The Colts give Lou Anarumo another horse for their revitalized defense with this dynamic playmaker.
According to PFF’s Jordan Plocher, the Indianapolis Colts will select Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell with the 14th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft:
14. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: LB JIHAAD CAMPBELL, ALABAMA
With the top tight end prospect gone, the Colts turn to getting an athletic and versatile front-seven player in Campbell. He showed what a well-rounded linebacker he is in 2024, garnering an 81.0 PFF run-defense grade and an 80.1 PFF coverage grade to go with eight sacks.
The 6’3,” 235 pound linebacker (with 32 1/2” arms) recorded 117 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, an interception, 2 passes defensed, a fumble recovery, and 2 fumble recoveries during 13 starts in 2024—earning First-Team All-SEC honors.
He has a RAS [Relative Athletic Score] of 9.87 out of a maximum of 10.0.
Campbell is regarded as arguably the top off-the-ball linebacker in this year’s draft class.
Here’s his scouting report via NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, who ranks Campbell as his 9th best overall prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft:
“Campbell is a tall, rangy and explosive linebacker. He was recruited to Alabama as an edge rusher but initially moved to linebacker because of the Crimson Tide’s depth on the edges (SEE: Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner, among others). This past season, he played both off the ball and on the edge. As an off-ball linebacker, he doesn’t possess elite instincts but offers excellent speed and physicality. He can range sideline to sideline and flashes the ability to thump off blockers and collect tackles on inside runs. He displays exciting tools in his pass-rush opportunities off the edge. He can burst/bend and finish. He also grew more comfortable in coverage throughout the 2024 season. He anticipates routes and positions himself to make plays on the ball. Overall, Campbell expands the playbook for defensive coordinators and his best football is ahead of him.”
Jihaad Campbell is a name that will gain A LOT of steam next week at the Combine. Freaky burst for his size. Speed for days.
Let him rush the passer! pic.twitter.com/qknSIcYH1S
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 20, 2025
Of course, the Colts could use a starting linebacker alongside NFL 2nd-Team All-Pro Zaire Franklin, as his former teammate (and podcast host) E.J. Speed recently departed to the Houston Texans during free agency. While the team also has 2024 5th round pick Jaylon Carlies, who excelled in coverage, he may be better suited for subpackage linebacker work.
Having already given new veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo some key horses to work with in the secondary, Campbell would give him a dynamic linebacker in the 2nd level of his defense featuring speed, athleticism, range, and physicality—and a lot of upside.
While prized Penn State tight end Tyler Warren may be the top target at #14 overall, Campbell wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize for the Colts either to help remake their defense with upgraded talent.
