Eagles' Howie Roseman Secures Linebacker Jihaad Campbell with Strategic Trade

Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman made several strategic moves during the NFL Draft, highlighted by acquiring linebacker Jihaad Campbell from Alabama in the first round after a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. Roseman initially attempted to trade up as high as pick No. 22 to secure Campbell, but ultimately only needed to move from No. 32 to No. 31, giving up a fifth-round pick to ensure Campbell didn't slip away. Roseman and the Eagles considered Campbell a top-10 talent on their draft board, and his unexpected fall due to a shoulder issue made the pick particularly valuable. The Eagles' draft approach this year continued their recent trend of prioritizing elite defensive players early, marking the first time since 1977 the team did not select an offensive player in their first 140 picks. Multiple sources note this as another example of Roseman's knack for maximizing draft value and landing high-upside defenders even when not picking early in the draft. The trade activity also left the Eagles with additional mid-to-late round picks, providing further roster flexibility.