Eagles Rookie Trade Attempt: The Full Story of How Philadelphia Chased Jihaad Campbell on Draft Night
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Event | 2025 NFL Draft — First Round |
| Draft Location | Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin |
| Date | April 24–25, 2025 |
| Player Targeted | Jihaad Campbell, LB, University of Alabama |
| Campbell’s Hometown | Erial, New Jersey (17 miles from Lincoln Financial Field) |
| Eagles GM | Howie Roseman |
| Eagles’ Original Pick | No. 32 overall |
| First Trade Attempt | With the Los Angeles Chargers at pick No. 22 — fell through |
| Successful Trade | With the Kansas City Chiefs — pick No. 32 + No. 164 (5th round) for No. 31 |
| Final Pick Number | No. 31 overall |
| Historical Note | First off-ball linebacker drafted by Eagles in Round 1 since Jerry Robinson in 1979 |
| Campbell’s 2024 Stats | 117 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 INT |
| Campbell’s College Honors | First-Team All-SEC 2024, Second-Team All-American |
| Eagles’ 2024 Defense | Ranked No. 1 in the NFL under Vic Fangio |
| Eagles 2024 Season Result | Super Bowl LIX Champions |
The Draft Night Nobody Will Forget
Picture it. Green Bay, Wisconsin. Lambeau Field. April 24, 2025.
The Philadelphia Eagles had just won the Super Bowl a few months earlier. They came into the draft as champions — confident, disciplined, and hungry for more.
They held pick No. 32. The very last selection of the first round. Most teams at the end of the draft just sit and wait for the night to come to them.
Not the Eagles. Not Howie Roseman.
While picks 20 through 30 were being made by other franchises, something was happening behind the scenes that almost nobody in the public knew about yet. Philadelphia was moving. Calling teams. Making offers. Chasing one specific player harder than anyone could see.
That player was Jihaad Campbell.
Who Is Jihaad Campbell?
Before we get into all the drama, you need to know who the Eagles were so desperate to land.
Jihaad Campbell is a linebacker from the University of Alabama. He grew up in Erial, New Jersey — a small town just 17 miles from the Eagles’ home stadium at Lincoln Financial Field.
He spent his first three years of high school at Timber Creek in South Jersey. Then he moved to IMG Academy in Florida, the elite sports boarding school that has produced dozens of NFL players.
He chose Alabama over Clemson, Florida, Georgia, and Texas A&M. That tells you something right there — every top program in the country wanted him.
In his final college season in 2024, he led Alabama with 117 total tackles. That was the most any Alabama player had recorded since DeMeco Ryans did it back in 2003. He added 11.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception. He earned First-Team All-SEC and Second-Team All-American honours.
The Eagles rated him inside their top ten players on the entire board. That means in a draft full of hundreds of prospects, Roseman and his staff saw Campbell as one of the ten best football players available.
He was not just a need. He was a want.
Why the Eagles Needed Him
The Super Bowl champion Eagles had the number one ranked defence in the NFL in 2024. That is extraordinary. But they were not blind to what was coming.
Nakobe Dean, one of their linebackers, had torn his patellar tendon in January 2025. He was going to miss significant time in the upcoming season. A hole had just opened up in the middle of their defence.
Zack Baun had become an All-Pro linebacker and was a cornerstone of the unit. But Dean’s injury meant they needed a reliable partner for him. Someone who could play every snap at a high level.
Campbell was the answer to that problem. He was young, athletic, and could start from day one. He also brings something most linebackers cannot offer — legitimate pass-rush ability. He is not just a run stopper. He can get after the quarterback when used in certain packages.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, one of the best defensive minds in NFL history, reportedly had a major hand in pushing for this pick. When Fangio wants a specific player, the organisation listens.
The Trade Attempt Nobody Saw Coming
Here is where the story gets genuinely dramatic.
The Eagles did not sit quietly at pick 32, content to see what fell to them. As the first round moved through picks 20, 21, 22 — the Eagles were on the phone with the Los Angeles Chargers.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport was the first to reveal what happened behind the scenes. He reported that the Eagles and Chargers had nearly agreed on a trade for pick No. 22. The Eagles were willing to jump ten whole spots — moving from 32 all the way up to 22 — just to guarantee they could get Jihaad Campbell.
That is a significant leap. Trading up ten spots in the first round costs serious capital. The Eagles were ready to pay whatever it took.
The clock was ticking on the Chargers. They had ten minutes to make their selection. Insiders say the Eagles and Chargers were deep in negotiations. Some sources suggest the two teams actually came to an agreement — but then the deal fell apart because of a communication issue. Under NFL rules, both teams must independently report the trade terms to the league. If the two sets of terms do not match exactly, the deal is void.
Whether it was close or not, the end result was the same. The Chargers used pick No. 22 on North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton. Campbell was still on the board. And the Eagles were scrambling.
