The Eagles’ selection of Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is considered a big steal — but it also might be a humongous risk. Campbell, who was considered one of the best defensive players in his class, earned a top-10 grade from the Eagles and was placed in the top 20 of most draft rankings. So most people didn’t expect him to be available at the end of the first round. Elite talents only fall to the bottom of the first round for one of two reasons: Character concerns or medical issues. The latter was the reason for Campbell’s slide. General manager Howie Roseman’s all-out pursuit of Campbell in the first round indicates the Eagles are not too worried about Campbell’s injury history. Ultimately, Roseman traded a fifth-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs to move up one spot (No. 32 to No. 31) for Campbell. “I’d say (the Eagles’) first-round pick this year, Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell, is a little like two years ago with (defensive tackle) Jalen Carter,”NFL reporter Albert Breer wrote for Sports Illustrated. “In both cases, there was a reason why the guy was available. With Carter, it was a checkered off-field history that Philly felt well-qualified to manage. With Campbell, it’s his shoulders and knees (yes, plural on both counts). And, again, this is one where the Eagles are more equipped to take on the risk than others, because they don’t need the pick to hit.” In March, Campbell underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum that he suffered in Alabama’s bowl game against Michigan on New Year’s Eve. Campbell told reporters during his introductory press conference that he is taking the recovery day by day. After the first night of the draft, Roseman said he had no long-term concerns about Campbell’s health, but he didn’t provide a specific timetable for his return. As long as Campbell isn’t slowed down by injuries, he could become an elite player for the Eagles’ defense. “We’ll get all into that when we bring him in here,” Roseman said after the first night of the draft when he was asked about Campbell’s status for training camp. “Obviously, our guys had an opportunity to see him at the combine and the re-checks, and we’re very excited about what he’s going to bring to the team from our perspective. All that stuff will be sorted out.” Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.