Eagles 2025 NFL Draft class analysis

Let’s analyze the 10 picks the Philadelphia Eagles made in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Jihaad Campbell, Linebacker, Alabama

Key Measurables: 6’2”, 235 Pounds, 4.52 40-Yard Dash (1.52 10-yard)

Key Stat: Generated 20 Pressures on only 99 Pass-Rush Snaps in 2024

The Eagles broke convention in a big way with the Jihaad Campbell pick. After a decade of Howie Roseman devaluing linebackers, they drafted the top linebacker in this class. In fact, they traded up for him and were willing to trade up a lot more.

It’s easy to see why, though. Jihaad Campbell is not your average linebacker. The Crimson Tide took full advantage of his athleticism by turning him loose as a pass rusher off the edge and as a blitzer. Campbell rewarded the Tide for their trust in him by simply being one of the best linebackers in the country. He was excellent getting after the quarterback while still being a top level run defender and holding down the middle of the field in coverage.

Vic Fangio’s defensive philosophy puts high value on versatility. Zack Baun, a former edge rusher, became one of the best off-ball linebackers in the league in Fangio’s defense. It makes sense that Fangio would see Jihaad Campbelll’s skill set and want him right there with Baun in the middle of the unit.

I expect the Eagles to maximize Campbell’s versatility immediately. Especially with a young, relatively unproven group of edge rushers, they will use the talented rookie all over their defense to create athletic mismatches. Especially once Nakobe Dean is back in the fold, the trio of Dean, Campbell and Baun give the Eagles a ton of flexibility with defensive alignment given all three’s ability to cover, blitz, and defend against the run.

Andrew Mukuba, Safety, Texas

Key Measurables: 5’11”, 185 Pounds, 4.45 40-Yard Dash (1.53 10-yard)

Key Stats: TD/INT Ratio of 0/5 in 2024

After deviating from Howie Roseman norms with the linebacker pick, the Eagles continued with spending a high pick on a safety. And it’s easy to see why.

Andrew Mukuba is not the biggest safety in the world, but he makes up for it with high-level athleticism, great instincts, and a unique physicality. Mukuba plays like a much, much bigger defender when it comes to his enthusiasm for tackling. His size does make it hard against bigger ball carriers, but effort is rarely an issue.

In coverage, Mukuba can play deep or in the slot given his incredible quickness, burst, and range. He is a serious ballhawk too and will help turn the ball over quite a bit.

Mukuba not only has an inside-line at winning the second safety role next to Reed Blankenship, I’d bent he becomes a fan favorite rather quickly. He is a great player, but his feisty personality fits in beautifully on an already scrappy defensive unit. The Eagles badly needed to find someone to fill CJ Gardner-Johnson’s shoes and they found a guy who can do so on and off the field.

Ty Robinson, Defensive Tackle, Nebraska

Key Measurables: 6’5”, 288 Pounds, 10’9” Broad Jump

Key Stats: 37 Total Pressures in 2024

Addressing the defensive line was a big need for the Eagles in this draft. I thought they’d swoop in sooner to find someone to fill the Milton Williams-sized hole on their defense, but this pick made a ton of sense where it happened.

Ty Robinson spent a long time in college and is an older prospect, but it is easy to see the appeal. He is highly athletic and enjoyed a really strong final season at Nebraska. His burst off the ball was hard to defend against and he plays with an extremely high motor.

It’s to be seen if his athletic tools translate to the NFL or if he was able to just win at the college level as an older, more physically developed prospect. He figures to be a rotational player at defensive tackle while Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo lead the charge.

Mac McWilliams, Cornerback, Central Florida

Key Measurables: 5’10”, 191 Pounds, 4.41 40-Yard Dash (1.52 10-Yard)

Key Stats: Allowed QB Rating of 69.3 into coverage in 2024

It’s no surprise the Eagles added some more talent to their cornerback group. The exit of Darius Slay and James Bradberry left the team with a really young and relatively unproven group. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are stars, but DeJean is at his best in the slot which leaves a big whole at the other outside cornerback spot.

Mac McWilliams is a good player whose athleticism is welcomed in the Eagles secondary, but his size makes things a bit tricky to project him in this group. McWilliams lacks the length to consistently compete as an outside cornerback, meaning he may be best served as a slot defender in dime looks and a special teams contributor.

Smael Mondon Junior, Linebacker, Georgia

Key Measurables: 6’2”, 224 Pounds, 10’10” Broad Jump

Key Stats: Only allowed 19 receiving yards in 2024

The Smael Mondon pick felt like a great value selection by the Eagles. Even with the Jihaad Campbell pick, the Eagles saw a really talented player at a position of need and pulled the trigger.

