*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
Teams See Late Round 1 as Possible for Jack Campbell
Updated Dec. 20, 2022By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
The NFL has gone away from inside linebackers as first-round selections in drafts, but one player who could buck that trend is Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell. A productive tackler over the past two years, Campbell has impressed pro evaluators, and they think if he can run well in the leadup to the 2023 NFL Draft, he could be a first-round pick. If Campbell doesn’t go in Round 1, they think he will likely go in the Round 2 and won’t fall out of Day 2.
“I think he definitely goes in the second or third round,” said an area scout. “He has a chance to be a late first if he runs fast, and I think he will run well.”
Some sources called Campbell a taller version of Chad Muma. The 6-foot-5, 243-pound Campbell has good size, strength, and enough athleticism to be a three-down starter at the next level. In 2022, he has 115 tackles, one pass batted, one forced fumble and two picks. One of those picks was a superb interception of Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. In 2021, Campbell amassed 140 tackles, a sack, forced fumble, two interceptions and five passes defended.
“He is just really tall for an inside linebacker,” said the area scout. “But plays with good bend.”
“While [Campbell] is not as good as [Luke] Kuechly, occasionally he does some things that remind me of Kuechly,” said an AFC director of player personnel.
Campbell has two good seasons of tape, racking up over 250 tackles in that span. If he has good times in the 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine and/or his pro day, Campbell might end up being an opening night pick next April in the 2023 NFL Draft.
