EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Parris Campbell's first three NFL seasons were a trial of pain and frustration. After finally becoming a fulltime player in 2022, he's ready to reach greater heights as a new member of the Giants' wide receiver corps.
"When I got close to a deal with the Giants, the excitement through me, my family, we were just excited for this next step of our journey," Campbell said today. "I think we're incredibly grateful to be here."
Campbell's first four pro seasons were spent in Indianapolis, where he engaged with the Colts' medical staff far more often than he wanted. A second-round draft choice in 2019, his rookie season was limited to seven games because of abdominal injury, fractured hand, broken foot and three surgeries.
His second season? Don't ask. He sprained his medical collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments and played only two games.
In 2021, his potential and bad luck collided on one play against Houston on Oct. 17 as he scored a touchdown on a 51-yard reception while a defensive back landed on and fractured his foot. Campbell did not return to the field until the season finale on Jan. 9.
After three years with the Colts, he had played in only 15 games and caught 34 passes for 360 yards and two scores. Campbell enjoyed his first healthy and productive season in 2022, when he played in all 17 games with 16 starts and caught 63 passes for 623 yards and three touchdowns.
Campbell had three catches for a team-high 52 yards, including a 49-yarder, when the Colts lost to the Giants in MetLife Stadium on Jan. 1. He had a career-high 10 catches (for 70 yards) at Tennessee on Oct. 23, and a career-best 76 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown, on seven catches at Las Vegas on Nov. 13.
"My career is what it was," Campbell said. "It was tough, very tough those first three years. But being able to bounce back from each and every injury that I had, I really learned a lot about myself. I feel like I grew as a man, as a person, a player, obviously. It allowed me to grow in so many different ways because I've seen a lot of myself that I didn't know that I had. I was just able to fight and just bounce back so many different times. It just showed me a lot.
"Speaking in terms of last year, being able to play a full 17 (games), that's all I ever wanted to do. Just given the history of my career, that's all I ever wanted to do. So, being able to do that, I was blessed, grateful. The injuries that I had, it was things that were just freak accidents. You couldn't really draw it up. They weren't avoidable to me. They were things that happened and just had some bad luck. Like I said, was able to play all 17 last year, so I was extremely blessed."
Which is his reaction to joining the Giants. Campbell was one of three veteran free agents to formally signed with the team today. The others are fellow wideout Jeff Smith, who spent his first four seasons with the Jets, and defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who played the last five seasons in Tampa Bay after beginning his career with a three-year stint in Kansas City.
They join the other new Giants: tight end Darren Waller, obtained in a trade with Las Vegas, and linebacker Bobby Okereke, a four-year teammate of Campbell with the Colts.
View photos of the newest members of the Giants touring the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
New York Giants LB Bobby Okereke
New York Giants DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Joe Schoen Senior Vice President and General Manager
New York Giants WR Jeff Smith, New York Giants WR Paris Campbell, Joe Schoen Senior Vice President and General Manager
New York Giants Safety Bobby McCain
New York Giants CB Amani Oruwariye
New York Giants LB Bobby Okereke
New York Giants DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
New York Giants WR Jamison Crowder
New York Giants WR Jeff Smith
New York Giants TE Darren Waller
New York Giants TE Tommy Sweeney
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants LB Bobby Okereke
New York Giants TE Darren Waller
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Joe Schoen Senior Vice President and General Manager
New York Giants WR Parris Campbell
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
New York Giants WR Parris Campbell
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants TE Darren Waller
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants WR Jeff Smith
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants LB Bobby Okereke
New York Giants WR Parris Campbell
New York Giants DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
New York Giants Safety Bobby McCain
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants CB Amani Oruwariye
New York Giants TE Darren Waller
New York Giants LB Bobby Okereke
New York Giants WR Jamison Crowder
New York Giants TE Darren Waller
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants WR Jeff Smith
New York Giants TE Darren Waller
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
New York Giants LB Bobby Okereke
New York Giants WR Jeff Smith
New York Giants TE Tommy Sweeney
New York Giants Tight End Darren Waller
New York Giants TE Darren Waller
New York Giants LB Bobby Okereke
New York Giants WR Jeff Smith
Campbell has already connected with Waller and quarterback Daniel Jones, who recently signed a four-year contract. He is excited to join an offense that also includes Saquon Barkley and receivers Isaiah Hodgins and Sterling Shepard, who re-signed this week.
