Photo: Kirby Lee, Imaagn Images
After winning the Super Bowl due to their stout defensive performance, the Philadelphia Eagles took the steal of the draft by selecting Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell with the 31st pick. Widely considered a top 15 player on many big boards, Campbell slipped to the end of the first round where the Eagles traded up one spot to grab him.
Philadelphia traded No. 32 and No. 164 overall to move up to No.31 to grab their guy. GM Howie Roseman called the pick a “no-brainer” as they saw Campbell as a top-10 prospect in this draft. A player recruited to Alabama out of IMG Academy as an edge rusher, Campbell transitioned to an off-ball linebacker with the Crimson Tide being loaded at the edge position already. The transition took a year before Campbell burst onto the scene in his sophomore year recording 66 tackles with 4 tackles for a loss. This success only elevated his junior year where Campbell recorded 117 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and an interception; this was good enough to earn Campbell First-Team All-SEC as well as Second-Team All-America.
Campbell skyrocketed up draft boards leading into the combine where he dominated; measuring in at 6’3″, weighing 235 lbs, running a 4.52 forty-yard dash, and recording a 10’7″ broad jump. Campbell showed the traits of what every time looks for in a linebacker; long, rangy, and showing the sideline-to-sideline speed coaches dream of. Combining these rare traits along with his potential to rush the quarterback made Campbell a surefire prospect. But he fell down the board right into the defending Super Bowl champions laps.
A defense filled with Georgia stars Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Jordan Davis, and Nakobe Dean; the Eagles went with the Crimson Tide star to bolster their defense. While Campbell still has plenty of room to grow, by slotting in next to All-Pro Zach Baun, Campbell will be able to learn from one of the league’s best and adapt to the Vic Fangio defense.
Lenny Talks Sports 