The Eagles got an absolute steal at 31 overall in Jihaad Campbell

The Eagles got an absolute steal at 31 overall in Jihaad Campbell. Call it what it is.

When you look at what Philly needed — leadership in the middle of the field, range, aggression, and someone who can actually finish tackles — this wasn’t just a good pick. It was the best-value pick of the entire first round.

How this guy fell into Howie Roseman’s lap at 31 is beyond me. But Philly cashed in. And they didn’t just walk away with a linebacker — they walked away with a culture changer.

Campbell Fits Philly Like a Closed Fist

This isn’t your finesse linebacker. This isn’t someone who piles up tackles six yards downfield. Jihaad Campbell hits you and lets you think about it on the ride home.

He’s rangy. He plays with attitude. And he’s not scared of anything in front of him — which is more than we could say about the Eagles’ second-level defense last season.

This kid brings physicality. He brings versatility. And he brings an Alabama pedigree that shows up in the tape — not just the media guide.

A First-Round Pick With Top-15 Impact

Here’s what nobody’s saying loud enough: Campbell could’ve gone top 15 and nobody would’ve blinked. And yet, the Eagles get him after every other team passed him up for corners, pass-rushers, and skill players with more flash but less fire.

Let them chase combine numbers. Philly got a real football player.

Don’t be surprised when this kid is calling signals and barking at vets by midseason. He’s that good — and that ready.

Philly’s Front Seven Just Got Meaner

Put Campbell behind Carter, Davis, Sweat, and Reddick? That’s a linebacker’s dream. Free lanes. Chaos up front. Room to hunt. Campbell’s going to feast.

And Vic Fangio’s system? It thrives on linebackers who can run, read, and disrupt. Campbell’s not just a fit — he’s the key.

The Bottom Line

You don’t get lucky in the first round — not unless someone else screws up. And that’s exactly what happened here. A dozen GMs talked themselves out of Jihaad Campbell.

Howie didn’t.

And now Philly walks into the 2025 season with a top-tier linebacker, drafted at the end of the round, with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove.

Philly didn’t just draft a guy. They robbed the board. And the league’s going to feel it soon enough.