"I think the ceiling is high, and I'm grateful to be in the position that I am," said Campbell, who attended St. Mary-St. Vincent High School in Akron, the alma mater of LeBron James. "To have this opportunity is everything to me. This team, this organization is trending in the right direction. I think we all saw that last year. So, being able to come in here and get an opportunity means everything. The fact that the staff, the coaches, from everybody top to bottom, wants me to be a part of it, it's huge. And I'm not going to take that for granted. I'm going to give them all I got.
"But definitely envisioning success with those guys, it's amazing because you see what this offense did last year and just the way they made football look so fun and just how the offense was coming together and gelling, it was awesome to watch from afar. So, to be here now, getting the opportunity to be a part of that, it's pretty exciting."
So is the opportunity to play with Jones, who not only is coming off his finest season, but is entrenched as the Giants' quarterback. In Campbell's four seasons in Indianapolis, the Colts started seven different QBs, including three last year.
"It's definitely tough as a receiver, going through so many different changes with so many quarterbacks," Campbell said. "And then especially last year, playing with three quarterbacks in one season, it's definitely tough because you want to build a rapport with a guy and keep it consistent throughout the season and build that chemistry. With so much change, it's hard to do that. And as a receiver, it's like you've got to change what you want to do like running route and you've got to be on the same page as the different quarterbacks. Some guys like other things, certain routes. It's a lot of different change, and it's hard to get it consistent and get on the same page with so many guys.
"But the guys that we had, credit to them, because they're super detailed from top to bottom – each and every one of them – super detailed. It's easy to get on the same page and get along with those guys. But I'm excited, being here now in New York, getting to build a rapport with Daniel Jones. So, I'm excited for what's to come."
Nunez-Roches is the most experienced of the new Giants. A 6-2, 307-pounder, he will turn 30 in July and is entering his ninth NFL season. Nunez-Roches has played in 102 regular-season games with 38 starts and eight postseason games with four starts. He started at nose tackle and played 13 snaps on defense and nine on special teams in the Buccaneers' 31-9 victory against Kansas City in Super Bowl LV.
His career regular-season totals include 132 tackles (69 solo), 14 stops for loss, 3.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. In the playoffs, he has 10 stops (two solo), including two for loss.
Nunez-Roches has a gregarious personality and prefers to be called "Nacho."
"I'm just bringing a whole lot of energy, a whole lot of excitement, a whole lot of teamwork, just hard work and effort," he said. "My personality is my personality. Everything I do, I work hard for. It's just understanding how much this game means to me and how much it gives back to me. I just try to give it all I got, and I don't know how to really wear my emotions or my feelings. But it just comes out on my sleeve and the way I talk, it's just me."
Nunez-Roches will step into a defensive line that includes second-team all-pro Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams.
"I respect their game," Nunez-Roches said. "Those are some dogs right there. I just feel like coming here to help and contribute, bringing some great things. Stopping the run is what I do. I do that in my sleep. I just want to help those guys in that aspect. Anything I can do to help them, take the load off them, that's what I'm here for."
Smith, 6-1 and 195 pounds, played in 36 games – 35 in the last three seasons – with seven starts for the Jets. He had 34 receptions for 426 yards, with a long catch of 50 yards. Smith caught eight passes in each of the last two seasons after finishing with career-high totals of 17 receptions and 167 yards in 2020. He is also a standout special teams player.
Smith joined the Jets as a rookie free agent from Boston College in 2019. He spent the first 14 weeks of that season on the practice squad, caught a 12-yard pass in his only game (Dec. 12 at Baltimore), and finished the season on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.
In 2020, Smith made his starting debut in his first appearance of the season and tallied career-high totals of seven catches for 81 yards. He started four games that season and three in 2021.
