Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 5/4/25. Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … 2025 NFL Draft: Ranking all 32 rookie classes; plus, overall grades, favorite picks and Day 3 sleepers – NFL.com11) Philadelphia Eagles. GRADE: B+. Why did the rest of the league allow Jihaad Campbell to fall right into Philadelphia’s lap? Everyone saw it coming, and yet, nobody tried to stop it from happening. Well, I guess the Chiefs kind of did, making the Eagles trade up a spot to claim their prize. But in the end, the reigning Super Bowl champions landed Daniel Jeremiah’s No. 12 overall player with the 31st pick. Does Howie Roseman have compromising pictures of everyone? The linebacker’s recent shoulder surgery played a part, sure, but it still feels like this will ultimately be a case of the rich getting obnoxiously richer, with Campbell and Zack Baun forming a second-level duo that’s equal parts dynamic and devastating. The Eagles boast the best roster in the NFL, and it feels like they’re only increasing their talent advantage over everyone else. Eagles rookie jersey numbers for 2025 NFL Draft picks and UDFA signings – BGNNo. 30 for Campbell isn’t ideal. That’s just not a linebacker number (although it is more of a LB number than an edge rusher number). He did wear it at Alabama before switching to No. 11 last season, so, at least there’s some history there. But it’d be good to see him switch. No. 59 could be good if Thomas Booker IV doesn’t make the team or is willing to change his number. I think No. 95 could’ve looked cool for a pass rushing linebacker, like how it worked for Mychal Kendricks. Roob’s Observations: Figuring out what Eagles’ new revamped secondary will look like – NBCSP1. With free agency and the 2025 draft in the books, we can finally get a sense of what the Eagles’ revamped secondary will look like following the departures of Darius Slay, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Avonte Maddox and Isaiah Rodgers from the Super Bowl-championship secondary. We know Quinyon Mitchell is a starting outside corner and Cooper DeJean is a starting inside corner. We know Reed Blankenship is a safety. After that? There’s an intriguing group of young defensive backs who are going to compete this summer, and it’s going to be fun to watch. Second-round pick Andrew Mukuba will battle Sydney Brown for the second safety spot, and Mukuba is the favorite as a 2nd-round pick, but Brown is going into his third season healthy and has two years of NFL experience and a bit of a head start on Makuba. Brown has some clear strengths – fast, tough and physical – and he’s a very good practice player, so he’s not going to let Mukuba win that job without a fight. The competition for that second outside corner spot starts with Kelee Ringo, also going into Year 3, and Adoree’ Jackson, a 1st-round pick back in 2017, with Eli Ricks also in the equation. I have to think Ringo has the edge based on what I saw his rookie year. Ringo is still only 22 and Jackson is 29, and we can all see how the roster is trending younger. Whoever loses that battle could become the top outside backup, but don’t count out Ricks. If Ricks has a good summer, Jackson becomes expendable. Backup slot is an interesting one. If Jackson isn’t starting, he can play slot, but with a good camp 5th-round rookie Mac McWilliams from Central Florida could challenge for that spot. If Jackson goes, that makes Blankenship – who turned 26 in March – the oldest d-back on the roster. And if Mukuba isn’t starting at safety, he’d be an option as well as a backup slot. It looks like Howie Roseman and Vic Fangio want as many young guys on the field as possible, and if they line up with DeJean, Mitchell and Ringo as the top three corners and Blankenship and Mukuba as starting safeties, that’s an average of just under 23 years old. This is a lot of change in one position group after the Eagles had the top pass defense in the NFL a year ago. But if the idea is to get younger and faster, it sure looks like that’s happening. Spadaro: Inside Eagles Rookie Camp, an integral first step on the road to becoming a pro – PE.comThe pace is fast, faster than they were accustomed to in college. The stakes are higher, of course, now that the players taking part in this weekend’s Eagles Rookie Camp – a total of 52 players in all for practices on Friday and Saturday – understand that this is their job now. “It’s all about learning how to be a professional,” said cornerback Mac McWilliams, the team’s first of three fifth-round draft picks. “Nothing is given to you here. You have to earn everything. I know, for me, after the long NFL Draft process, I can’t wait to get on the field.” That is what this weekend, and the weeks to follow, are all about for the youngest Birds. Nobody is offering any quick evaluations and while the physical side of things is certainly top of mind, even more important is the player’s ability to absorb reams of information and process it quickly and translate it from the meeting rooms to the practice fields. 2026 NFL mock draft: Reid’s early first-round predictions – ESPN31. Philadelphia Eagles. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt. The Eagles have broken some of their draft trends recently. In 2024, they drafted a corner in Round 1 (Quinyon Mitchell) for the first time since 2002. This year, they drafted an off-ball linebacker in Round 1 (Jihaad Campbell) for the first time since 1979. Let’s keep that going with Stowers, who would be their first Round 1 tight end since 1988. Stowers broke out last season, catching 49 passes for 638 yards and 5 touchdowns. His ability to create after the
The Linc – “Does Howie Roseman have compromising pictures of everyone?”
