The Ravens Basically Trading a Kicker for Calais Campbell is an Absolute Chef Kiss
By Michael Luciano
The Baltimore Ravens managed to trade for Jacksonville Jaguars Pro Bowl defensive lineman Calais Campbell, and it didn't cost them an arm and a leg. In fact, they got him for pennies on the dollar.
Campbell was dealt for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft, a pick that the Ravens acquired from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for kicker/punter Kaare Vedvik.
That means, in a sense, Campbell was traded for a kicker. Try to wrap your head around that one.
The #Ravens' 5th-round pick going to Jacksonville for Calais Campbell.... is the one Baltimore got from Minnesota for kicker Kaare Vedvik. The #Ravens essentially traded a kicker for Calais Campbell. https://t.co/eUmGLflGpa
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) March 15, 2020
Fun fact: Vedvik was cut by the Vikings before the 2019 season started. He signed with the New York Jets, missed a field goal and extra point in a one point loss to the Buffalo Bills, and was sent packing before Week 2.
That's apparently worth the same as a versatile, powerful, Pro Bowl defensive lineman that will have a shot at the Hall of Fame when he retires. Yes, Campbell will be 34 and he has a $17 million cap hit, but that doesn't change the fact Jacksonville got hosed.
Such is life during a painfully obvious rebuid.
Calais Campbell is one of three players in the NFL with at least 50 tackles & 6.5 sacks in each of the past three seasons. He's long, powerful, athletic, disruptive & one of the most respected people in the NFL. He's missed just 6 games in 12 years.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 15, 2020
What a coup for Baltimore.
Jacksonville can spin this all they want, but the Ravens appear to have come out on top in this deal by miles and miles. If Campbell plays like he's played over the last decade or so, Baltimore's defensive line has the potential to be game-breaking.