Smith played quarterback when he began his career at Boston College before transitioning to wide receiver before his 2016 sophomore season. In three years as a wideout, he caught 72 passes for 1,078 yards and nine touchdowns.
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2023 cycle.
OLB Oshane Ximines - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
OL Jaylon Thomas - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
RB Taiwan Jones - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 16)
OLB Oshane Ximines - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 16)
RB Taiwan Jones - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 9)
K Graham Gano - Signed 3-year contract extension (September 8)
WR Cam Sims - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (September 4)
WR Cole Beasley - Practice Squad; Injured (September 4)
G Jack Anderson - Waived, Injury Settlement
DB Kaleb Hayes, WR Dennis Houston, T Jaylon Thomas - Practice Squad Signing (August 31)
RB Taiwan Jones - Practice Squad Veteran Signing (August 31)
TE Tyree Jackson, G Jalen Mayfield - Practice Squad Exception Signing (August 31)
DB Gemon Green, T Tyre Phillips - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 31)
CB Zyon Gilbert - Waived, Injury Settlement
DT Ryder Anderson, ILB Darrian Beavers, DB Alex Cook, QB Tommy DeVito, CB Gemon Green, ILB Dyontae Johnson, TE Ryan Jones - Practice Squad (August 30)
WR Cole Beasley, CB Amani Oruwariye, T Tyre Phillips, OLB Oshane Ximines - Practice Squad Veteran (August 30)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (August 30)
DE Boogie Basham - Acquired via Trade (via BUF) with 2025 7th Round Pick for 2025 6th Round Pick (August 30)
DT Ryder Anderson - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DE Habakkuk Baldonado - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Darrian Beavers - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DB Alex Cook - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
QB Tommy DeVito - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Tomon Fox - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DB Gemon Green - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Dyontae Johnson - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
TE Ryan Jones - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LS Cameron Lyons - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
T Tyre Phillips - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
WR Kalil Pimpleton - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
DT Kobe Smith - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
LB Ray Wilborn - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
WR Cole Beasley - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
WR Jamison Crowder - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
C Sean Harlow - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
DB Amani Oruwariye - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
WR David Sills V - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
LB Oshane Ximines - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
TE Tommy Sweeney - Reserve/Non-Football Illness (August 29)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Passed Physical (August 29)
CB Aaron Robinson - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (August 29)
TE Chris Myarick - Reserve/Injured (August 28)
DB Zyon Gilbert - Waived, Injured (August 28)
G Jack Anderson - Waived, Injured (August 28)
G Wyatt Davis - Waived, Injured (August 28)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Reserve/Injured (August 27)
WR Jaydon Mickens - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
OT Korey Cunningham - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
OT Julién Davenport - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
DT Brandin Bryant - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
DE Tashawn Bower - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
DT Kevin Atkins - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
WR Collin Johnson - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
DB Darren Evans - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
NT Donovan Jeter - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
RB James Robinson - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons - Acquired via Trade (via ARZ) for 2024 7th Round Pick (August 25)
OT Devery Hamilton - Waived, Injury Settlement (August 24)
LB Troy Brown - Waived, Injury Settlement
CB Rodarius Williams - Waived, No Recall (August 19)
OT Julién Davenport - Free Agent Signing (August 16)
LB Troy Brown - Waived, Injured (August 16)
LB Ray Wilborn - Claimed off Waivers from DEN (August 15)
OT Devery Hamilton - Waived/Injured (August 15)
DL D.J. Davidson - Passed Physical (August 14)
WR Jeff Smith - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (August 11)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Passed Physical (August 7)
OL Marcus McKethan - Passed Physical (August 7)
NT Donovan Jeter - Free Agent Signing (August 4)
WR Jeff Smith - Waived/Injured (August 4)
C Sean Harlow - Free Agent Signing (August 1)
OL J.C. Hassenauer - Reserve/Injured (August 1)
WR Sterling Shepard - Passed Physical (July 30)
WR Jamison Crowder - Passed Physical (July 30)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Injured (July 29)
