Disgruntled linebacker De’Vondre Campbell has played his last snap with the San Francisco 49ers. A former fourth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Minnesota product joined the 49ers after stints with the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, and Green Bay Packers, where he won First-Team All-Pro honors in 2021. While he never recaptured that form, the 49ers believed Campbell could be an ideal complement to superstar Fred Warner as a player who could make plays against the run and the pass.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened. After struggling in a starting role, head coach Kyle Shanahan benched him before Week 15’s matchup. The linebacker refused to play in a reduced role, and Shanahan recently announced that De’Vondre Campbell will not play another snap with the 49ers. As of this posting, the team has yet to announce whether they will suspend or cut the linebacker, but he won’t be back with San Francisco. Now 31 years old, Campbell will probably have to sign a cheap one-year deal to try and salvage his NFL career, and the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers could roll the dice on him.
De’Vondre Campbell Could Land With Chiefs, Chargers After 49ers Exit
The Kansas City Chiefs will have to make tough decisions in the upcoming offseason. Currently with $20.9 million in projected cap space, the team might have to choose between impending free agents Trey Smith and Nick Bolton. While Smith will probably command the higher paycheck, Kansas City could prioritize him due to the uncertain nature of the offensive tackle position. If that happens, the Chiefs will need to find a cost-effective replacement for Bolton.
De’Vondre Campbell never played up to his potential with the 49ers, but a change of scenery could bring out the best in the veteran. While his 2024 numbers are underwhelming, he finished the 2023 season with a 71.7 PFF pass rush grade, the 35th-best mark out of 179 eligible players. He might be a situational player at this point in his career, but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo knows how to get the most out of his players. If Campbell ever plays on reviving his career, he might as well try it with one of the most consistent organizations in football.
Fortifying Jim Harbaugh’s Defense
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is an old-schooled type of thinker who believes in winning games with strong defenses and potent running games. The former Michigan head coach has done a remarkable job of turning around the Chargers and he should continue his work in 2025. Former third-round pick Daiyan Henley is the future of the linebacker room, but Harbaugh’s defense could use another reliable playmaker. Veteran Denzel Perryman is having a rough season and De’Vondre Campbell could be a smart low-risk, medium-reward investment.
The Chargers have plenty of cap space, so they could spend big on a linebacker if they desired. However, given the issues at wide receiver, guard, and running back, Los Angeles will probably spend most of the offseason addressing the offensive side of the ball. Henly and De’Vondre Campbell might not make fans forget about Harbaugh’s linebacker duo with the 49ers. Still, they’re good enough to get the job done and complement a strong offensive and defensive line.
Main Photo: Gregory Fisher – USA Today Sports
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