The Philadelphia Eagles have built their foundation in the NFL Draft and it’s led them to find several gems in the later rounds. But when those players pop up earlier than expected, it could overshadow some of the more high-profile rookies that are taken earlier in the draft.
The Eagles are high on Jihaad Campbell, who was taken with the 31st overall pick in April’s draft but wasn’t able to participate in the offseason program due to a shoulder injury. With Zack Baun also sidelined, it allowed one of Campbell’s classmates to seize the opportunity and outshine his first-round counterpart during OTAs.
Eagles LB Smael Mondon Jr. Earns First-Team Reps During OTAs
With Campbell on the sidelines, it was his former collegiate rival Smael Mondon Jr. that took advantage during OTAs. A fifth-round pick by the Eagles out of Georgia, Mondon was working with the first team according to WIP’s Eliot Shorr-Parks and could be on his way to securing a role with the team.
Smael Mondon Jr. is getting first team reps with Zach Baun on the sideline
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) June 10, 2025
Mondon is unlikely to hold a starting role at the beginning of the season and would need a lot to happen in front of him to enter the lineup. Baun was out with a minor injury and the Eagles are expecting Campbell to return for training camp. Nakobe Dean is also a wild card but his availability for the upcoming season is uncertain after suffering a torn patellar tendon during the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl.
The uncertainty surrounding the linebacker group is something to keep an eye on and could open the door for Mondon to make the roster. A three-year starter for the Bulldogs, Mondon battled injuries throughout his path to the NFL but was productive on the field, with 57 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in 10 games during his final season at Georgia.
Mondon also had a tremendous profile that earned a relative athletic score of 9.42 during the pre-draft process. With a 4.58-second time in the 40 yard dash and strong coverage instincts, the 22-year-old has plenty of upside and is worth the risk of a fifth-round selection.
Campbell can sleep easy knowing that he has the security of being a first-round pick. But Mondon took an important first step to making the roster. If Mondon can continue showing promise, he could earn a development role on the Eagles which has led to several players becoming household names in recent years.