With the 31st Overall Pick the Eagles Select Jihaad Campbell
When you hold the last pick in the opening round of the draft, there isn’t anything to do besides wait.
And for 21 picks, they waited.
Until the final 10 picks began, the Eagles started making calls.
As early as the Chargers at #22, the Eagles were reportedly attempting to trade up. And as every pick went by, players who were potentially matched for Philadelphia were slowly taken away.
Both Loveland (10) and Warren (14) were taken well before the Eagles could even think about trading up to address a future TE need. While defensive players Walter Nolen (16), James Pearce Jr. (26), and Malaki Starks (27) fell closer to the Eagles, they ended up being drafted before the Eagles could enter the conversations.
After 30 picks, the Eagles had seen enough. Swapping the 31st overall pick from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for the 32nd overall, as well as #164(5th), the Eagles made their move to fill in a gap in their defense.
Falling Into Place
Getting drafted to your favorite team is one thing. Falling to the 2nd last pick of the first round is another.
Especially when you were ranked in the following positions approaching draft day:
- Daniel Jeremiah: 12th
- PFF: 13th
- Lance Zierlein: 25th
- Chad Reuter: 15th
Falling an additional 15 picks past where Campbell was expected to land was excellent for the Eagles. And the way round one ended leaves plenty of opportunity for the Eagles to use their remaining 6 picks in the hopes of acquiring a few more home run picks this draft.
PHOTO: Kirby Lee/Imagn Images
From Will Johnson, Nick Emmanwori, Donovan Ezeiruaku. The Eagles’ options will be endless to continue to bolster depth on a depleted defense following the offseason.
Your Newest Eagle, Jihaad Campbell
After his final season in Alabama, Campbell ended the year with an impressive stat line, including:
- 5 sacks
- 117 tackles
- 12 tackles for loss
- 1 interception
- 2 forced fumbles
- 1 fumble recovery
- First-Team All-SEC
Now in Philadelphia, Campbell will fill in the vacant linebacker position alongside Zack Baun.
Nakobe Dean is unlikely to return in the 2025 season after a torn patella tendon during the Wildcard win against the Packers. The Eagles pursued a long-term solution rather than finding a short-term fix.
Playing both inside and outside linebacker will provide the Eagles and Vic Fangio with great versatility. After losing Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, and Milton Williams along the defensive line, the Eagles needed to find multiple pieces to fill in those gaps, and Jihaad Campbell is just the start.
The 2nd round of the draft starts at 7 PM EST, where we’ll be able to start the clock for the Browns, and wait the majority of the night to see the Eagles’ picks at 64 and 96.
PHOTO: Kirby Lee/Imagn Images
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