LB Elerson Smith - Waived, Injury Settlement (July 29)
DT Kevin Atkins - Free Agent Signing (July 27)
T Andrew Thomas - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (July 26)
DT D.J. Davidson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
G Marcus McKethan - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
CB Aaron Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
WR Sterling Shepard - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 25)
WR Jamison Crowder - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 25)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Did Not Report (July 25)
RB Saquon Barkley - Franchise Player Signing (July 25)
OLB Tashawn Bower - Free Agent Signing (July 25)
OLB Elerson Smith - Waived, Injured (July 25)
DB Trenton Thompson - Waived, No Recall (July 25)
DT Brandin Bryant - Free Agent Signing (July 24)
WR Makai Polk - Waived, No Recall (July 24)
WR Dre Miller - Waived, No Recall (July 24)
RB James Robinson - Free Agent Signing (July 21)
WR Cole Beasley - Free Agent Signing (July 21)
DB Darren Evans - Free Agent Signing (July 18)
LB Jarrad Davis - Reserve/Injured (July 18)
DB Leonard Johnson - Waived/Injured (July 18)
DL Kobe Smith - Free Agent Signing (June 15)
DL Dexter Lawrence - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (May 5)
OLB Oshane Ximines - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
OLB Habakkuk Baldonado - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LB Troy Brown - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
DB Alex Cook - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
QB Tommy DeVito - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
DB Gemon Green - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LB Dyontae Johnson - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
TE Ryan Jones - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
LS Cameron Lyons - Free Agent Signing (May 5)
CB Deonte Banks - Selected in Round 1 (Pick No. 24) of 2023 NFL Draft
CB Deonte Banks - Selection List Signing (May 18)
OL John Michael Schmitz - Selected in Round 2 (Pick No. 57) of 2023 NFL Draft
C John Michael Schmitz - Selection List Signing (May 23)
WR Jalin Hyatt - Selected in Round 3 (Pick No. 73) of 2023 NFL Draft
WR Jalin Hyatt - Selection List Signing (May 15)
RB Eric Gray - Selection List Signing (May 5)
CB Tre Hawkins III - Selected in Round 6 (Pick No. 209) of 2023 NFL Draft
CB Tre Hawkins III - Selection List Signing (May 5)
DL Jordon Riley - Selected in Round 7 (Pick No. 243) of 2023 NFL Draft
RB Eric Gray - Selected in Round 5 (Pick No. 172) of 2023 NFL Draft
DL Jordan Riley - Selection List Signing (May 6)
DB Gervarrius Owens - Selected in Round 7 (Pick No. 254) of 2023 NFL Draft
DB Gervarrius Owens - Selection List Signing (May 5)
DT A'Shawn Robinson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 24)
C J.C. Hassenauer - Free Agent Signing (April 7)
OLB Jihad Ward - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 29)
TE Tommy Sweeney - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
CB Amani Oruwariye - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
WR Jamison Crowder - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 23)
S Bobby McCain - Free Agent Signing (March 23)
WR Darius Slayton - Free Agent Signing (March 20)
DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
WR Parris Campbell - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
WR Jeff Smith - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
LB Bobby Okereke - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
WR Sterling Shepard - Free Agent Signing (March 15)
TE Darren Waller - Acquired via trade with Las Vegas Raiders (March 15)
RB Matt Breida - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 14)
P Jamie Gillan - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
G Wyatt Davis - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 13)
QB Daniel Jones - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 7)
RB Saquon Barkley - Designated Franchise Player (March 7)
LB Jarrad Davis - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 7)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 16)
G Jack Anderson - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 14)
TE Lawrence Cager - Signed, Exclusive Rights (February 13)
WR David Sills V - Reserve/Future Signing (January 26)
DB Terrell Burgess - Reserve/Future Signing (January 26)
TE Chris Myarick - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
T Devery Hamilton - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Dre Miller - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Zyon Gilbert - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DT Vernon Butler - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Makai Polk - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
T Korey Cunningham - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Jaydon Mickens - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
WR Kalil Pimpleton - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Trenton Thompson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 22)
DB Terrell Burgess - Waived/Injured (May 5)
G Solomon Kindley - Waived
WR Kenny Golladay - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 15)