Silver Minings: Rookies receive numbers
Ashton Jeanty | Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images Carlson is going back to his original number with the club The Las Vegas Raiders added 11 players via the 2025 NFL Draft last weekend, and the draft class recently received their jersey numbers, which answers the question of what digit first-round pick Ashton Jeanty will wear with the Silver and Black. Jeanty wore No. 2 at Boise State, but Raiders’ kicker Daniel Carlson has been wearing that number over the last four seasons. However, Carlson wore No. 8 in 2018 and 2019—his first two years with the club—before switching numbers when Marcus Mariota was signed in 2020. The kicker will accommodate the rookie running back by going back to his original digit, allowing Jeanty to continue wearing two. At the time of writing, there has been no word on how much that cost the sixth overall pick. Whatever the compensation to Carlson was, Jeanty certainly had a few dollars to spare after signing a nearly $36 million contract with a signing bonus of about $22.7 million, per Over The Cap. Below is the full list of the 2025 draft class’ numbers: Ashton Jeanty 2 Jack Bech 18 Darien Porter 26 Caleb Rogers 76 Charles Grant 60 Dont’e Thornton Jr. 10 Tonka Hemingway 97 JJ Pegues 92 Tommy Mellott 19 Cam Miller 5 Cody Lindenberg 54 In Other Raiders’ Links: UDFAs with chance to make roster: Las Vegas has openings on defense that the undrafted rookies could take advantage of, as explained in this week’s mailbag. AFC West draft best and worst: “Bringing good size at 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds, Bryant has strong hands and is confident,” Silver and Black Pride’s Ray Aspuria wrote. “But he’s not going to scare teams with his average speed or separation skills. He’s a possession receiver who struggled to separate from defensive backs in college. Bryant’s lack of dynamic athleticism is only going to become more apparent in the pros.” Jeanty received prank draft call: “Some dude called me and was like, ‘We just traded with the Raiders, and you’re coming to the Cowboys,’” Jeanty said on the ‘Stacking The Box’ podcast (h/t Las Vegas Review-Journal). “I just hung up, bro. I was like, ‘Come on, bro.’” Raiders’ offense taking shape via draft: “Another part of improving Smith’s supporting cast was taking Bech at No. 58 after trading back twice to do so,” ESPN’s Ryan McFadden wrote. “Given the depth at wide receiver, Bech will compete for a starting role right away. Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker and Kyle Philips, who didn’t play in 2024, are the only wide receivers with more than 10 career receptions.”
