Who is Michael Campanaro?

If you’re just an average NFL fan, the name Michael Campanaro might not mean much to you. You might not have any idea who he is, and that’s okay. Casual fans have a little leeway to work with. If you’re a Titans fan and you don’t yet know who Campanaro is, well you came to the right place.

 Michael Campanaro

Michael Campanaro came into the NFL in 2014. He was a 7th round pick for the Baltimore Ravens. Campanaro had a solid collegiate career. While playing at Wake Forrest, Campanaro did just about everything. He finished his career with 229 receptions, 2506 yards, and 14 receiving touchdowns. He also added 51 rushes for 238 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. I mentioned he did everything right? He completed 6 of 7 passes for 174 yards and 4 touchdowns as well. Wait….there’s more, he was also a returner, with 61 returns for 984 yards and a touchdown. Like I said, he did everything for Wake, and that’s a big reason he was drafted late in the 2014 NFL Draft.

NFL Career

Campanaro slowly worked his way into playing time with the Ravens. In his rookie year, he only ended up playing in 4 games due to an injured hamstring. He caught 7 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in his rookie year. His sophomore year was far less productive. Finishing with 5 receptions for 35 yards and 2 rushes for 17 yards. Campanaro was placed on IR with a herniated disc, effectively ending his season again. After being released from IR, Campanaro signed with the Ravens’ practice squad, eager to prove himself worthy of a roster spot. In mid-December, Campanaro’s hard work paid off, and he was promoted to the active roster. He finished the season with 3 rushes for 73 yards.

Campanaro’s hard work once again paid off when he signed a one-year contract with the Ravens in 2017. He played in 13 games that season, finished with career highs in all categories. He caught 19 passes for 173 yards and had 5 rushes for 42 yards. Campanaro proved himself an adequate returner in the NFL in 2017. He had 27 punt returns for 291 yards and a touchdown as well as 6 kickoff returns for 159 yards. Campanaro found his place, as a returner and depth receiver.

How Can He Help The Titans?

The Titans have an extremely young, and somewhat inexperienced receiving core. I was excited when they signed Campanaro because one big thing that creates is competition. Competition is always a good thing, who knows, maybe he brings out the best in Sharpe, Taylor, and Davis. However, I don’t believe that is the main reason Campanaro was signed. As you found out above, Campanaro is a proven returner in the NFL, and the Titans needed that on their roster.

Yes, Adoree’ Jackson did “alright” filling in that position last year. I’m sure the Titans would rather not have their young stud corner returning punts and kickoffs. Campanaro alleviates that issue for them while upgrading the position too. With Campanaro’s versatility, look for the Matt LaFleur to try and get Campanaro involved in some end-around plays as well as the occasional pass routes. If healthy, Campanaro is going to be an integral piece on this Titans roster. Look for this to be another magical Jon Robinson signing.