (Cincinnati)
- Dontae McMillan, RB (Eastern Michigan)
- Diego Pavia, QB (Vanderbilt) (story)
- Ty Pezza, TE (Brown)
- Diego Pounds, T (Mississippi)
- Jahquez Robinson, S (Auburn)
- Octavian Smith, WR (Maryland)
- Trevonte Sylvester, T (Louisville)
- Elijah Tau-Tolliver, RB (Michigan State)
- Silas Walters, S (Miami [OH])
- Lardarius Webb Jr., CB (Wake Forest)
- Reid Williford, LB (Charlotte)
- Dion Wilson Jr., DT (Syracuse)
Fagnano wasn’t expected to do much at UConn after transferring from Maine, but the 25-year-old ended up leading a strong Huskies offense by the end of his seven-year collegiate career. He made few mistakes, boasting a touchdown:interception ratio over his career of 93:18 and only throwing one pick compared to 28 touchdowns in his final year of school. Fagnano’s processing, decision-making, and accuracy all score high marks, but his arm strength and mobility leave a lot to be desired.
It was a bit surprising to see Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft come and go without Pounds coming off the board. The starting left tackle for most of the past two years at Ole Miss, Pounds was projected by some as a potential fourth-rounder. The North Carolina-transfer has all the makings of a strong blindside blocker of the future with reliable pass pro habits, but his run grading has room for improvement. He’s got a great frame for an NFL tackle but will need to make sure he’s putting good weight on that frame.
Burke is a Baltimore-native who ended up in Austin for high school and stayed there for college. With only 10.5 sacks in 17 starts over four years, he may not project as a future starter in his hometown, but with three blocked field goals in his last two years, he shows the potential to find a roster spot on special teams. He’s joined in his virtual homecoming by Webb, whose father played all nine years of his career with the Ravens. The senior Webb led the team in interceptions (5) and passes defensed (20) in 2011 and led the league in passes defensed (22) in 2013.
While the Ravens drafted the top interior offensive lineman of this year’s class in Penn State’s Vega Ioane, they failed to draft a new starting center. Taking a chance on Dawkins, who spent the past two years starting next to Ioane in Happy Valley, could be a strong bet. Dawkins will certainly have chemistry with his former line-mate, and a thin depth chart at the position could give him a strong chance to earn a roster spot.