Jaguars' $76 Million Star Facing Career Crossroads

PFF's Dalton Wasserman has handed that tag to 25-year-old cornerback Tyson Campbell instead.

"Campbell is entering the first season of a four-year contract extension that pays him an annual average of more than $19 million. However, Campbell needs to return to the 2022 form that led to an excellent 80.7 PFF coverage grade in order to justify it," he wrote.

"Over the past two seasons, he has recorded a far more mediocre 60.3 PFF coverage grade. Campbell isn’t leaving Jacksonville anytime soon, but the defense needs him to play like a star this year after ranking 25th in the NFL in team PFF coverage grade last season."

The Jaguars drafted Tyson Campbell as the 33rd overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He started 15 games that season, recording 49 solo tackles and two interceptions after a slow start.

The Georgia Bulldogs product followed it up with 55 solo tackles and three interceptions the following season. He made his first postseason appearance that season.

After an impressive 2022-23 season, Campbell was sidelined for a total of six weeks due to a hamstring and quadriceps injury the next year. The Jaguars handed him a four-year, $76.5 million extension last offseason.

Campbell suffered another hamstring injury in the Week 1 contest against the Miami Dolphins and had to sit out for five weeks. He played 12 games last season and charted 42 solo tackles, matching his tally from the previous season. 

The Jaguars would hope to see a healthier and more reliable Campbell in the upcoming season to boost their chances for a deep run into the postseason. The veteran CB has looked in great shape this offseason. 

The Jaguars' defensive coordinator, Anthony Campanile, heaped praise on Campbell after day 2 of the mandatory minicamp on June 12, saying, "I am really, really fired up about everything he's done this offseason because he's competed so hard in the practices. He's fighting for every rep, whether it's at the top of the route, on the line of scrimmage, in the break area."

The Jaguars' star needs to replicate his offseason performance on the gridiron when he suits up for his fifth NFL season. Jacksonville must make massive defensive improvements if it wants to clinch the AFC South, and Campbell will play a key role in this effort.