Who is Jihaad Campbell, the Philadelphia Eagles' first pick in the 2025 NFL draft?
The Philadelphia Eagles traded up and selected Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell with the 31st overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night.
The Eagles jumped one spot in a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs to pick Campbell. The Birds sent their original first-round pick at No. 32 overall and No. 164 overall (fifth-round pick) for the 31st pick in the deal.
Who is Jihaad Campbell?
Campbell will join an Eagles defense that was ranked No. 1 last season in their first year under Vic Fangio and won the Super Bowl.
Campbell led Alabama with 117 total tackles in 2024, including 11.5 tackles for loss. He also had five sacks, three passes defended, two forced fumbles and an interception en route to earning First-Team All-SEC honors.
Campbell grew up in South Jersey. He's from Erial in Camden County and played at Timber Creek Regional High for three seasons before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida.
CBS Sports had Campbell ranked as the second-best linebacker in the draft and a top 15 prospect, but he likely slipped in the draft due to injury concerns.
Campbell is recovering from a torn labrum, but he should be ready by training camp, according to NFL Network.
The Eagles had a need at linebacker entering the draft with Nakobe Dean expected to miss time with a knee injury, so Campbell could start alongside Zack Baun to begin the 2025 season.
Campbell is the first linebacker the Eagles have picked in the first round since they took linebacker Jerry Robinson from UCLA in 1979.
Campbell is latest Alabama player to be selected by Eagles
The Eagles have been no stranger to selecting Alabama players in the draft over the last several seasons.
In the 2023 NFL draft, the Birds picked offensive lineman Tyler Steen in the third round and added cornerback Eli Ricks as an undrafted free agent following the draft.
Two years before that, the Eagles added wide receiver DeVonta Smith in the first round and offensive guard Landon Dickerson in the second round.
In the 2020 NFL draft, the Eagles picked quarterback Jalen Hurts, who played at Alabama and Oklahoma in college.
Howie Roseman makes another trade in NFL draft
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman loves to wheel and deal in the NFL draft, and he continued that in the first round on Thursday night in a deal with the Chiefs to select Campbell.
According to NFL Network, the Eagles tried to trade up multiple times for Campbell at the end of the first round. The Birds thought they had a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, but they ended up trading with Kansas City several picks later.
The Eagles were patient in last year's draft, but they've traded up multiple times in the first round over the last several years to get their guy.
In 2023, the Eagles also moved up one spot to pick defensive tackle Jalen Carter. One year earlier, they moved a couple spots to pick defensive tackle Jordan Davis.
In 2021, the Birds jumped the New York Giants to pick wide receiver DeVonta Smith, and they traded up a few spots in the first-round of the 2019 NFL draft to pick offensive tackle Andre Dillard.
What positions do the Eagles need to draft in 2025?
Here are the Eagles' main positions of need in the 2025 NFL draft:
- Right guard
- Tight end
- Defensive line
- Safety
What are the Eagles' remaining draft picks for 2025?
- Round 2: 64th overall
- Round 3: 96th overall
- Round 4: 134th overall
- Round 5: 161st overall (from the Houston Texans)
- Round 5: 165th overall (from the Washington Commanders)
- Round 5: 168th overall
