Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell has shown promise in his second year with the team, but the guy he replaced, Nakobe Dean, seems to be ahead of him.
Campbell is coming off a decent game in the Eagles' 24-20 win over the Tennessee Titans. He picked up 10 tackles and a forced fumble to help his team win.
That should be enough to get Eagles fans excited about him, but there are still some struggles with him. Campbell's biggest problem is something Dean isn't dealing with as a Las Vegas Raiders linebacker.
Jihaad Campbell has some catching up to do with Nakobe Dean in Eagles' 2026 season
Dean is off to a strong start with the Raiders in 2026 after signing a three-year, $36 million contract. He has racked up 16 tackles, three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. Dean is coming off a game in which he forced a fumble late in the fourth quarter to help the Raiders win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Pro Football Focus graded Dean at a 72.2 overall, ranking 14th out of 70 linebackers. He also has a run-defense grade of 69.2, ranking 15th, and a pass-rush grade of 90.1, ranking first among linebackers.
As for Campbell, he's been doing well for the Eagles, but not at Dean's level. This season, Campbell has 19 tackles, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, and one forced fumble.
PFF gave Campbell an overall grade of 68.9, ranking 24th out of 70 linebackers. They also gave him a run-defense grade of 67.8 (18th) and a pass-rush grade of 66.0 (21st).
Sports Illustrated's Jeff Kerr was a bit harsh on Campbell in his winners-losers article after the Titans game, naming Campbell a loser. Kerr was disappointed in Campbell's coverage skills during the contest.
"While Campbell had 10 tackles and a forced fumble, his coverage numbers aren't very good. he was picked on Sunday, allowing four catches for 52 yards on four targets -- as Cam Ward had a 118.8 passer rating targeting him. The 24-yard pass in the fourth quarter to Elic Ayomanor showcased the work Campbell needs to do in coverage in his zone."
Dean is more experienced than Campbell, so the veteran should be ahead, but it still feels like Dean has an advantage over Campbell in almost every aspect. PFF actually graded Campbell higher in pass coverage than Dean, but Dean leads in everything else.
The Eagles used Dean in many ways within the defense, including blitzing him to rush the passer with ease. Philly could move Dean around, and he could pursue the ball carrier wherever he went.
This doesn't mean that Campbell is all that bad, as he can still be a good player in the future. The Eagles decided not to bring Dean back and instead roll with Campbell at inside linebacker alongside Zack Baun. Financially, it was the right move, but the pain is being felt on the field.
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A lot can change over the next few months, but right now, Dean is making the Eagles pay for not picking him over Campbell.
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