PHILADELPHIA — With so much going wrong for the Eagles, it’s worth taking a moment to focus on one thing that has gone right.
Eagles rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell has proven to be a great first-round pick.
Through six games, Campbell has emerged as a favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year, racking up 40 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. He’s already playing like one of the NFL’s best linebackers— and he’s only scratching the surface.
After veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith’s surprising retirement on Monday, many expect Campbell to see more snaps on the edge. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Tuesday that Campbell could spend more time splitting duties between linebacker and edge rusher.
Campbell’s versatility was of the reasons Eagles general manager Howie Roseman drafted the former Alabama linebacker in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Out of necessity, the Eagles may have to deploy him as a pass rusher more often — but contrary to popular belief, that might not be a good thing.
Campbell may eventually be capable of excelling at both linebacker and edge rusher, but taking snaps away from him at linebacker right now could be a mistake.
He’s a weapon for Philadelphia’s defense, particularly in coverage against tight ends and running backs. According to Pro Football Focus, Campbell has allowed the least separation of any linebacker in the NFL when in primary coverage.
“Obviously, you have to be a super freak to be a first rounder and then also to go out there and do what he has done,” Eagles rookie defensive tackle Ty Robinson said about Campbell.
At 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, Campbell moves with rare speed for a linebacker. He ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, but he plays even faster on the field.
In Philadelphia’s Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys, Campbell dropped into Tampa 2 coverage, sprinted 30 yards downfield with tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford, and broke up Dak Prescott’s pass. Three weeks later against the Buccaneers, he blanketed tight end Cade Otton on a 10-yard route to the end zone, jumped the throw from Baker Mayfield, and came away with an interception.
“If he’s covering a running back or even a tight end, he’s gonna be faster than them,” Eagles edge rusher Patrick Johnson said. “That is what kind of what separates him from a lot of different guys in the league.”
Even when Campbell isn’t in primary coverage, he covers ground quickly to disrupt screens and short passes.
“When they throw a little check down to the sideline, he beelines there,” Robinson said. “The only other guy that could beat him is the cornerback and he’s like meeting him there at the same time. Some guys will see it happen and they still are processing whether they should go or not. For him, it’s just go. Just go and try to make a play, and at the end of the day, that’s what he’s been doing.”
Campbell’s speed has impacted more than just coverage.
“He comes downhill, takes on blocks, obviously does well in block destruction,” Eagles edge rusher Josh Uche said.
As a run defender, Campbell sets the tone with his physicality.
“You watch him take on offensive linemen coming to the second level and he’s popping dudes back,” Robinson said. “He’s not trying to avoid them. He’s shocking them and shedding and making plays and then also has the ability to shock them a few times to then slip them. It kind of keeps them guessing for the most part what the guy is going to do when they get up there to him.”
According to cornerback Kelee Ringo, what stands out most about Campbell is how fast he plays and how hard he hits.
“He’s a hard-nose dude,” Ringo said. “He’s a Jersey guy, and he’s rougher on the edges. That’s definitely the type of mindset you need to have as a linebacker.”
Campbell slipped to the 31st pick because of injury concerns, but he was widely viewed as a top-20 talent in his draft class. So far, he’s proving to be one of the biggest steals.
“He has all the tools to be able to play on the edge,” Johnson said about Campbell’s versatility. “He has the flexibility to be able to bend the edge, the physicality to be able to play on the edge as well. Take on blocks, shed them, get off, make plays. I mean, he’s been showing that he can do it all. If that’s what they are asking from him, then I think he’s gonna do great at it.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.