After trading Micah Parsons in 2025, the Dallas Cowboys lost a cornerstone piece of their defense. Despite several notable additions, the team still faces a significant need for an experienced starter at linebacker.

The Detroit Lions have refused linebacker Jack Campbell's fifth-year option. Now, many Cowboys fans believe that the franchise has a chance to land him after his four-year term with the Lions.

"Cowboys fans actually think they have a chance of getting Lions LB Jack Campbell after his 5th-year option got declined," as reported by X post of The Detroit Times.

Jack Campbell gave his career best with the Lions in the 2025 season, landing him his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro First Team. He recorded 176 tackles (89 solo), 4 passes defended and 5 sacks for 17 games played. 

According to Cowboys Writer Levi Dombro of the Landry Hat, the Cowboys have an option of bringing Campbell into the discussion as they missed out on landing Houston Texans Azeez Al-Shaair. 

After being the No. 18 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions signed Campbell to a four-year, $14.72M rookie contract. The deal featured a $7.7M signing bonus and a fully guaranteed average annual salary of $3.68M.

Previously, if the fifth-year option had been exercised by the Lions, Campbell’s value would have stood at $21.93M, making him the highest-paid player at the off-ball linebacker position, according to Michael Whitaker of heavy.com.

And as the NFL has combined ‘outside Linebackers or edge rushers in with the off-ball or inside Linebackers under the fifth-year option’, the Lions are backing down, considering their cap structure and contract price.

And for the Cowboys, if the deal with DeMarvion Overshown doesn't fare well, bringing in Campbell could either make him Overshown’s replacement or his ‘long-term complement’, if negotiations work out, as noted by Levin Dombro. 

Such trade speculation did not sit well with Detroit Lions fans, who took to social media to express their disappointment.

Detroit Fans Push Back on Cowboys’ Jack Campbell Speculation

Levi Dombro of Landry Hat also wrote about how Campbell could be the answer to the Cowboys' linebacker needs. This prompted Cowboys fans to urge Jerry Jones to secure the star linebacker to add more power to the defense room.

But the Lions fans weren't happy with it, calling the Dallas community delusional for seeking the impact player. As expected, they took to social media to express their resentment about the possibility of losing their LB.

“They’re Cowboys fans, of course, they’re delusional,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Another fan was clearly not impressed with the trade talks of their LB, commenting that “Campbell is going absolutely nowhere! 💯”

Another brought up the Cowboys' Super Bowl drought to question.

“They also think it's been their year for the last 30 years”, the X user commented. 

One fan called out the writer for portraying Campbell as a depth addition to the Cowboys. Considering Campbell's Pro Bowl selection as an NFC starter, the commentator felt it was absurd to sign him to the Cowboys' roster just to increase depth.

“I like the guy that thinks Campbell would come to be a depth piece l****.”

Another fan clearly took a more rational approach. They noted the Lions' stance on seeking a long-term contract extension solution for Campbell without affecting their cap space. 

“They only declined it because they are working on an extension. The 5th year option would have driven the new contract to a higher number.”

Yet another X user agreed, calling the Lions' move to decline the fifth-year option "smart business". They then called out the Dallas fandom for living in a "dream" world, adding that the Lions will likely offer Campbell a more economical long-term contract soon.

"Yeah no…he’ll get locked up soon, 5th year would have paid him like 22 mil right? Just smart business…he’ll become a top paid MLB and all will be good, let the have their dream in Crazy Ole Uncle Jerry World" they stated.

Many in Detroit Lions still view Jack Campbell as a key long-term piece of the franchise and not a realistic trade candidate.

You can read more at the Dallas Cowboys Community!

Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit