Sometimes a player like Philadelphia Eagles star Jihaad Campbell gets lost in the noise. That can happen when a team is chasing a championship, navigating offensive growing pains, and generating headlines for reasons unrelated to football. It can also happen when a rookie quietly goes about his business while veterans dominate the spotlight.
That may have been the case with Campbell last season. His playing time diminished when Nakobe Dean was healthy enough to return to action, but as most know, things have changed. Dean moved on, and the 2025 first-round selection has a clear path to step into the spotlight.
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Recently, Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo of The 33rd Team selected breakout candidates for all 32 NFL teams. When discussing Philadelphia, both analysts landed on the same choice: Jihaad Campbell. Palazzolo believes the former first-round pick’s rookie season deserved far more attention than it received.
“Quietly really good as a rookie, and maybe that got overlooked (with) all the focus in Philadelphia (being on) the offense underperforming, A.J. Brown and drama, right? Everyone just sort of didn’t notice that Jihaad Campbell was playing really well.”
Campbell’s rookie season may have been overlooked. It’s difficult to argue with that assessment, but he never seemed overwhelmed by the NFL game. He played with confidence, tackled well, and consistently flashed the athleticism that made him such an attractive prospect during the predraft process.
The Eagles never asked him to carry the defense as a rookie, but whenever opportunity arose early in Dean’s absence, he looked capable of handling more responsibility. Now, he may get that chance on a full-time basis.
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One of the most intriguing aspects of Campbell’s future, as Monson notes, is his versatility. Campbell showcased some impressive pass-rushing ability during the predraft process, though he acknowledged that role may not become a major part of his workload in Fangio’s defense.
Instead, Campbell is expected to move around. At times, he could align as a traditional strongside linebacker near the line of scrimmage. On other snaps, he may operate off the ball, where his range and instincts can shine. The departure of Nakobe Dean only adds to the opportunity.
Philadelphia has openings at linebacker, and Campbell appears well-positioned to claim a larger share of those responsibilities. The best part of Campbell’s game may be that there are very few weaknesses to discuss.
He defends the run well. He tackles consistently. His coverage skills remain underrated. He can play downhill, operate in space, and contribute in a variety of situations. In other words, he looks like the type of three-down linebacker every defensive coordinator wants. Breakout predictions are easy to make in June. Backing them up is much harder.
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Right now, he continues to rehab from injury. He was seen doing individual rehab work during the first mandatory minicamp practice. His defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, says Campbell should miss most of the offseason, but there is hope he’ll be ready to go by the start of the regular season.
Campbell enters the season with momentum, opportunity, and the confidence of two respected analysts. If his development continues on its current trajectory, Eagles fans may soon discover that what looked like a quiet rookie season was merely the beginning of something much bigger.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Jihaad Campbell earns breakout prediction from 33rd Team analysts
