Eagles rookies Jihaad Campbell and Drew Mukuba are working out together in Gloucester Township, NJ, ahead of training camp
The Eagles suffered significant personnel losses, and the defense has undergone an overhaul after defensive tackle Milton Williams (New England), Josh Sweat (Arizona), cornerback Darius Slay (Pittsburgh), cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (Minnesota), and linebacker Oren Burks (Cincinnati) all departed via free agency.
With Roseman entirely focused on reinforcements, the Eagles added 10 players in the NFL draft, including Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba. Mukuba is expected to have an immediate impact at safety, showcasing his versatility and coverage skills. Campbell, drafted as a linebacker, is praised for his tackling ability and pass-rush potential.
The two players are aware of their unique opportunities as rookies and have been training together at fastfeete with “EZ” Pelzer, the owner of E-Tensity, where the duo has worked on Speed Mechanics and Body Function.
The 64th pick in the NFL draft, Mukuba is versatile enough to hit the ground running at the safety position in place of the departed C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Mukuba should showcase his skills by displaying elite versatility at all three levels, while presenting a more hybrid and athletic model. According to Pro Football Focus, Mukuba earned an excellent grade in coverage (89.7). He forced an incompletion on 26.1% of his targets and allowed a 12.1 passer rating last season in coverage.
The 31st pick in the draft will begin practicing with the team in August when he’s cleared to return from shoulder surgery, and he will start off playing the inside linebacker position. Campbell has been lauded for his pass-rush prowess, but his ability at linebacker and his penchant for bringing the ball carrier down are the most exciting aspects of his game. Pro Football Focus said Campbell amassed a 5.9% missed tackle rate, totaling 30 coverage stops.
