Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has an eye for talent and knows exactly where to go to bring them in.
Roseman has been reliant on the Georgia Bulldogs football team to find great talent, especially on defense. He has already hit home runs with guys like Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Nolan Smith Jr.
The 2025 NFL Draft was no different as he once again went to the well to find more Bulldogs to join the team. One that was selected in the fifth-round might not be a difference maker right away, but the potential of what he can do was seen in preseason.
Smael Mondon Jr. make significant strides in Eagles preseason
It was a joy to see Mondon Jr. improve from Day 1 of training camp to the final preseason game against the New York Jets. Mondon went through some growing pains at the beginning, as his transition to the NFL wasn't the smoothest.
Eagles fans really got to see what he is made of over the last two games against the Cleveland Browns and Jets. Mondon was able to demonstrate his ability to make open-field tackles, stop the run, and help in pass coverage. Was it always perfect? No, but he kept showing good progress on the field.
He finished the preseason with 12 tackles, which was second on the team behind Jeremiah Trotter Jr. with 14. Overall, it was a good preseason for Mondon, and he seems to have done enough to be in the conversation to make the 53-man roster.
With that being said, he feels like he's about to take the same path Trotter took last year. Mondon will be at the bottom of the depth chart at inside linebacker and play more special teams. Look how that turned out for Trotter, who is now in the conversation to start at inside linebacker in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys.
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Mondon was never meant to be a Day 1 starter. He was always bound to be a developmental player in his rookie season with the hopes that he can grow within the defense the next two to three years. Eagles fans might not see it right now, but Mondon could end up being a guy down the road.