Eagles rookie report card for Week 4 reveals more projects than expected

Four games in, the Philadelphia Eagles know they have a future franchise cornerstone in rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell.

The rest of their 2025 draft class remains a clear work in progress.

Philly’s top two rookies, Campbell and second-round safety Andrew Mukuba, started Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played just about every defensive snap in the 31-25 victory. With undrafted wide receiver Darius Cooper now on injured reserve, no other rookie got meaningful playing time outside of special teams.

It’s still very early, but general manager Howie Roseman’s decision to hoard a bunch of Day 3 draft picks and pass on making a third-round selection this year is a fair second guess. The Eagles are a bit thin at the edges of their roster in key groups, such as cornerback, safety, outside linebacker, and wide receiver, as the calendar flips to October.

Best and worst from Philadelphia Eagles rookies in Week 4

LB Jihaad Campbell

Campbell has been, without question, the NFL’s best defensive rookie through the first month of the season. He showcased his playmaking ability once again with a red-zone interception off Baker Mayfield; he also helped force a Bucky Irving fumble in the third quarter.

It wasn’t an A-level performance overall, though. Campbell had some struggles in coverage, including getting hosed on a late-developing pass from Mayfield to Irving that went for a 72-yard touchdown down the sideline. Still, he was on the field for 70 of 72 snaps in the game, per Pro Football Focus, and has already become an indispensable piece in Vic Fangio’s defense.

Grade: B+

S Andrew Mukuba 

Mukuba played a full-time role at safety for the first time in his career on Sunday; he was one of five Eagles defenders to play all 72 snaps, joining Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Reed Blankenship, and Zack Baun.

The Buccaneers were a tough assignment, and Mukuba definitely had some rookie moments in this one. Mainly, he took a brutal angle on a deep Mayfield pass that resulted in a walk-in, 77-yard touchdown in the third quarter that got Tampa right back into the game.

Mukuba’s going to be a good player for Philly. He has clearly passed veteran Sydney Brown on the depth chart and continues to show up well in run defense. The Eagles don’t need him to play hero ball on the back end, though, and that’s probably the top takeaway from this game.

Grade: C-

DT Ty Robinison, CB Mac McWilliams, LB Smael Mondon Jr.

Eagles fans have been waiting to see more of Robinson, a fourth-round pick who was hyped up a bit during training camp. The wait continues, as Robinson remains outside of the defensive line rotation and hasn’t been contributing much on special teams. At this point, he’s nothing more than a depth stash.

Philly’s issues at cornerback have been an ongoing discussion. On Sunday, veteran Kelee Ringo got his opportunity. McWilliams continues to see his lone snaps on the punt team.

The Eagles clearly like Mondon. His role on special teams continues to grow, logging a career-high 22 total snaps on Sunday, per PFF.

We haven’t seen much from any Eagles rookie outside of Campbell, Mukuba, and a little bit of wide receiver Darius Cooper. For now, it’s a little too early to judge these guys.

Grade: Incomplete 

Philadelphia Eagles 2025 rookie class overall (through Week 4)

The group took a slight step back on Sunday. The Eagles were fortunate to hold on, and their top rookie draft picks were involved in a pair of rough defensive breakdowns that resulted in 70-plus yard scores.

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As expected, this is a top-heavy group, with Campbell and Mukuba doing most of the heavy lifting. We’re still in wait-and-see mode with about 70 percent of this 2025 draft class, so a middling grade feels appropriate as we head to the second month of the regular season.

Grade: C+