Giants UDFAs: Get to know Makari Paige, S, Michigan
Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Can Paige crack the Giants’ safety depth chart? The New York Giants did a good job of reinforcing their secondary in free agency, but didn’t invest highly in the secondary in the draft. Instead, they brought in four defensive backs with their class of undrafted free agents, in addition to drafting Korie Black in the seventh round. Michigan safety Makari Paige has an intriguing blend of size, speed, and experience. Will that be enough for him to make the Giants’ 2025 roster? What does he bring? The biggest thing Paige brings with him is experience. He’s a red-shirt senior who’s played in 38 games over the last three seasons, and has been playing in “NFL” defenses since 2021. Mike Macdonald (Ravens’ DC turned Seahawks head coach) called the defense in 2021, Jesse Minter (now Los Angeles Charger defensive coordinator) called the Wolverines’ defense in 2022 and 2023, and finally Wink Martindale ran the defense in 2024. Paige is coming to the NFL with plenty of experience in three different, and sophisticated, defenses. Kent Lee Platte | RAS.football Paige is a little light for a strong safety at 197 pounds, but his size and speed jump out at you. He has rare length for the position at 6-foot-3, with 32½-inch arms (and 10½-inch hands), as well as 4.52-40-yard dash speed, both of which are very good for the position. Paige can cover a lot of ground and his length should allow him to cover a relatively large area around himself. On the field, Paige seems to process quickly when coming downhill and takes solid angles to the ball in run support. He’s rangy enough to play deep coverage zones in Cover 2 or Cover 3, and also big enough to play as a box safety in the second level. That said, he’s a high-cut athlete and his change of direction skills are limited. He doesn’t have the agility to match up with receivers in man coverage, and can lose his balance if he has to change direction very suddenly. Can he stick? The fact that Paige plays safety could be a mark in his favor. The Giants have Tyler Nubin and Javon Holland set at the top of the depth chart and Dane Belton should probably be penciled in as their third safety. From there? The Giants have Anthony Johnson Jr. and Raheem Layne at safety. If the Giants choose to carry more than three safeties, Paige could have a solid chance of beating the fringe veterans for a spot. He’ll also be in competition with fellow UDFA South Carolina cornerback O’Donnell Fortune, who could be viewed as a “defensive back”. As with all of these players, Paige’s path to the roster is going to depend on his special teams play. His background as a defensive back, as well as his speed and willingness to come downhill and hit could bode well for his chances.
Detroit Lions 2025 draft roundtable: Least favorite pick
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2 New York Giants’ draft picks named ‘perfect fits’
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images NFL analyst lauds selections of Jaxson Dart, Darius Alexander The New York Giants’ 2025 NFL Draft class has received nearly universal praise. Bucky Brooks of NFL.com has now added to that by listing two of GM Joe Schoen’s selections among his 10 perfect player-team fits. Brooks listed quarterback Jaxson Dart (Round 1, No. 25) and defensive tackle Darius Alexander (Round 3, No. 65) as perfect fits for the Giants. The Giants traded up from No. 34 to No. 25 to select Dart as their quarterback of the future. Brooks wrote: Considering Brian Daboll’s past work with Josh Allen in Buffalo, it is easy to see why the coach handpicked the Ole Miss standout as his future franchise quarterback in New York, trading back into the first round to make Dart the second signal-caller off the board. Though the 6-foot-2, 223-pound passer obviously isn’t a carbon copy of the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player, he possesses the dual-threat skills to make Big Blue’s offense pop with RPOs, designed quarterback runs and deep shots featured prominently on the call sheet. If the Giants patiently allow for the rookie to acclimate to the pro game — with Dart in position to sit and learn behind veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston — the first-rounder could lead the franchise out of the doldrums as an potent playmaker with a rugged game. Schoen sent pick No. 99 and a 2026 third-round pick to the Houston Texans. He indicated it was important for him to be able to keep the 65th pick. Schoen used it to fortify the defensive line. Brooks wrote: Credit general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll for finding the perfect playmate for Dexter Lawrence at the point of attack. Alexander’s size, strength and athleticism should lead to a host of splash plays for the Giants as opponents devote double-teams to the monstrous Pro Bowler beside him. Though the 6-4, 305-pounder’s collegiate sack production left something to be desired, his tools (arm length and agility) could help him emerge as a disruptive force on a front that features four pass-rushing demons (Lawrence, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and fellow rookie Abdul Carter).
Video reveals Detroit Lions received trade-down call in 1st round
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Open thread: Which Round 3 or later Lions pick will have biggest rookie impact?
What’s new at Pride of Detroit Direct? If you want more Lions coverage, our newsletter is the answer for you. There, we have weekly columns, deep analytical dives, and exclusive podcasts to offer comprehensive coverage of free agency, the draft, and everything in between as we prepare of a momentous 2025 Detroit Lions season.
