The Green Bay Packers made a good start to fixing the interior defensive line in free agency, but there's still one obvious move to make.
Enter Calais Campbell. The six-time Pro Bowler is still an outstanding player and could help the Packers in several important ways.
Free-agent addition Javon Hargrave is an upgrade on the departing Colby Wooden, whom the Packers traded to the Indianapolis Colts, but he can't do it alone. Green Bay needs to find another partner for Hargrave and Devonte Wyatt in the middle.
Packers should sign Calais Campbell to take the pressure off in the NFL Draft
The Packers enter next month's draft with more positional needs than realistic opportunities to fix them. Remember, they don't own a first-round pick thanks to the Micah Parsons trade.
Green Bay needs another edge-rusher, especially with Parsons expected to miss the start of the regular season, but options are limited in free agency.
Cornerback remains a concern. So, too, is the depth along the offensive line. Green Bay also has its share of under-the-radar needs, like running back, where the offense is one Josh Jacobs injury away from Chris Brooks leading the backfield.
But the Packers have an opportunity to ease the pressure at defensive tackle by signing Campbell.
It makes sense for both sides. Campbell could still retire this summer, but the Packers can make a strong case for him to play in 2026.
Not only would Campbell have an opportunity to win the Super Bowl that has eluded him in his legendary career, but he would also reunite with Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Campbell recorded 6.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and nine tackles for loss in Gannon's system last season. That works.
He would also give the Packers another leader in the locker room. Green Bay has fielded the league's youngest roster for three consecutive seasons, rarely featuring a player over 30. That has its benefits, but the Packers truly lacked some experience on both sides of the ball.
They've already taken steps to fix that by signing Hargrave and trading for Zaire Franklin, but Campbell would instantly give the Packers another captain. He could make the kind of impact Julius Peppers did for the Packers at the backend of his Hall of Fame career.
The Packers need a more diversified pass rush, as it too often became Micah Parsons-or-bust last season. A trio of Campbell, Hargrave, and Wyatt would give offensive linemen all sorts of problems.
Campbell would also help fix the Packers' leaky run defense. His PFF run-defense grade ranked 16th among 134 interior linemen last season.
Campbell can still play, make no mistake about that. However, now entering his age-40 season and 19th in the NFL, does he want to return? That's a question only he can answer, but the Packers can make a pretty strong sales pitch.
And it's a move that would make so much sense for a team with serious Super Bowl aspirations.