Report: Calais Campbell was nearly traded to the Baltimore Ravens at the deadline

Miami’s defense would look much worse without Calais Campbell in the trenches…

The trade deadline passed without the Miami Dolphins making a move, but with a record of 2-6 at the time, the franchise nearly traded one of the defense’s best players. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Baltimore Ravens pursued Calais Campbell at the trade deadline, but Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stepped in.

“Sources say McDaniel stopped the deal, believing that Campbell was too valuable to lose,” Rapoport wrote. “McDaniel told Campbell this to his face in a meeting.

“McDaniel couldn’t get behind dealing one of their team leaders and defensive stalwarts, even if it would clear some money and bring back a 2026 fifth-rounder for a team that was then 2-6 and without a lot of hope for a turnaround.”

Now in his 18th season, Campbell has 33 total tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble through 10 games. A fifth-round pick two years down the road would be a hard return to stomach for the defensive’s most disruptive player — even if Miami fails to reach the playoffs.

Campbell’s performance this season underscores why McDaniel valued him so highly. He leads the team with nine tackles for loss, four sacks, and five passes defended while playing 58% of defensive snaps.

“While the trade hung in the balance, sources say Campbell even believed he would be dealt,” Rapoport wrote. “Many people did. Instead, thanks to McDaniel, he stayed in Miami and led the charge back.”

The Dolphins have won back-to-back games since the trade deadline and are favored to defeat the New England Patriots by roughly a touchdown on Sunday. Miami dug a deep hole with two three-game losing streaks but Campbell’s leadership is key to a late-season playoff push after a challenging start.