What’s An All-Pro Inside Linebacker Worth?

De’Vondre Campbell was one of the few full-time starters still available in free agency when the Packers signed him to a one-year contract worth $2 million on June 9. Last Friday, the veteran inside linebacker was named a first-team All-Pro. Needless to say, Campbell won’t have to wait very long if and when he hits the open market again in March, and he sure as heck won’t be agreeing to another deal more commensurate with what average kickers and punters are being paid.


So what kind of offers can Campbell expect to see when free agency officially begins on Mar. 16? I spent a few days looking at all the deals signed by inside linebackers in the past three years to try to answer that question. I’d feel more confident in my projection if Campbell were a few years younger. The fact that he’ll turn 29 before the start of next season complicates things. Next to performance, age is the biggest factor in how much money non-quarterbacks get paid in the NFL.

Inferior inside linebackers Cory Littleton (Raiders), Joe Schubert (Browns), and former Packer Blake Martinez (Giants) were all paid at least $10 million per year in free agency, so you’d automatically assume Campbell would have to get more. Not so fast. All four of those players were either 26 or 27 when they signed. Two years means absolutely nothing to people who teach World History in high school for a living, but it means a lot to people who chase down running backs.

Besides Campbell’s age, the other thing that could keep his price down is the fear that he’s a “one-year wonder.” That’s the term given to a decent player who suddenly has a great season. While the former Minnesota star started 70 games for Atlanta and Arizona from 2016 to 2020, he was never considered anything more than a serviceable player. In fact, neither of his former employers made much of an effort to keep him around. And as mentioned earlier, none of the other 30 teams deemed him worthy of signing until Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst finally threw him a bone.

Before projecting what Campbell will ultimately get paid in free agency, the topic of whether there’s any chance of him returning to Green Bay needs to be explored. Gutekunst would obviously love to keep him around. After all, before Campbell was named to the All-Pro team, it had been over half a century since a Packers inside linebacker received that honor (Ray Nitschke in 1966). In between, this proud franchise started the likes of Mike Hunt, Rich Wingo, George Cumby, John Dorsey, Bernardo Harris, George Koonce, and Brad Jones at the position – and they’re some of the better ones.

Wanting to keep Campbell and being able to afford him are two different things. Green Bay is about $45 million over the salary cap heading into the offseason. Gutekunst will need to release multiple good players just to comply with league rules. The only way keeping Campbell seems feasible is if MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers gets traded, but if that happens, why would the Packers want to keep a 29-year-old player in what will become a major rebuild around Jordan Love?

That said, I wouldn’t sell those green and yellow No. 59 jerseys just yet. A lot can and will happen in the next two months, and if you’ve followed the NFL for even a short time, you know to never say never. Unexpected things occur all the time in free agency. For example, not many people had running back Aaron Jones re-signing with the Packers last year.


OK, let’s finally get down to the numbers. Considering Campbell’s play this season, his play throughout his career, and his age, I’m projecting him to sign a three-year contract worth $25 million. The deal would include about $15 million in guaranteed money and allow the team a potential out after the 2023 season. With a salary cap number between $5 and $6 million, the Packers might be able to squeeze him under the cap even if they extend Rodgers and star wide receiver Davante Adams. It wouldn’t be easy, and it would almost certainly require a corresponding departure, but it would be doable.

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Michael Rodney

Packers Notes is the creation of Michael Rodney, who has been writing about the Green Bay Packers for over 30 years. His first blog, Packer Update, hit the internet in 2004. Before becoming a public educator, Rodney worked as a journalist for a couple of newspapers in his home state of New Jersey and covered the Philadelphia Eagles for WTXF-TV. He's had numerous articles on the Packers published, and he's been featured on both television and radio over the years.

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Greg
Greg
February 2, 2022 2:35 pm

I thought Campbell’s play tailed off late in the season, but he was still so much better than any of the ILBs we’ve had the past 25 plus years. Regardless of what happens with 12 and 17, I hope Campbell is re-signed. I don’t feel like waiting until 2050 to see another good ILB in Green Bay.

Andrew
Andrew
February 2, 2022 2:52 pm

If Rodgers is dealt to Denver and we have the 9th pick it’s very realistic we could take an ILB. Either Nakobe Dean from Georgia or Devin Lloyd of Utah State would be excellent. Hoping either way that front office finally realizes the value of a rangy ILB. UW’s Jack Sanborn will be a good pro ILB also.

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