Every year, it seems general manager Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles find both value and instant impact players throughout the NFL Draft, with this spring being no different.
In addition to adding quality depth across the roster on Saturday, Roseman executed a trade in Round 1 to move up one spot to select Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell, a year removed from aggressively moving up the board to select cornerback Cooper DeJean in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Roseman and the Eagles are betting big that Campbell can elevate an already dominant front seven, especially playing alongside All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun.
Philadelphia Eagles’ Jihaad Campbell an NFL Draft Steal
Pro Football Focus put together a list of one NFL Draft steal from each round, including the Eagles coming away with Campbell, after trading up with the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Campbell oozes athleticism,” the PFF Staff writes. “With incredible first-step quickness and speed to cover in space. He needs to develop his anticipation and awareness in coverage, but he lands in the perfect spot to learn alongside Zack Baun. Campbell is an excellent tackler with just a 5.9% missed tackle rate while totaling 30 coverage stops.”
Campbell, 6-foot-3 and 244 pounds, was stellar his final season in Tuscaloosa, posting 119 total tackles with five sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception, and two pass breakups, significantly bolstering his NFL Draft stock and helping him propel into a first round pick.
The Eagles already boast one of the deepest and most dominant defenses in the league, and Campbell’s arrival as an instant impact contributor could make it even more disruptive.