Six games in, it’s no secret. The Philadelphia Eagles scored one of the steals of the 2025 NFL Draft in No. 31 overall pick Jihaad Campbell.
Head coach Nick Sirriani and company have several issues to iron out entering Week 7, but their rookie middle linebacker isn’t one of them. He’s the second-highest graded defender on Philly’s defense, per Pro Football Focus, playing the fourth-most snaps; his 40 total tackles in six games ranks second on the team behind only All-Pro Zack Baun.
At this point, Eagles fans want to see more. And with Nakobe Dean now officially back in the mix, and Za’Darius Smith surprisingly enjoying an early retirement, the next move for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has become clear as day.
ESPN analyst speaks for all Eagles fans on Jihaad Campbell’s pass-rushing upside
With Za’Darius Smith now out of the building, and Nolan Smith Jr. not expected back until after the Week 9 bye, the Eagles are dangerously thin on the edge. They're going to be relying heavily on second-year pro Jalyx Hunt, and some combination of Josh Uche, Azeez Ojulari and Patrick Johnson in Week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings and beyond.
The obvious fix would be to start rotating Dean back in at linebacker — he saw zero defensive snaps in his 2025 debut against the Giants last Thursday night — while dropping Campbell down to the edge to support a pass-rushing group that’s combined for just 2.5 sacks as a group through six games; the troubling news is that 1.5 of those sacks came Za’Darius Smith, who wasn’t even active in Week 1.
ESPN recently released its top 10 rookies through the first third of the season. To the surprise of no one, Campbell made the cut, at No. 7. NFL draft analyst Matt Miller weighed in on Campbell, and he highlighted what Eagles fans have been begging for from Fangio and company for the balance of this season.
“Campbell is smooth and instinctive in pass coverage, and his best trait could ultimately be what he brings to the table as a pass rusher. That hasn't been unlocked yet in Philadelphia, but it's something to watch as he gets more comfortable in his role.”
Fangio was asked by reporters about the chances of Baun, Campbell, and Dean being deployed together, with Campbell on the edge. Fangio said little outside of, “it’s possible,” while voicing confidence in the pass rushers the team already has.
Read more: Vic Fangio’s cagey Quinyon Mitchell update has fans fearing the worst
That group leaves much to be desired, though, especially with Nolan Smith Jr. on injured reserve. Simply put, the Eagles need help and more production from that group, and in lieu of a blockbuster trade from GM Howie Roseman and company, Campbell feels like the solution that’s hiding in plain sight.