The Falcons officially announced the signing of Calais Campbell on Friday, and Ian Rapoport reports the details of the deal.
The #Falcons have now officially announced the signing of Pro Bowl DL Calais Campbell, giving him a 1-year deal worth a base salary of $7M fully guaranteed that can get to $9M with incentives, source said. A substantial investment at a key spot.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 31, 2023
$7 million for a player that will bring immense value on and off the field is a fair price to pay. Campbell can earn up to $9 million in 2023 with incentives, but the 2023 cap hit won’t be more than $7 million and will likely be less due to his signing bonus. The incentives are categorized as not likely to be earned, so those will affect the 2024 salary cap if he reaches those marks.
It’s a strange change of pace for Falcons fans, who have become accustomed to losing out on these high-profile free agents. Why would an aging player choose a team with relatively no chance of winning a Super Bowl?
According to Tiffany Blackmon, Campbell opted for the Falcons because he “believes in what they are trying to do (and) feels like with this roster, they have a chance to surprise some people this season.” Reeling in a high-profile free agent like Calais Campbell is impressive, and Arthur Blank played a major role in landing him.
“It really came down to where I felt like I could have the biggest impact both on and off the field,” Campbell said, via Josina Anderson. The 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year winner values the impact he can make on and off the field, and a 40-minute phone call with Blank sealed the deal for him.
$7 million for a player that will produce on the field, provide veteran leadership, and give back to the Atlanta community. Calais Campbell will soon earn the support of the entire Falcons fan base. He’s that impactful of a human.
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Photographer: Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire
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