Baltimore Ravens sign Calais Campbell

Calais Campbell's one-year, $5.5M signing earns an A Contract Value Index (CVI)—a textbook veteran minimum deal built around proven production and scheme fit rather than guaranteed upside. At this stage of his career, the Ravens are securing a franchise-caliber interior presence at a price point that reflects his age and one-year commitment, not a discount on current ability; $5.5M AAV is below-market for his positional tier, but that's precisely the point in an offseason where cap flexibility matters more than overpaying for tenure. The value trade here is asymmetric: Baltimore gets a stabilizing force with a track record of durability and interior disruption, while Campbell gets a final chapter opportunity with a contending organization—no long-term anchor, no dead-cap overhang, just clean economics. This CVI grade reflects disciplined front-office thinking: the Ravens avoided the trap of front-loading guarantees or multi-year commitments to a player nearing the historic games record, instead opting for a rental that preserves cap space and roster flexibility heading into the regular season. For a team sitting at 8-9 and fighting for playoff relevance, this signing represents the kind of low-risk, mission-specific acquisition that doesn't mortgage future position, making it an A-tier use of cap resources regardless of whether this proves to be his final NFL season.