Is it finally time to maximize Jihaad Campbell's versatility?

Jihaad Campbell has played well at linebacker but it could be time for the Eagles to play him more on the edge.

By Dave Zangaro • Published October 16, 2025

The day the Eagles drafted Jihaad Campbell in the first round, general manager Howie Roseman touted Campbell’s ability to rush the passer.

It’s time to see more of that.

While the rookie has been lined up on the edge sporadically throughout this season, there’s now a bigger need than ever to play Campbell more as a pass rusher after the abrupt retirement of Za’Darius Smith this week. And Campbell is more than willing.

"Whatever’s required for our defense, for our team to be the best defense that we can be on the field each and every play, I’m all up for it,” Campbell said. "If it’s [playing edge rusher], so be it. If it’s not, then it is what it is. We’re just going to keep pushing forward.”

The rookie has played inside linebacker next to Zack Baun at a high level this season and it’s not like this would be a full-time position switch. But there’s clearly an opportunity for the Eagles to utilize Campbell’s versatile skills to maximize his impact.

This week, veteran defensive coordinator Vic Fangio left that door wide open, saying "it’s possible” Campbell could see some snaps on the edge.

Of course, that’s nothing entirely new. Campbell has played some on the edge this season. In fact, 80 of his 380 snaps this season, per ProFootballFocus, have come at outside linebacker. But, so far, he has gone on the field as one of two LBs before sliding up to the line. While Campbell has played 80 snaps at OLB, Baun has played just 7.

Still, there’s room for more snaps on the line for Campbell.

With the Eagles down to four healthy edge rushers — Jalyx Hunt, Joshua Uche, Azeez Ojulari and Patrick Johnson — there’s clearly a need at that position. And that need has coincided with the return of Nakobe Dean, who was the full-time starting MIKE linebacker for the Super Bowl team in 2024.

After being activated from the PUP list, Dean made his 2025 debut in Week 6 but played just six special teams snaps. As you’d expect, Dean is itching to get some run on defense.

"Of course. I’m a competitor,” Dean said on Wednesday. "I know at this point, I’m healthy, I want to play every snap. But I know I’m working my way back in. I just control what I can control.”

It likely wouldn’t be a full-time thing. It’s not like the Eagles in Week 7 are going to play Dean as a starting inside linebacker for every snap and play Campbell on the edge exclusively. But this seems like a pretty natural way to solve two problems. One, Campbell can help take some of those snaps as a pass rusher. Two, it’s a way to get Dean back on the field on defense in some sort of limited role.

Campbell and the rest of his teammates were happy to see Dean return to the field against the Giants.

"Meant a lot just seeing him back out there,” Campbell said. "That’s the guy that was helping our LB room be better LBs. Just seeing that guy on the field, I’m really excited to see him on the defense and see him make plays. I’m definitely going to go celebrate with him. All the other guys are going to go celebrate with him too. It’s going to be special.”

The best way to get Dean on the field is to play Campbell on the edge.

And it’s only a possibility because of Campbell’s versatility. That’s why it’s even a conversation about letting a rookie with six NFL games under his belt play multiple positions.

"I think his skillset in the first place, the fact that he’s done it before,” Baun said. "And then starting him at inside linebacker here gave him a good grasp of the defense. If you play inside linebacker in this defense, you can play a lot of different positions in this defense as well.”

That’s similar to the answer that Fangio gave back in the spring when asked why the Eagles were starting Campbell off as an inside linebacker. Fangio said there was more to learn at that position. Then Campbell played so well, it would’ve been foolish to move him.

But the circumstances at both edge rusher and linebacker have changed since the start of the season.

Although Campbell has been a full-time starter at one spot, he has continued to sharpen his tools as an edge rusher in his down time. He said works with coaches, teammates and by himself to improve that aspect of his game.

"All the work that combines together to make me the best version of myself,” Campbell said. "That’s the biggest thing.”

Even though Campbell might still be raw as pass rusher and is far from a finished product, there’s a good chance he would be able to win on the edge with his athleticism. We saw him show that prowess as a pass rusher at Alabama.

And his teammates see the potential in the NFL too.

"He’s a great player,” Ojulari said. "He’s got the intangibles and everything to do whatever an edge guy can do. He’s athletic, a freak athlete. He’s a smart player. I feel like he would be good.”

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/jihaad-campbell-edge-rusher-nakobe-dean-zack-baun-linebacker/690080/

Hopefully he can at least "help" as an Edge, but I'm not overly optimistic about it. He could just as easily be another guy who can't get pressure and gets washed out in the run game. But...sure, give him a shot. Hopefully he DOES do something at Edge.

Yeah I mean it would be nice to see him mixed in on the edge and giving offenses different looks. It would be great to see them move him around and make the most of his versatility and athleticism but ultimately I think he’s a LB and he’s going to be a really good one.

No doubt the pass rush needs a boost. But the run defense is also a weak spot right now. Add in the weakness in coverage from the CB2 spot ... Vic sure has a lot to try to figure out.

Speaking of the CB2 spot, it was posted on NBC Sports Philadelphia yesterday that McWilliams work at outside corner has been accelerating. Hopefully he'll surprise.

1 hour ago, time2rock said:

No doubt the pass rush needs a boost. But the run defense is also a weak spot right now. Add in the weakness in coverage from the CB2 spot ... Vic sure has a lot to try to figure out.

Speaking of the CB2 spot, it was posted on NBC Sports Philadelphia yesterday that McWilliams work at outside corner has been accelerating. Hopefully he'll surprise.

It's hard to imagine McWilliams being worse than what's out there. I guess Jackson has been somewhat competitive at times but man, Ringo has just been flat out awful. The bar is low for improvement at CB2.