First Round NFL Draft Grades: Everybody loves the Eagles selecting Jihaad Campbell

Howie Roseman did it again by trading up to draft Jihaad Campbell with the 31st overall pick in the NFL Draft.

It’s almost not even fun anymore — Howie just sits there, plays the board like a fiddle, and somehow still walks away with Jihaad Campbell, a guy he had rated as a Top 10 talent while everyone else trips over themselves taking quarterbacks who couldn’t even beat out their backup at Utah.

Philly Guy: Jihaad Campbell is a huge Eagles fan and can’t wait to get to work

This time, the magic trick was landing Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell with the 31st pick. A legit freak athlete who probably only fell because of a recent shoulder surgery. It’s almost unfair.

Eagles trade up to No. 31 overall to select LB Jihaad Campbell

Here’s how the draft experts reacted to the Eagles basically robbing the league blind by selecting Jihaad Campbell

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SI.com: A+
“One of the best prospects in this class regardless of position, and almost certainly the top pure linebacker.”
117 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 5 sacks — the dude basically lived in the backfield at Bama.

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Danny Kelly, The Ringer: A+
“I’ll just say what I always seem to say when it comes to Howie Roseman’s picks: He can’t keep getting away with this.”
Every time Howie makes a pick, you can practically hear the other 31 GMs slamming their heads on their desk.

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Bleacher Report: A+
“The Eagles never draft linebackers. Except this year, apparently.”
They also pointed out that Campbell could have been a Top 15 pick without the injury. So, naturally, Philly just sat back, waited, and stole him like the cat burglars they are.

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Geoff Schwartz, FOX Sports: A
“Just another athletic freak show to add to the Eagles defense.”
Not sure when the Eagles’ defense turned into the Avengers, but here we are.

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USA Today: B+
“Campbell might not make the immediate impact that Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean did, but his range and athleticism point to him becoming Roseman’s latest hit.”
Translation: Be patient. He’s going to ball out.

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CBS, Pete Prisco: B
“Solid pick.”
Pete Prisco being lukewarm is basically an A+ from a normal human being, so don’t read too much into it.

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PFF: “Very Good”
“Campbell oozes athleticism with incredible first-step quickness and speed to cover in space.”
You had me at “oozes athleticism.”

Media reactions after Howie Roseman fleeces the NFL by landing Jihaad Campbell 31st overall in the NFL Draft

Quick Takeaways:

This wasn’t some desperate “we need a linebacker” panic move. Here’s Howie himself after the pick:

• “Really excited to have him. Wasn’t something we anticipated.”
• “This was a top 10 player on our board. We do not have any long-term concerns about his health.”
• “This wasn’t a need pick. This was a player we had tremendous passion about.”
• “Very excited to get him and we didn’t want to lose him.”

Translation: They weren’t sweating linebacker depth. They saw a stud fall into their laps and pounced. No overthinking. No trying to galaxy-brain it. Just straight-up good football business.

WATCH: Eagles land Jihaad Campbell at No. 31, Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Lurie were HYPE in the Draft Room

Now Jihaad Campbell walks into a defense that already has Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Jalen Carter, and Jordan Davis — and gets Vic Fangio’s brain in his ear. Good luck, NFC.

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