Eagles’ Rookie Named Emerging Star Across NFL
The Philadelphia Eagles‘ past several draft classes have become instant contributors of a Super Bowl caliber core, and early returns from this spring’s haul suggest the 2025 draft class will be no different.
While Jihaad Campbell appears to have seized a starting linebacker job alongside Zack Baun, safety Andrew Mukuba had one of the more impressive preseasons for any rookie across the NFL, including returning an interception off Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel for a touchdown in Week 2 of the exhibition slate.
According to Pro Football Focus, Mukuba is one of the top emerging stars in the league, from the preseason.
“The Eagles know how to find impact players in the draft,” Mason Cameron writes for PFF. “And second-round pick Andrew Mukuba is just another example. The former Texas safety is having an excellent preseason, boasting the highest PFF coverage grade (94.2) at the position, thanks to an impressive pick-six against the Browns in preseason Week 2.
“Don’t be surprised if Mukuba is given the starting nod over Sydney Brown heading into Week 1.”
Finishing the preseason with one tackle, one fumble recovery, and the interception returned for a touchdown, Mukuba made a compelling case to play immediately.
“I always thought that he has a knack for the football, how he practices, watching his tape, whether it was at Clemson or at Texas,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni recently told reporters, of Mukuba. “He has the ability to take the ball away as a playmaker. So anytime you go out there and make a play, that’s big. … He was there for the fumble recovery after they had a missed exchange. Well, guys that have a knack for the football just find some ways to be around the football, and I think that’s what we saw today.”
Mukuba’s impressive summer might not just parlay into the second-round pick securing a starting job, but could catapult him alongside the likes of Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean as instant contributors on a Super Bowl caliber defense that led the league in 2024.
Eagles Trade Offensive Lineman to Packers
Elsa | GettyThe Philadelphia Eagles have a young core of talented players on a roster built to compete for multiple Super Bowls in the years ahead.
General manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles were busy on Sunday, with a trio of trades.
Not only did Philadelphia acquire backup quarterback Sam Howell in a deal with the Minnesota Vikings, and trade for Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Fred Jackson but also sent lineman Darien Kinnard to the Green Bay Packers.
Kinnard played in two games with the Eagles last season, after signing a futures contract in early 2024.
The 25-year-old Kinnard allowed one sack last season, according to Pro Football Focus, and now lands in Green Bay where the Packers hope he can not only provide quality depth but could be a developmental prospect they relay on for key snaps in the seasons ahead.