The Chargers Took So Long the Internet Noticed
If you were watching the draft live that night, you noticed something strange.
The Chargers took the full ten-minute clock. Every. Single. Second.
Viewers were confused. Analysts were speculating. The tension in the broadcast booth was real. Nobody knew why a pick was taking this long.
Now we know. The Chargers were talking to multiple teams — including the Eagles — about trading that spot. Campbell’s name was floating through every backroom conversation at Lambeau Field that night.
When the Chargers finally settled on Hampton, it became clear no deal had been reached. The Eagles were left holding their spot at 32. Campbell slipped past pick 22. Then 23. Then 24. Then 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
Every pick was a breath held.
Roseman Made One More Call
Campbell was still there at 30. He was still there after 30.
Roseman, cool as ever, picked up the phone again. This time he called the Kansas City Chiefs — the exact team the Eagles had beaten to win the Super Bowl just two months earlier.
The deal was clean and quick. Philadelphia gave Kansas City their original No. 32 pick and a fifth-round pick at No. 164. In return, they got No. 31 — one spot ahead of where they already were.
For the price of one fifth-round pick, the Eagles secured the player they had rated in their top ten all along.
It was one of the most efficient trades in recent draft memory.
The Moment Campbell Got the Call
Jihaad Campbell was in Green Bay when the pick was announced. But before the name came over the broadcast, he got a phone call.
The area code was 215. Philadelphia.
“I thought, ‘Hmm, interesting,'” Campbell remarked after seeing the 215 number. “Howie was like, ‘Do you know who this is? Howie is here.”A surreal moment for my family and me.”
He described his grandfather’s connection to the Eagles going all the way back to the Randall Cunningham era. Coming home to Philadelphia — just 17 miles from where he grew up — was not just a professional moment. It was a personal one.
That is the kind of detail that cuts through all the draft strategy and trade numbers. This was a kid from South Jersey getting picked to play for his hometown team.
What Howie Roseman Said Afterwards
Roseman did not try to hide any of it. At the post-draft press conference, he was unusually open about the whole process.
He confirmed that Campbell had been a top-ten player on their board. He confirmed they had tried to trade up earlier in the night. He dismissed any concerns about Campbell’s injury history — specifically shoulder injuries that had caused some pre-draft worry.
“We look at the draft as a long-term opportunity for our team,” Roseman said. “We have a lot of confidence this guy is going to be here and play at a really high level for a long time.”
He also described the eventual successful trade as something that was not entirely expected. “Wasn’t really something we anticipated,” he said — meaning they had hoped to get Campbell earlier, but were genuinely pleased to land him at all.
He called it an easy pick. That phrase matters. When the Eagles’ GM calls something an easy pick after months of evaluation, that is as close to a guarantee of belief as you will hear.
Why This Pick Is So Historically Significant
Here is a number that stops you in your tracks: 46 years.
The last time the Philadelphia Eagles used a first-round pick on an off-ball linebacker was 1979. That was Jerry Robinson. Gerald Ford was still a year out of the White House. The NFL looked almost nothing like it does today.
Every draft class from 1980 through 2024 — 44 draft classes — came and went without the Eagles spending a first-round pick on a linebacker of this type.
Roseman broke that 46-year pattern to pick Jihaad Campbell. That tells you exactly how highly they valued him.
It also reflects the influence of Vic Fangio. Under Fangio’s defensive system, linebackers who can play multiple roles are enormously valuable. Campbell can line up inside, rush the passer from the edge, and drop into coverage. That versatility is exactly what Fangio’s scheme demands.
The Eagles’ Draft Strategy — Always Moving
The Campbell trade was not a one-off. It was another chapter in a long story about how the Eagles approach draft weekend.
The year before, in 2024, the Eagles set a record by making eight trades across all seven rounds of the draft. Eight. In one single draft. They were constantly on the phone, always looking for an angle, always adjusting.
In 2025, they entered the draft with eight picks and left with ten rookie players. They used trade-downs and smaller moves across later rounds to add picks and get the players they had targeted.
This franchise under Roseman does not treat the draft like a passive event. They treat it like a negotiation marathon. Every round is an opportunity to improve the roster, gather future capital, or pounce on a player who slides further than expected.
Campbell was the perfect example of that mindset. The Eagles identified him. They tried to get him early. When the early attempt failed, they stayed patient. When the window appeared at pick 31, they seized it without hesitation.
The In-Season Context — A Franchise Built to Win Now and Later
The Campbell pick did not happen in isolation. By November 2025, the Eagles were still in contention and Roseman was active again.
He traded a 2026 third-round pick to the Miami Dolphins for pass rusher Jaelan Phillips. The defensive line needed a jolt. Roseman provided one.
This is the balance the Eagles consistently try to maintain — building for the future through the draft while also making targeted moves in season to keep the team competitive right now.
Campbell fits the future building block model. He is 21 years old with starting potential and a ceiling that excites everyone around the programme.
