Football
While I have watched highlights from the Super Bowl every day since it happened, apparently a NEW season of football is still going to start in September. Before that can happen however, each team gets to select a number of former college standouts in the annual NFL Draft (April 24-April 26) which takes place in Green Bay, Wis. this year.
The Philadelphia Eagles will have the last pick in the first round, due to being the defending Super Bowl champs of course, and six picks in rounds two through five, although Executive VP/GM/Wizard Howie Roseman has been known to make a deal or two on draft weekend.
2025 Picks:
1st round (PHI), No. 32
2nd round (PHI), No. 64
3rd round (PHI), No. 96
4th round (DET), No. 133
5th round (HOU), No. 162
5th round (WAS), No. 166
5th round (PHI), No. 169
2026 Picks:
1st round (PHI)
2nd round (PHI)
3rd round (PHI)
3rd round (NYJ)
4th round (PHI)
5th round (PHI)
6th round (PHI)
7th round (PHI)
Potential Team Needs (2025 free agents in parentheses):
EDGE (Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham)
LB (Zack Baun, Oren Burks, Ben VanSumeren; Nakobe Dean FA in 26)
OG (Mekhi Becton, Fred Johnson)
OT (Jack Driscoll; Darian Kinnard, Brett Toth FAs in 26)
TE (C.J. Uzomah FA; Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcatarra, E.J. Jenkins FA in 26)
CB (Isaiah Rodgers, Avonte Maddox FA; Darius Slay, Tristin McCollum, Eli Ricks, James Bradberry FAs in 26)
RB (Kenneth Gainwell)
IDL (Milton Williams; Jordan Davis, Thomas Booker IV FAs in 26)
While we don’t have any answers on who the Birds will be able to retain and who they will lose in free agency, let’s do a little educated guessing!
Let’s pretend the Eagles LOSE: Sweat, Graham, Becton, Rodgers, Maddox, Gainwell, Williams, Uzomah
Let’s pretend the Eagles RETAIN: Baun, Burks, Johnson, VanSumeren, Driscoll
If this (Baun staying in Philly) happens, linebacker becomes way less of a “need” in the draft for Philadelphia and interior defensive line probably moves up to the “immediate needs” section. The Birds will probably still draft a linebacker, although this has never been a top priority for them as an organization in the past. However, it IS a priority of mine, uh, right now!
So let’s take a look at four potential linebackers the Eagles could draft in April. (Age listed is “age on first day of the season.” Height and weight is as listed on NFL.com draft profile.)
Jihaad Campbell, Alabama, 6-foot-3, 244 pounds, junior, 21 years old
- built like a linebacker you’d design in Create-A-Player on Madden
- really solid in coverage, especially given his size
- there are concerns about his play processing, mostly in the run game
- a number of scouts (and one Alabama fan I asked online) seem to think he might be better served as an EDGE rusher in the NFL, which is where the Eagles could probably find the most value from him
- 2024 accolades: Second Team All-American (FWAA, The Athletic, USA Today); First Team All-SEC (coaches), Second Team All-SEC (AP)
- 2024 stats: 117 tackles (54 solo), 11.5 TFL, 5 sacks, 1 interception, 3 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
- Fun fact: he’s from New Jersey even though he played his senior high school season at IMG (Fla.) Academy
- The Eagles should draft him in: 1st round
Kobe King, Penn State, 6-foot-1, 248 pounds, RS JR, 22 years old
- smart, strong, physical linebacker that is stout in run defense
- isn’t great in pass coverage and can get beaten to the corner by faster running backs
- one of the leaders of a potent Nittany Lions defense that made the CFP last year
- 2024 accolades: Second Team All-Big Ten (coaches, media); team captain
- 2023 accolades: Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (coaches, media)
- 2024 stats: 97 tackles (53 solo), 8.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass defended
- Fun fact: twin brother, Kalen, also played at Penn State (cornerback) and was picked by the Green Bay Packers in the 7th round of the 2024 NFL Draft
- The Eagles should draft him in: 3rd round
Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon, 6-foot-1, 226 pounds, SR, 22 years old
- came into college as a safety before transitioning to linebacker during his freshman season; above average in pass coverage as a result
- played a lot of special teams at Oregon, which could help him make the team if he’s on the cut line
- I like how physical he plays against the run, although by all accounts he still needs some work in that area
- not the ideal size for a linebacker but has room to add some weight
- 2024 accolades: Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (media, coaches)
- 2023 accolades: Second Team All-Pac-12 (media, coaches)
- 2024 stats: 54 tackles (23 solo), 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles
- Fun fact: scored two kick return touchdowns in high school
- The Eagles should draft him in: 4th round
Jay Higgins, Iowa, 5-foot-11, 226 pounds, 5th Year SR, 23 years old
- a literal tackling machine; Higgins will find whoever has the football and will stop them; nonstop motor
- multi-year team captain and leadership council member; clearly well-respected by teammates and an integral part of an always good Iowa defense; also has a ton of special teams experience
- official measurements MUCH smaller than listing on Hawkeyes website (6-foot-2, 232 pounds) which will surely scare off some teams; not an athletic freak, but has functional strength and elite positional knowledge
- 2024 accolades: First Team All-America (AFCA, AP, FWAA, Phil Steele, Sporting News, Walter Camp); First Team All-Big Ten (coaches, media); Big Ten Linebacker of the Year; team captain
- 2023 accolades: First Team All-America (FWAA, Phil Steele, Sports Illustrated); Second Team All-America (AFCA, CBS, Walter Camp, AP, Sporting News); First Team All-Big Ten (coaches, media); team captain; 171 total tackles tied school record for most in a single season
- 2024 stats: 124 tackles (53 solo), 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 4 interceptions, 5 passes broken up, 9 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles
- Fun fact: led his high school conference in tackles for three consecutive seasons
- The Eagles should draft him in: 4th round
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