Survey results: Giants fans expect big things from Abdul Carter
Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images They also don’t expect to see much from Jaxson Dart The New York Giants did the expected thing when they selected Abdul Carter at third overall. As we covered at the time, five separate major mock drafts in the 36 hours leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft had the team selecting Carter before trading back into the first round to select QB Jaxson Dart. But just because it was widely expected, doesn’t mean that the Giants made an incorrect decision. Drafting Carter and then Dart made a lot of “football” sense, as well as situational sense for the Giants in particular. Carter has the potential to be a high-impact pass rusher, while Dart’s traits fit what the Giants want to do on defense. They’re also a team that needs all the talent they can get as well as a quarterback of the future. Carter is the current favorite to win defensive rookie of the year, and has been widely compared to fellow Penn State linebacker-turned-edge Micah Parsons. We asked the Big Blue View community whether Carter will have more, or less, than the “over-under” Las Vegas set at 7.5 sacks. Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering the excitement for Carter, the community overwhelmingly took the “over”. Being an edge defender has been an advantage winning DROY in recent years, and five of the last six winners have been pass rushers of some description. Carter’s pressure rate, pass rush win rate, extreme explosiveness, versatility, and aggressiveness when timing the snap all suggest that he’ll be a dangerous pass rusher immediately. The flip side is that he’ll be competing with Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence, and fellow rookie Darius Alexander for sacks. It’s possible that the Giants have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL, but so many different players are getting sacks that Carter misses the “over”. And if so, it’s unlikely that many will complain, particularly if Carter is enabling many of those sacks through sheer disruption. But while fans are looking forward to seeing a lot of Abdul Carter — and a lot of him in opponents’ backfields in particular — they aren’t expecting to see Jaxson Dart as a rookie. A full three quarters of fans are taking the “under” on Dart’s over/under of 1.5 starts as a rookie. Dart has intriguing traits with plus athleticism and arm strength, but he also needs development before he’s ready to win games at the NFL level. The Giants clearly had a plan in place for developing a young quarterback, and Dart was their preferred option. The addition of veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston give them time and scaffolding around Dart to allow him to develop without the pressure of having to win games. It will give him the opportunity to learn how practice and prepare as a professional, as well as work on his technical skills, without the pressure of games reinforcing bad habits. It’s possible that we’ll see Dart during the season, perhaps the coaching staff will find snaps for him in low-stakes situations or in mop-up duty late in games that are effectively over. Ideally, he’ll get a start at the end of the year if the outcome of Week 18 doesn’t matter. Getting to sit and learn was invaluable for Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and Jordan Love. The hope is that the less Giants fans see of Dart, the better. At least until 2026, that is.
Bengals in top 15 of post-NFL Draft power rankings
Jan 9, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild (53) against the TCU Horned Frogs during the CFP national championship game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images This Bengals draft can surprise a lot of skeptical fans. Now that the NFL Draft is over, many outlets are unveiling their post-NFL Draft rankings. Take these rankings with a grain of salt because, obviously, none of the players drafted have played in an NFL game yet. We don’t know how they’re exactly going to impact the respective teams that draft them. Still, though, it’s fun to project and hope after the draft concludes. NFL.com’s Eric Edholm, who writes the website’s weekly Power Rankings column and co-hosts The NFL Power Rankings podcast during the season, recently unveiled his post-draft power rankings. The Cincinnati Bengals check in at No. 12 in the rankings, the second-highest team in the AFC North and fifth-highest in the AFC. Edholm writes on the Bengals: “‘I think the theme is they love football, all six of these guys,’” head coach Zac Taylor said of his 2025 draft class. And the comment didn’t come off as typical post-draft fodder to me; it felt more like an indirect statement on what happened in 2024, which was a cavalcade of drama, disputes, and unrealized expectations in what became a more chaotic situation in Cincinnati. The Bengals were Super Bowl contenders, except for the winning part, and that was part of the problem.” It’s clear that Edholm thinks the Bengals were Super Bowl contenders last year, and he suggests they could be this season. In addition to the Bengals draft, they also paid big money to extend wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Their contracts will headline training camp this season, so there won’t be any drama. Edholm mentions that while we don’t know how Hendrickson’s contract situation is going to be resolved, he said “the last thing Cincy needs is another protracted contract squabble entering training camp.” The Bengals, led by Joe Burrow, Chase, and Higgins, are going to be a really talented team in 2025. Just how far they can go may depend on a draft class that some fans have been vocal about their skepticism towards.
2 new defensive linemen are getting used to the Chiefs — and each other
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