What Comes Next for Campbell
If healthy, Campbell is expected to compete for a starting role next to Zack Baun. The Baun-Campbell pairing at linebacker is something Eagle fans and analysts are genuinely excited about.
Both players have pass-rush ability. Both are athletic. Both are physical presences against the run. A defence already rated number one in the NFL could add a starting linebacker who was a top-ten player on their draft board.
The shoulder injuries that flagged in pre-draft evaluations remain a question to monitor. Roseman addressed this directly and expressed full confidence. Campbell himself arrived in Philadelphia looking sharp and eager to prove himself.
There is also the question of where exactly Fangio uses him. The defensive coordinator has talked about Campbell’s flexibility. He could play inside next to Baun. He could rush from the edge in certain packages. He could line up in different spots depending on the opponent and the situation.
That positional flexibility is rare. Most linebackers are one thing or the other. Campbell might genuinely be multiple things at once.
Final Words
Draft night 2025 told a great story about how the Eagles operate.
They had a player they loved. They tried to move up early — all the way to pick 22 — and nearly had a deal with the Chargers before it fell apart in the final seconds. They regrouped. They kept watching. They saw Campbell slip and slip and slip.
When the moment came at pick 31, they moved again. This time cleanly and quickly, with their Super Bowl rivals in Kansas City.
They brought home a child from South Jersey who grew up following the Eagles with his grandfather in exchange for a fifth-round pick. A player they had rated in their top ten. A linebacker prospect who had not been taken in the first round by Philadelphia since Gerald Ford was playing golf somewhere in Michigan.
Forty-six years. One trade. One phone call that started with a 215 area code.
That is draft night done right.
FAQs
1. What is the Eagles rookie trade attempt?
It refers to Philadelphia’s efforts during the 2025 NFL Draft to trade up in the first round and select Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell. The Eagles tried to jump to pick No. 22 with the Chargers, failed, then successfully traded up one spot from No. 32 to No. 31 with the Kansas City Chiefs.
2. Who did the Eagles select in the trade?
University of Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell. He was a First-Team All-SEC selection in 2024 and rated by the Eagles as one of the top ten players in the entire draft.
3. What did the Eagles trade to get Campbell?
They sent the Kansas City Chiefs their original No. 32 overall pick plus a fifth-round pick (No. 164 overall) in exchange for pick No. 31.
4. Why did the Eagles first try to trade up to No. 22?
They believed Campbell might be taken before pick 32 reached them. He would have been considerably ahead of the competition if he had moved to No. 22 with the Chargers. The deal reportedly fell through due to a communication issue where both teams did not properly submit matching trade terms to the NFL.
5. Who revealed the failed Chargers trade attempt?
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported after the first round that the Eagles and Chargers had nearly executed a deal for pick No. 22. He confirmed it on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
6. Why did the Chargers take so long at pick 22?
They were reportedly speaking with multiple teams about trading the pick, including the Eagles. After the clock ran out, they used the selection on North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton.
7. How significant is it that Campbell was drafted first round?
Very significant. He was the first off-ball linebacker the Eagles had selected in the first round since Jerry Robinson in 1979 — ending a 46-year drought for the franchise at that position.
8. Why did the Eagles want a linebacker so badly?
Nakobe Dean, their starting linebacker, had torn his patellar tendon in January 2025 and was expected to miss significant time. There was a real hole next to All-Pro Zack Baun that needed filling.
9. What did Howie Roseman say about the pick?
He called it “an easy pick” and confirmed Campbell was inside their top ten players on the board. He also confirmed he would have traded up even earlier if the right deal had materialised and dismissed any concerns about Campbell’s shoulder injury history.
10. What does the failed Chargers trade mean for that franchise?
The Kansas City Chiefs, who eventually acquired the Eagles’ No. 32 pick, benefited indirectly from the Chargers’ failure to complete the transaction, whether due to a decision or a communication problem.
11. What are Campbell’s college stats?
In 2024 at Alabama, Campbell recorded 117 total tackles (the most by an Alabama player since DeMeco Ryans in 2003), 11.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, three passes defended, and one interception across 13 games.
12. Is Campbell from the Philadelphia area?
Yes. He grew up in Erial, New Jersey, about 17 miles from Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles’ home stadium. He grew up as an Eagles fan and his grandfather watched the team during the Randall Cunningham era.
13. How does this fit the Eagles’ larger draft philosophy?
The Eagles are one of the most active trading franchises in NFL history during draft weekends. In 2024 they made eight trades in one draft. In 2025 they entered with eight picks and left with ten rookies. The Campbell move reflects a pattern of aggressive, targeted pursuit of specific players.
14. What role will Campbell play in Vic Fangio’s defence?
Fangio can deploy him in multiple ways — as an inside linebacker alongside Zack Baun, or as an edge rusher in pass-rush packages. Campbell’s versatility is considered one of his biggest strengths and fits Fangio’s scheme well.
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