Taking a deep dive into Jihaad Campbell
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Jihaad Campbell is selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the number 31 pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
With the 31st pick in the NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Jihaad Campbell, linebacker out of Alabama.
Coming into the draft, Campbell was ranked as the No. 1 linebacker on the board, and the Eagles had him ranked in their top 10 overall.
So, how did he fall to the 31st pick? Campbell suffered a torn left labrum in his last season at Alabama and underwent surgery after the combine. However, this injury did not affect how Howie Roseman viewed him:
“We do not have any long-term concerns with his health,” Roseman said late Thursday night after the first round. “We look at the draft as a long-term opportunity for our team. We have a lot of confidence this guy’s going to be here and play at a really high level for a long time.”
Campbell grew up in South Jersey as an Eagles fan. When he received the call from a “215” number, he knew it was the Eagles and nearly broke down when he realized it was Roseman on the line, John Clark of NBC Sports reported.
It was a true homecoming moment for the South Jersey native, who grew up bleeding green, watching Randall Cunningham highlights with his grandfather.
The Eagles were only set to secure Campbell after a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to move up one pick. Roseman confirmed this in the presser held after the draft. He was concerned with teams that were trading up ahead of the Eagles, as they knew they wanted Campbell in the first round.
It was reported that when Campbell dropped into the 20s, Roseman was hot on the line to trade up and secure him before anyone else could. Luckily, the Eagles’ war room got their guy and only surrendered a 5th rounder to move up a pick.
So, who is Campbell? Let’s dive into the Eagles’ first linebacker pick since 1979:
Campbell started his high school career at Timber Creek Regional High School before transferring to the esteemed IMG Academy in Florida. There, he was rated as a 5-star defensive end and a top-15 national prospect. He committed to Alabama and was moved to linebacker due to his versatility. Although he only appeared in nine games in 2022, he broke out in 2023 with 66 tackles in eight starts.
The 2024 season was where he sealed his draft stock by earning first-team All-SEC honors while leading his team with 117 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks. Despite these eye-popping numbers, he dropped in the draft due to a shoulder injury he played through during the season.
Although Campbell played primarily as a linebacker in college, Roseman has made it very clear that the Eagles don’t want to put him in a box just yet.
“Those guys that have that versatility and can go out on the edge and get pressure as a rusher… and then he’s got the versatility off the ball and can blitz from depth, and play in space, in pass coverage as an off-ball linebacker.”
Roseman was very excited about this pick and the opportunity to let Vic Fangio, Eagles defensive coordinator, do what he does best with a versatile player. Much like first-team All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun, Fangio has the opportunity to work with a player who can rush and drop back in coverage with exceptional ability. Obviously, the esteemed defensive coordinator’s results speak for itself.
The Eagles’ general manager will not disclose the exact plan they have for Campbell just yet, but they consider him a valuable asset in their defensive front seven. Campbell himself said after the draft that he doesn’t have a preference for a defensive position and wants to be a defensive force in any regard.
Additionally, it has been made clear that this pick was not made as a replacement for Nakobe Dean, who suffered a torn patellar tendon in the divisional round of the playoffs. Dean is expected to be back in the first half of the 2025 season, though patellar injuries are difficult to set an exact timetable for.
As for Campbell’s injury, he expects to be ready to play by training camp but is taking it one day at a time. Positive news to hear for Eagles fans alike.
Day one of the NFL Draft was a success for the Eagles’ war room, and social media has already considered it a classic Howie Roseman draft moment. Roseman has drafted five SEC football players in the first round in the last six drafts — the outlier being Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up Quinyon Mitchell.
There is a lot to be excited about regarding Campbell and his versatility. We will see how the Eagles complement their first-round steal with the 64th and 96th overall picks tonight.
Sean Regenye
Sean Regenye is a sophomore broadcast journalism major at Penn State University. He is a die-hard Philly sports fan and loves baseball, especially the Phillies.
