De’Vondre Campbell has no fans with the 49ers, yet he surprisingly might be a free-agent priority for another NFC Squad the Niners face this year.
Veteran linebacker De’Vondre Campbell’s tenure with the San Francisco 49ers was, well… controversial.
And that’s putting things lightly.
The one-time first-team All-Pro who joined the Niners as a stopgap free agent a year ago, only to literally quit on his team in-game late last season, remains unsigned. In the wake of very public statements from his former teammates in the Bay Area, any would-be suitor looking to add his services would be doing so at its own risk.
Especially with the soon-to-be 32 year old claiming he didn’t need any more money and wouldn’t be desperate to sign with another team.
However, it appears there’s one potential team that might just be desperate enough to sign him.
Falcons linked to controversial former 49ers linebacker
Without citing any source or rumor, FanSided’s John Buhler suggested the Atlanta Falcons as a possible fit, essentially the last-ditch option for Campbell to continue his floundering professional career.
Atlanta spent considerable effort during the offseason trying to revamp its horrid defense, which included prying away another former San Francisco defender, edge Leonard Floyd, after the 49ers released him.
Buhler argued Campbell might be next, especially in the wake of his on- and off-field controversies, which would only serve to drive down his asking price.
The fact Campbell began his pro career with the dirty birds might help matters, too:
“Why come back to Atlanta? Well, the Falcons stupidly let him walk. That may have something to do with their former general manager Thomas Dimitroff being so far in his own head at that point. Regardless, a few familiar faces are still in Flowery Branch. Morris is now the Falcons head coach. Campbell’s former position coach Jeff Ulbrich is now coordinating the defense. Do they have a spot?”
True, the Falcons could use some additional help within their front seven, particularly with an off-ball linebacker.
However, it isn’t as if we’re considering an uber-talented defender still in the prime of his career who merely has character concerns. Atlanta might be willing to take a chance on Campbell if he wasn’t a massive liability in pass coverage and only modestly solid against the run at this stage of his NFL journey.
More importantly, the Falcons are fully aware how the linebacker’s dramatic tenure with the 49ers ended, and that’d be a risk they probably have no interest in taking.
If Atlanta did, though, it sure would be interesting to see Campbell square off against his one-time employer when the Niners host the Falcons in Week 7.
