According to a tweet by ESPN reporter Vaughn McClure, the Falcons have engaged in preliminary talks with De'Vondre Campbell's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, ahead of the 26-year-old linebacker becoming a free agent this offseason.
Campbell has developed as a player during his four seasons with the Falcons after the team selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft and has started a total of 59 games, including five playoff games. Campbell was the Falcons' leading tackler in both 2019 and 2018, finishing those seasons with 129 and 94 tackles, respectively. He also provides versatility in coverage for Atlanta and is the player the Falcons often like to match up against opposing tight ends.
"There will be a lot of interest in Dre," Rosenhaus told ESPN, per McClure. "We have had positive dialogue with the Falcons. Dre will be a highly sought-after player."
The Falcons have invested in some of their core players during recent offseasons, including fellow linebacker Deion Jones, who signed a four-year contract extension with the club in 2019. General manager Thomas Dimitroff said during the team's end-of-season press conference that the Falcons will have to get creative to give themselves more flexibility with the cap space, and they've reportedly restructured the contracts of Grady Jarrett and Matt Ryan as a start to that process.
Campbell is one of Atlanta's notable free agents this offseason along with tight end Austin Hooper and defensive end Adrian Clayborn. The Falcons will continue to assess their roster as well as the options in both free agency and the draft, and it remains to be seen if Campbell factors into their future plans.
