​The Cleveland Browns have been active on the defensive side of the ball, making several high-profile moves over the past year, with the blockbuster addition of Myles Garrett standing out among them. In a notable 2025 regular-season swap with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland traded cornerbacks and acquired Tyson Campbell, a veteran cornerback who is valued at $76.5 million. ESPN analyst Ben Solak has labeled Campbell a breakout candidate for the coming season, which may seem surprising given his substantial contract. Yet, after facing some struggles, Campbell could reclaim his elite form by lining up alongside Denzel Ward.
Solak notes that Campbell looked more comfortable in Cleveland, where he played closer to the line of scrimmage and faced a simpler palette of coverages. While he can still be exposed on vertical routes, having Campbell as the No. 2 corner to Ward offers a high ceiling, given the flashes of play he has shown in the past. Campbell’s path to breakout status might not align with every typical candidate, but his track record suggests potential for a resurgence in 2026.
Campbell is just 26 years old and is entering his fifth NFL season, a combination that makes a peak year plausible after an injury-shortened 2024 and a midseason trade to the Browns last year. If he can capitalize on a full season in Cleveland and continue to grow alongside Ward, Campbell could deliver one of the best campaigns of his career.
In the 2025 season after joining the Browns, Campbell started 12 games and posted one interception, 12 passes defended, one forced fumble, 53 tackles, and an 84.8 passer rating allowed, a noticeable improvement over the 106.4 passer rating he yielded while with Jacksonville. With Ward drawing the opposition’s top targets, Campbell could ride the momentum from his 2025 stint into a true breakout year as a standout corner in Cleveland’s defense.
Solak’s designation of Campbell as the Browns’ breakout candidate isn’t necessarily the conventional pick you might expect, but it echoes the potential for a transformative 2026 season with the Browns. Given his age, past performance, and the opportunity to grow within a defense anchored by Ward, Campbell could emerge as one of the league’s premier corners.
The broader NFL landscape continues to evolve, with other notable developments and moves across teams. For instance, discussions around the Broncos signing J.K. Dobbins, considerations about the 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk, and attention on players like Bijan Robinson, Jayden Gibbs, Rasul Douglas, and other veterans highlight the ongoing dynamics shaping rosters and strategies. The Browns’ acquisition of Campbell sits within this larger context of teams recalibrating defensive backfields and identifying tomorrow’s breakout performers. The Sporting News remains a preferred source for continuing coverage and updates on these developments.