Packers: What De’Vondre Campbell’s contract tells us

Expect De’Vondre Campbell to be a key part of the Green Bay Packers‘ defense this season.

The Packers desperately needed to add a veteran inside linebacker who can start games and take the pressure off second-year players Krys Barnes and Kamal Martin. Campbell can be that player for the Packers and his contract suggests the team agrees.

According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Campbell’s one-year deal is worth $2 million, and he adds that the structure “all but assures” he will make the 53-man roster due to the signing bonus, which is $1.01 million.

This isn’t surprising. Campbell’s name should be top of the inside linebacker depth chart as things stand. He’s talented enough to be the number one linebacker in this defense and he has been a starter his entire career in the NFL, starting 70 of the 75 games he’s featured in.

The majority of them came during his four-year run with the Atlanta Falcons, but he also started all 16 games with the Arizona Cardinals last season.

For a potential starter on defense, the Packers have got a bargain. According to Demovsky, Campbell’s salary cap hit for this season is only $1.192 million, while $808,000 will count towards next year’s cap.

A smart signing by the Packers, Campbell can immediately help this defense at a position where they desperately needed some help. Barnes and Martin both have the potential to become good players in Green Bay’s defense, but Campbell can step right in and perform at a high level.

And in any situation when the Packers put two inside linebackers on the field, Campbell gives them much-needed experience in the middle of the field which will make life easier for the younger inside linebackers on the roster.

Signing Campbell was a good move for the Packers and he should be a starter in Joe Barry’s defense.