Packers: De’Vondre Campbell impressing at training camp

It was no surprise when the Green Bay Packers signed free-agent inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell earlier this summer.

They desperately needed to make a new addition in the middle of their defense and, in Campbell, they were getting a player with a ton of starting experience at inside linebacker in the NFL.

On what is an incredibly affordable deal, early signs are that signing Campbell could prove to be one of the Packers’ best moves of the year.

While we’re yet to see Campbell in the regular season for the Packers, his work at training camp has shown exactly what the team is getting.

Talking to reporters on Friday, head coach Matt LaFleur had high praise for Campbell and his work at camp so far.

"“De’Vondre has been lights out. He’s done a great job,” LaFleur said. “I think he’s done a really nice job of picking up what we’re asking him to do at a pretty quick rate. You can see the instincts that he has and he is very, very fluid.”“There’s been a couple of instances in practice in terms of his ability whether it’s as a blitzer, whether it’s in coverage. He’s a very, very good athlete,” LaFleur added."

LaFleur noted that he worked with Campbell during his time with the Atlanta Falcons and has since come up against him, so he knew how good a player he was. Not bad for a player who signed a one-year deal worth just $2 million with the Packers.

Campbell will be a likely starter in the middle of Joe Barry’s defense this season, and he adds a ton of experience having started 70 games in his career, mostly with the Falcons.

It seems Krys Barnes is the frontrunner to start next to Campbell in the base defense, but there is plenty of competition at the inside linebacker position this summer.

The good news is that the Packers have finally found a veteran linebacker who can start right away and make an impact in the middle of the defense.