Howie Roseman has a type. Usually, it involves a flight to Athens, Georgia, or Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and coming home with a defensive tackle who weighs as much as a small car. But the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles draft picks told a slightly different story, one that feels a bit like a pivot or maybe just a chaotic reaction to a roster that was starting to show its age.
Let’s be honest. Being an Eagles fan is basically just a full-time job of refreshing Twitter to see which SEC player Howie just "stole" from the rest of the league. After the 2025 draft wrapped up, the vibes were... mixed. We saw a heavy lean into the linebacker room, which is weird because this franchise has treated the linebacker position like a used car for the better part of a decade.
The Headliner: Jihaad Campbell and the Linebacker Pivot
For years, the Eagles front office basically operated under the philosophy that linebackers were optional. You’d see them trot out guys on one-year "prove it" deals and wonder why the middle of the field looked like a freeway.
That changed in 2025. With the 31st overall pick, the Eagles grabbed Jihaad Campbell out of Alabama.
It was a classic Roseman move. He traded up one spot with the Kansas City Chiefs—swapping the 32nd pick and the 164th pick—just to make sure nobody else snagged the guy from Camden County. Yeah, Campbell is a local kid. He played at Timber Creek before heading to IMG and eventually Bama.
Last year at Alabama, the kid was a machine: 117 tackles and five sacks. He’s huge for a linebacker at 6'2" and 235 pounds, and he actually knows how to rush the passer. Some scouts think he’s a hybrid EDGE, but the Eagles seem intent on letting him hunt from the "Mike" or "Will" spots. It’s a massive investment for a position they usually ignore.
The Rest of the 2025 Haul
The draft didn't stop at Campbell. The secondary got a major boost, and the trenches—Howie's favorite playground—got some late-round projects.
- Round 2 (Pick 64): Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas. A four-year starter who is basically the anti-C.J. Gardner-Johnson. He’s a bit smaller, but he didn't give up a single touchdown last season. He’s competing for that spot opposite Reed Blankenship.
- Round 4 (Pick 111): Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska. A 6'5" powerhouse. He was a wrestler in high school, and you can see it in how he uses his hands. He’s a "throwback" player who fits the rotation.
- Round 5 (Pick 145): Mac McWilliams, CB, UCF. This was the "reach" of the draft according to most analysts. He’s slender and feisty, but many thought he’d be available as an undrafted free agent.
- Round 5 (Pick 161): Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia. Another Georgia Bulldog. Shocker. He provides depth behind Campbell and Nakobe Dean.
- Round 5 (Pick 168): Drew Kendall, C, Boston College. With Cam Jurgens established, Kendall is purely a depth play. His dad, Pete Kendall, was a first-round pick back in the 90s, so the pedigree is there.
Why Howie Roseman is Playing a Dangerous Game
Philly finished the 2025 season at 11-6, but it felt... hollow. The Wild Card loss to the 49ers exposed a lot of cracks. Specifically, the offense looked stagnant under Kevin Patullo, and Jalen Hurts didn't look like the MVP-caliber guy we saw in 2022.
The strategy with the Philadelphia eagles draft picks in 2025 was clearly about getting younger and cheaper on defense. But did they ignore the offense? Aside from some late-round offensive tackle flyers like Myles Hinton (Michigan) and Cameron Williams (Texas), the cupboard was pretty bare on that side of the ball.
There is a growing concern in Philly that the "Plan B" for Jalen Hurts is already being drafted. In the 6th round, the Eagles took Kyle McCord from Syracuse. Now, nobody is saying McCord is the next franchise savior. But remember when they took Hurts while Carson Wentz was still the guy? Roseman loves "quarterback factories." McCord grew up in Mt. Laurel and went to St. Joe’s Prep. He knows the city. If Hurts continues to struggle with passing efficiency, the noise around McCord—or a 2026 first-rounder—will get loud.
👉 See also: NFL Picks ATS This Week: Why the Divisional Round Numbers Look So Weird
The 2026 Outlook and Impending Free Agency
We are currently looking at a massive roster turnover. The Eagles have 18 pending free agents heading into the 2026 offseason.
| Player | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Goedert | TE | Unrestricted |
| Reed Blankenship | S | Unrestricted |
| Jaelan Phillips | DL | Unrestricted |
| Nakobe Dean | LB | Unrestricted |
| Brandon Graham | DL | Unrestricted |
Roseman basically told the media in his end-of-year press conference that sacrifices are coming. The Eagles only have about $14.2 million in effective cap space for 2026. That’s pennies in the NFL.
This means the 2025 draft class has to hit. If Jihaad Campbell isn't a Pro Bowl-level talent by year two, and if Andrew Mukuba can't lock down the safety spot, this defense is going to crater. They are banking on rookie contracts to offset the massive deals given to A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Eagles Draft Strategy
People think Howie just takes the "best player available." He doesn't. He drafts 1-2 years ahead of a need.
He drafted Cam Jurgens while Jason Kelce was still playing. He drafted Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in 2024 because he knew the secondary was aging out. The 2025 picks were an attempt to fix the linebacker and interior defensive line depth before the 2026 free agency exodus.
But there’s a flaw here. By focusing so heavily on "value" and "pedigree" (the Bama/Georgia pipeline), they sometimes miss out on high-upside players from smaller schools who fit their scheme better. The Mac McWilliams pick is a prime example. Why take a project corner in the 5th when you could have addressed the looming tight end vacancy left by Goedert?
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
If you’re tracking the Philadelphia eagles draft picks for the upcoming cycle, keep your eyes on these three areas:
- The Tight End Void: With Dallas Goedert hitting free agency and no clear successor on the roster, expect a high pick (Round 1 or 2) to be spent on a pass-catching TE.
- The Lane Johnson Succession: Lane isn't getting younger. While they took Myles Hinton late in 2025, they need a "blue-chip" tackle. Watch for the Eagles to use their 23rd overall pick in 2026 on an offensive lineman.
- The A.J. Brown Trade Rumors: It sounds crazy, but if Philly needs cap relief and more draft capital, trading a star receiver is the Roseman way. If a trade happens, wide receiver becomes an immediate Day 1 priority in the draft.
The 2025 class was a "B-" in the eyes of many. It was safe. It was local. It was very "Philadelphia." But in a league where you're either getting better or getting fired, "safe" might not be enough to get this team back to the Super Bowl. Keep a close watch on how Campbell and Mukuba integrate during the 2026 OTAs—their development is the only thing standing between the Eagles and a full-scale defensive rebuild.