For the second straight season, a former Hawkeye is messed over by a strange NFL rule.
Before last season, the Baltimore Ravens declined former Hawkeye center Tyler Linderbaum's fifth-year option because he was set to make more than any other center in the league.
Because all offensive linemen are in the same option category, the Ravens declined his option, allowing him to sign a massive new deal with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason.
Lightning has struck twice as another former Hawkeye is facing a similar predicament heading into the 2026 NFL season.
A bogus NFL rule just kept Jack Campbell from a fifth year on his contract
Jack Campbell was named the Pro Butkus Award winner, given to the best linebacker in the NFL, while earning a First-Team All-Pro selection for the Detroit Lions.
Despite all of his success last season, the Lions declined his fifth-year option, not because of of his production, but because of a strange rule.
The 5th year options for LBs is broken
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) April 28, 2026
Nearly $22 million. No off ball linebacker makes that
Would be smart for the league to figure out a way to separate EDGE from LB https://t.co/DTWHgHpHXj
Linebackers are grouped with edge rushers in the contract options category, setting Campbell's fifth-year salary option at $22 million.
No linebacker in the league makes that amount of money, almost single-handedly guaranteeing the Lions would decline his option. Fred Warner is the highest-paid linebacker in the NFL at $21 million per year.
With edge rushers and linebackers grouped together, Campbell was screwed out of a fifth year with the Lions and will hit the free agent market unless the two sides can agree on a contract extension.
There is a clear need for the NFL to address the option groups and how they are determined, but until then, this will continue happening.
Add us as a preferred source on Google