Those who don’t learn from their mistakes are doomed to repeat them. It’s a timeless saying, speaking to the importance of reflection and lesson learning. Some lessons are learned the hard way and others from observing. The Dallas Cowboys’ newest free agent addition, wide receiver Parris Campbell, falls into the latter category of lessons.
Once upon a time Campbell was one of the hottest prospects in the draft. The Ohio State All-Star was a Championship athlete with a game-breaking skillset. At 6-foot, 205-pounds and 4.3 40-speed, Campbell is rare combination of size and speed. With the ability to stop and start on a dime, Campbell was both a feared return man as well as a rushing and receiving threat. He looked like the complete package.
In 2018 Campbell posted 90 receptions for 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Buckeyes, proving he wasn’t just raw ability but also a producer. He was often called the second coming of Percy Harvin and in many ways projected to follow Tyreek Hill in all the right ways.
As many well know, Campbell never remotely approached those massive expectations. In six NFL seasons Campbell has only amassed 123 receptions for 1,117 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He hasn’t had a single season averaging more than 37 receiving yards per game and only played one season with more than three starts. It’s been a wildly disappointing career for someone who seemed so “can’t miss” when he was selected by Indianapolis in the second round of the 2019 draft.
Sometimes, as is likely the case with Campbell, it all comes down to good old-fashioned scouting. The numbers don’t see it, the athletic testing doesn’t see it, but raw scouting sees it. Scouting reports universally noticed his limited role at Ohio State. He produced big results but he executed a rather elementary gameplan.
Campbell’s route tree was sparse, his route running was sloppy and his downfield opportunities were limited. Campbell produced partially as a gadget player. His run after the catch ability kept many of his routes shallow and unsophisticated and the bulk of his downfield production came against soft zones that required little technical acumen from Campbell.
Obviously, health played an enormous role in Campbell’s ability to develop as an NFL WR as well. Unable to stay on the field, Campbell struggled building a foundation of knowledge and muscle memory. But the real lesson to be learned is that despite all his production and translatable skills, Campbell was an unproven commodity. He was raw in his development and for years had survived on his natural ability.
It’s a cautionary tale for the Cowboys. Players with elite physical traits are important. Players with proven college production are also important. But players with proven knowledge, technique and positional awareness are just as important. Not all schemes are designed to highlight the players themselves so it’s not always easy to tell if the player is undeveloped or just underutilized. Sometimes it takes good old-fashioned scouting to know what a player can do if he’s just unleashed and refocused in the NFL. It can be applied to receivers, pass-rushers, tight ends, quarterbacks and more. It’s an important lesson for the Cowboys to keep in mind as they navigate the upcoming 2025 NFL draft.
