To quote an old 1990s axiom, if you don’t know about Philadelphia Eagles rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell yet … you better ask somebody.
Campbell has not only taken Philadelphia’s defense by storm, he’s taken the entire NFL by storm through his first month as a starter.
Campbell has even dominated to the point he received the only “A+” grade for 2025 first round picks from Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon.
“Incredibly, Campbell has already become one of the best linebackers in the game,” Gagnon wrote on October 1. “He’s stood out in pretty much every facet as an every-down guy from Day 1, and he’s flashed his playmaking ability with two critical takeaways already. ”
Campbell, the No. 31 overall pick, had what proved to be the game winning interception in the fourth quarter of a 31-25 road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4. Through the first 4 games, Campbell is third on the Eagles with 22 tackles to go with 2 pass deflections, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble.
Out of the 32 first round picks, only 4 players even received “A” grades; New York Jets offensive tackle Armand Membou, New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren and Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce.
Philly’s Hot Streak With First Round Picks
You can make an argument no one in the NFL has a hotter hand than Eagles general manager Howie Roseman when it comes to the NFL draft.
Roseman’s last 4 first round picks are all defensive starters and include some of the NFL’s best at their respective positions; cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (2024), defensive tackle Jalen Carter (2023), edge rusher Nolan Smith (2023) and defensive tackle Jordan Davis (2022).
Roseman’s pick before that, 2021 first rounder DeVonta Smith, is one of the NFL’s elite wide receivers.
You have to go back to 2020 to find the last first round bust for Roseman with TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor at No. 21 overall.
While the Minnesota Vikings selected NFL All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson with the No. 22 overall pick … although you can make an argument the Eagles made up for it by picking future Super Bowl MVP and NFL All-Pro quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second round.
Eagles Now Have NFL’s Elite Inside LB Duo
The incredible thing about the Eagles getting Campbell in the first round is they already had arguably the NFL’s best inside linebacker with NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl champion Zack Baun, who signed a 3-year, $51 million contract in March.
Baun’s rise to becoming one of the NFL’s best linebackers came out of nowhere in 2024. He spent the first 4 seasons of his career as an edge rusher and special teams standout with the New Orleans Saints before the Eagles signed him to a paltry 1-year, $1.6 million contract. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio made the decision to move Baun to inside linebacker and the rest is history
Baun and Campbell now represent a punishing duo in the middle for the Eagles — maybe the NFL’s best off-ball linebacker combo — and one they’ll be together through at least 2027. Campbell is playing on a 4-year, $14.9 million rookie contract and won’t even be eligible to receive a contract extension until March 2028.
