The Dolphins have come to terms on a deal with defensive end Calais Campbell, a source said on Thursday, adding a key veteran presence to an improving pass rush.
Campbell, 37, joins the Dolphins after a successful 16th NFL season with the Atlanta Falcons. He played in every game for the first time since 2019—a goal he declared when he came to Atlanta last summer—and recorded 6.5 sacks, his best total since then. He finished with 56 tackles, 17 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery, his finest season since 2019, when he made the Pro Bowl with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Anthony Edwards, who coached Campbell’s defensive line in 2021 and 2022 when he was a member of the Miami Hurricanes, is now the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator and the 2 players will reconnect.
Dolphins outside linebackers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb were both in the top 20 in the NFL in pass rush win rate last season until Phillips ruptured his Achilles tendon in Week 12. 5 weeks later, Chubb tore his ACL in Week 17. While both are anticipated to play in 2024, the organization has failed to provide a timetable for their return, and neither took part in OTAs or minicamps this summer.
Miami added veteran Shaq Barrett in March and proceeded to bolster its pass rush during the draft, selecting Chop Robinson and Mo Kamara in the first and fifth rounds, respectively.
Campbell passed 100 career sacks last season and, with 105.5, is tied with Elvis Dumervil for 32nd on the official all-time sacks record (since 1982) and 48th on the unofficial list.
Campbell, who won the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2019, was named a first-team All-Pro once and appeared in 6 Pro Bowls.
Campbell, who previously played for the Arizona Cardinals, participated in 244 career games (225 starts) and had 865 tackles, 175 tackles for loss, 254 quarterback hits, 17 forced fumbles, 13 fumble recoveries, 58 passes deflected, and 3 interceptions.
The NFL Network first reported that Campbell and the Dolphins had reached a deal.
