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Jerry Jones, Owner, President & GM, Dallas Cowboys

Despite coming off a career-year in 2025, the Detroit Lions made the decision not to pick up the fifth-year option on the contract of star linebacker Jack Campbell.

Had the Lions exercised the option, Campbell would have stood to make an impressive  $21,925,000, which would have made him the highest paid player at his position in the NFL.

However, this in no way means that the Lions plan on parting ways with Campbell, and they’d like to come to a contract extension solution that they feel makes the most sense for both sides. Campbell could still be handsomely compensated, while the Lions wouldn’t be breaking the bank and hindering their ability to sign other players under the NFL salary cap.

However, what are the chances that a club that fancies themselves as “America’s Team” could come calling for Campbell?

A Cowboys Writer Is Urging Dallas To Snag Jack Campbell From The Detroit Lions

Cowboys writer Levi Dombro of The Landry Hat is making an appeal to Cowboys executive Jerry Jones to find a way to bring Campbell into the fold, especially after Dallas missed out on acquiring Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans.

“Jones and the front office reportedly kicked the tires on Houston Texans Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, but to no avail. However, the Detroit Lions not picking up Jack Campbell’s fifth-year option should restore the dream of a Pro Bowl linebacker coming to Dallas,” Dombro wrote.

Dombro continued:

“Because the NFL has lumped outside linebackers or edge rushers in with the off-ball or inside linebackers when it comes to the fifth-year option, the Lions didn’t want to pay Campbell nearly $22 million on a one-year deal. He is great, but that is not what he is truly worth.

So, Campbell is set for unrestricted free agency next spring, but he and his agent probably aren’t happy about having no future security. Surely, they want a multi-year deal in place in a contract year. If Detroit isn’t going to give him one, the Cowboys should at least ask about his trade price.”

Dombro concluded by noting the elite talent that Campbell would represent for Dallas, and that he could even be a replacement for DeMarvion Overshown if things don’t work out on a new deal for him.

“If Dallas could work out a deal that makes sense, it would add an elite talent at inside linebacker. Campbell could either be a long-term complement to DeMarvion Overshown or his replacement if the Cowboys’ negotiations with his new agent David Mulugheta, go sideways, as always.”

Jack Campbell Is Coming Off A Career Year In Detroit

2025 was nothing short of a career-season for Campbell, who impressed by racking up 176 combined tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles and four passes defended.

Over the course of his career with the Lions, who selected him his the first round (18th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Iowa, he’s accumulated 402 tackles with 8.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and 10 passes defended. Additionally, he was named a first-team All-Pro.