When the Philadelphia Eagles nabbed Jihaad Campbell with the thirty first total decide within the 2025 NFL Draft, it bought followers hyped.
In opposition to all odds, Howie Roseman and firm secured the companies of a participant many thought-about a top-15 participant disregarding accidents and with wants at each inside linebacker and on the sting following the exits of Josh Sweat, Oren Burks, and Brandon Graham, Campbell would be capable of make an influence on the sector this fall when absolutely wholesome from an offseason shoulder surgical procedure.
However what do the Eagles like about Campbell that basically made him stick out as a prospect? Nicely, as Roseman famous in his post-first-round presser with Nick Sirianni, the Alabama linebacker was just too good to cross up, as he can accomplish that many issues so properly.
“Excited to have him. Actual excited to have him. Wasn’t actually one thing we anticipated. Perceive among the different groups could have causes for taking different gamers, however for us, this was an actual straightforward decide. Actually explosive participant. He can play inside, he could be an edge rusher, simply actually really feel lucky to carry him again house to Philly,” Roseman advised Eagles reporters.
“This was a High-10 participant on our board; we would not have any long-term considerations along with his well being. We take a look at the draft as a long-term alternative for our crew. We’ve got a number of confidence that this man goes to be right here and play at a very excessive degree for a very long time, and so while you’re in a draft and also you’re choosing on the finish of the primary spherical, you’ve a chance to get a High-10 participant in your board, a man who can have an effect on the quarterback, a man who can have an effect on the passing recreation, for us it was a no brainer.”
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Hmm, utilizing the time period “have an effect on the passing recreation” when speaking about an off-ball linebacker is curious, as for essentially the most half, these gamers are used to decelerate the run, with their protection obligations typically restricted to zone between the sides and the occasional manning up of a good finish or working again.
“We felt this was the most effective gamers within the draft. It is a man who was recruited from IMG by Alabama as a hand-in-the-dirt edge rusher; that they had some accidents at Alabama, they performed him off the ball,” Roseman mentioned. “You see his explosiveness and his pace. He is bought pace, he is bought energy as an edge rusher. He was skilled as an edge rusher. And he is bought the flexibility to play off the ball and blitz from depth and play in house and influence cross protection as an off-ball linebacker.”
As soon as once more, that is an terrible lot of discuss being an edge for a participant many thought-about to be a full-time off-ball linebacker this fall, main one to imagine Campbell might be seeing the majority of his work this fall as a 3-4 exterior linebacker, the place his versatility may make him an authorized weapon that must be accounted for earlier than each snap.
In 2024, the Eagles weren’t capable of absolutely unlock Vic Fangio’s most popular defensive look as a result of they merely did not have edge rushers who may drop into protection occasionally to optimize post-snap optionality. Certain, Zack Baun may do some little bit of all the things, and lots of followers see Campbell doing the identical factor. However do not be shocked if Fangio noticed Alabama’s tape in 2024 and ID’d the long run first-round decide as a really perfect exterior linebacker for his scheme. Why? As a result of having a participant who can drop into protection, stunt, or straight-up rush on any given play may add an unbelievable wrinkle to the Eagles’ base defensive bundle, no matter whether or not you name Campbell an inside or exterior linebacker earlier than the ball will get snapped similar to how Fangio used Andrew Van Ginkel again in Miami.