Smael Mondon is not the prototypical linebacker in terms of size, but he is a tremendous athlete who absolutely flies around the defense. Mondon dealt with injuries in his final year of college, but his impact was obvious when he was on the field. He is great in coverage and can make an impact as a blitzer. Lack of length hurts him attacking the run, but he is fearless coming downhill.

The Eagles now have a deep, talented, young linebacker room to give the team flexibility with personnel and alignments. Mondon will also contribute on special teams.

Drew Kendall, Center, Boston College

Key Measurables: 6’4”, 308 Pounds, 4.51 20-Yard Shuffle

Key Stats: One Sack Allowed in 2024

The first of three offensive lineman the Eagles picked in this draft. Drew Kendall is a bit small, but a very athletic and experienced center. Kendall will be a great developmental player under Jeff Stoutland’s tutelage that can serve as Cam Jurgens’ backup and potentially butt his head into the guard competition.

Kyle McCord, Quarterback, Syracuse

Key Measurables: 6’3”, 218 Pounds

Key Stats: Led the country with almost 4,800 passing yards in 2024 (ACC Record)

One of the draft picks I really wishcasted for the Eagles, I love this pick as much as a person can love the selection of a team’s QB3.

Kyle McCord, the Native Son of Philadelphia, was awesome in his one year at Syracuse. McCord’s physical tools are all average-above average, but he really wins above the shoulders. He is a smart, decisive passer, who isn’t afraid to rip off the big throw but doesn’t make too many mistakes. He was one of the best deep passers in college football last year and it shows with his easy accuracy at every level of the field.

The Eagles are set at quarterback with Jalen Hurts and lucky enough to have Tanner McKee as the primary backup. I expect Kyle McCord to beat Dorian Thompson-Robinson for that third spot, however, and stick around on the team for a few years before Howie trades him for a Day 2 draft pick.

Myles Hinton, Offensive Tackle, Michigan

Key Measurables: 6’7”, 334 Pounds, 31.5” Vertical Jump

Key Stats: 1 Sack Allowed in 2024

The Eagles drafted two massive, athletic offensive tackles late on Day 3. Myles Hinton is an impressive physical specimen who had really brilliant moments in 2024 as a run and pass blocker. Flip on the Ohio State and watch him maul the Buckeyes and their defense full of now NFL rookies.

Hinton is a raw player and his dominance was not consistent. The Eagles are betting big on tools here and it could pay off in two or three years.

Cameron Williams, Offensive Tackle, Texas

Key Measurables: 6’6”, 317 Pounds, 11 ⅜” Hands

Key Stats: Did you see the hand size?

Like the Myles Hinton pick, the Eagles are making a smart bet on talent in the trenches.

Williams played all of 2024 at right tackle, but it was his one year as a starter. His inexperience showed in inconsistency and lack of discipline, where he was heavily penalized. Williams allowed lots of pressure, struggling mightily against the NFL talent of Michigan, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Georgia.

That all being said, it’s obvious why the Eagles were interested. He is huge and very athletic. If they can be patient with him, it’s possible Williams can be a serviceable, if not downright good NFL player. He’s only 21 years old.

Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Edge Defender, Virginia Tech

Key Measurables: 6’3”, 258 Pounds, 10’4” Broad Jump

Key Stats: 25.5 Sacks in the last two years

It was known the Eagles would address edge rusher in this draft. If you discount the Jihaad Campbell selection, it is a bit surprising they waited this long to get a true edge defender. That being said, the Eagles got a good one.

Antwaun Powell-Ryland was a terror on the Virginia Tech defense last year. His burst, motor, and deep bag of pass-rush moves made him extremely hard to block. His 48 total pressures in 2024 are evidence of his dominance pursuing the quarterback.

Powell-Ryland was less effective as a run defender, which isn’t surprising given his size. It’s likely his lack of bulk or length will limit what he can do in the NFL as well.

For the Eagles, Powell-Ryland made a ton of sense as a late round addition. His pass rush prowess will likely win him a roster spot. In a perfect scenario, he ends up a specialist in the Eagles defense getting after the passer. I really think he has the talent for it.

Wrapping Up

This draft was considered by many, myself included, to be a meat and potatoes draft. The class was deep in the trenches, at unsexy positions that fans might not go crazy for. The Eagles capitalized on this in a big way, drafting three offensive linemen and four front-seven defenders.

The team once again put big priority on athletic traits at every position, emphasizing size on the offensive line and speed on defense.

This class was not a flashy group, but it will be looked at in a few years as contributing some core pieces to the defense in Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba, who should start as rookies. I also think at least one of those offensive line picks ends up a good starter eventually.

I do wish the team addressed the WR3 position at some point given the depth of this receiver class. Also, not drafting a tight end was a surprise given the Dallas Goedert trade rumors.

All in all, another job well done by Howie Roseman and company. The fact that they also added some draft capital in 2026 is gravy.