The Philadelphia Eagles have developed a well-earned reputation for being one of the best teams in the NFL when it comes to drafting and developing their own internal talent, and the early returns suggest that GM Howie Roseman may have landed yet another tremendous long-term talent in linebacker Jihaad Campbell.
Not only was social media lit ablaze when the Eagles managed to select Campbell, a player many believed would be selected within the first 20 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft, at No. 31 overall, but Eagles fans were relieved they could replace Nakobe Dean after his unfortunate injury.
While the Eagles' offense hasn't lived up to the hype, the Philly defense has been as good as advertised so far. Campbell and Zack Baun have been performing like one of the best linebacker duos in the league, giving the Alabama product a head start in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race.
Per Pro Football Focus, Campbell has earned a sparkling 83.4 overall grade after two weeks, which puts him first among all rookie linebackers. After allowing just one catch for four yards against an offense that features Travis Kelce, Campbell is proving the pre-draft doubters wrong.
Eagles rookie LB Jihaad Campbell one of PFF's highest-graded rookies
Part of the concern around Campbell was his lack of experience as a traditional inside linebacker, as he arrived at Alabama as a pass rusher who gradually moved over to more of a hybrid role. Baun kicked things up a notch after moving inside as a pro, while Campbell did it in college.
The Eagles took a bet on Campbell's overall skill set, as he was a premium athlete with great speed and the ability to lay down some serious thunder on opposing ball carriers. Even more encouragingly, Campbell seems to have taken to Vic Fangio's scheme like a duck to water so far.
The Eagles now have four players who still have not had their fifth-year option picked up, all of whom appear to be long-term standouts. The 1-2 punch of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean has been lethal in the secondary, and Jalen Carter is already a star. Campbell could be right there with them.
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The Eagles are the best when it comes to not overthinking things in the Draft. Campbell was a premium athlete from a blue-blood program at a position of need, and Roseman was not going to let a talent like that fall much farther after his initial drop.