Howie Roseman talked about how the NFL is a speed game now. Teams want to get fast players into space and allow them to make plays. You counter that in two ways. You start by having a defensive line that can pressure the QB. You also need a back seven that can cover, close to the ball and make tackles.
I have to think Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders offense is part of the reason for the pick.
Once the Eagles defense got going, they shut down just about everyone. But not Washington. They gave up 36 and 23 points to the Commanders. I’m sure that wasn’t lost on Roseman, Nick Sirianni or Vic Fangio. The loss to Washington was an incredibly frustrating game. The defense had chance after chance to seal the deal and couldn’t get it done.
I’m sure Fangio had a few sleepless nights after watching Daniels scramble for huge gains in key situations.
If the Eagles stop Jayden Daniels run on 4th down, they likely win the game as they were up 27-14 going into the 4th Q.
Only Milton Williams attempts to collapse the pocket, all the other DL go selfishly for the sack. McCollum takes a horrible angle and blows the tackle. pic.twitter.com/6Lc97dQTHN
The best way to stop Daniels is to have guys in the middle of the defense who can do a variety of things. Campbell is that guy. You can have him rush off the edge or blitz up the middle. He can play the run. He can fly out wide to chase the ball. Campbell has excellent closing speed and he is a good tackler. If you miss Daniels (like the Eagles did in the loss), you will get burned for big gains.
A sampling of what new #Eagles LB Jihaad Campbell is bringing to the defense, as a versatile pass rusher and off ball linebacker. He was an edge rusher in high school. pic.twitter.com/HpXpYEfhFw
Adding Campbell to the defense doesn’t suddenly mean the Eagles will suddenly shut down Daniels with ease. It does help the defense to be able to deal with him and other mobile QBs. Washington can be especially challenging because they run so much no-huddle and also use a lot of screens. You must have LBs who can run and cover.
If Campbell had clean medicals, he would have gone much higher. Mike Mayock had him going 9th overall in his final mock draft. Daniel Jeremiah had Campbell rated as his 12th overall player. He also had an interesting comment on Campbell.
” Overall, Campbell expands the playbook for defensive coordinators and his best football is ahead of him.”
Think back to last year when Zack Baun would line up as an edge rusher. He would shift down there at the last minute to give the offense a different look. If you have Baun and Campbell on the field, either guy can do that. They are skilled enough and athletic enough to give Fangio a lot of options for calling different defenses. When facing veteran QBs like Patrick Mahomes or Matt Stafford, you want to give them different looks. The Eagles can’t count on overwhelming OL’s.
Offenses will study the Eagles defense this offseason. That means Fangio needs to have some new twists to throw at them. When you add a versatile, athletic defender like Campbell to the mix, the playbook should be wide open.
Talent acquisition season is never over. That is one of Howie Roseman’s favorite phrases. With the draft completed, the Eagles turned their attention to signing undrafted free agents. You never know when you’ll find the next Reed Blankenship.
LB Lance Dixon – Toledo – 6-2, 224
Ran 4.58 at his Pro Day. Good playmaker. Had 6 TFLs, 2 sacks, 4 PBUs, and 2 FF. Began his career at Penn State. Transferred to West Va and finally Toledo. Started two games in 2024. He was a 5-star prospect out of high school and posted good numbers at his Pro Day. Has some coverage ability. Toledo played him in space in some sets. Runs well. Inconsistent tackler. Run defense needs work. Effort is there, but technique must be better. Long shot to make the roster, but does have NFL athleticism.
S Maxen Hook – Toledo – 6-1, 201
Led the Rockets in tackles. Had 2 INTs, 4 PBUs and a FF. 43 career starts. Highly productive. 22 PDs, 7 INTs. Has good hands. Smart player. Reads plays well and makes good decisions. Might reminds you a bit of Eric Weddle with his playing style. Playmaker. Solid hitter, good tackler. Has good range. Takes good angles to the ball. Can play centerfield or come down and stuff a RB on a goal line run up the middle. There isn’t anything special about Hook, but he’s just a good, instinctive player. I had him rated as a draftable player.
I think Hook has the size, skills and talent to make a serious push for a roster spot. He has the versatility the Eagles like in their DBs. I’m excited to see what he can do.
OT Hollin Pierce – Rutgers – 6-8, 341
Had 50 career starts. Massive LT. Too much of a waist bender. He’s got potential. His kick slide is okay and his size is outstanding. The problem is that he plays too high. That gets him off balance and neutralizes some of his power. Has super long arms to go with his massive frame. Weighed 450 pounds in high school so he worked himself into much better shape while at Rutgers.
Hollin Pierce signed with the Eagles—the kings of offensive line development.
What is Philly working with? A 6’8, 341lb MONSTER with 37” arms who has started 50 career games at Rutgers.
Pierce is exactly the kind of big, high-upside prospect you want to give Jeff Stoutland. Odds are that Pierce won’t pan out, but if any coach can figure out how to turn him into an NFL player it is Stoutland. Fascinating player. I’m shocked that no OL needy team took a flier on him due to his size and length.
RB Montrell Johnson – Florida – 5-11, 212
Ran 4.41 at the Combine. Ran for 3,089 yards and 33 TDs. Averaged 5.4 yards per carry for his career. Caught 61 passes. One-cut runner who wants to get downhill. Good speed. Not overly elusive. Has good power and will break tackles. His speed and running style make him a good fit for the Eagles offense. Broke multiple long runs over the past three seasons.
Johnson has NFL ability. He is a good fit for the Eagles offense. I think he’s got a legit chance to earn a spot on the practice squad.
RB ShunDerrick Powell – Central Arkansas – 5-7, 183
Ran 4.40 at his Pro Day and boy do you see that on tape. Powell ran for 1,343 yards last season, averaging more than 8 yards per carry. Explosive runner. If you’re small, you better be fast and Powell is.
ShunDerrick Powell is the KING of advanced RB metrics:
4.8 yards after contact/rush (1st in class) 0.42 missed tackles forced/rush (1st in class) 21.6% explosive run rate (1st in class)
Adjust for competition level, but good players play good.
While Powell is small, he doesn’t go down on first contact. He keeps his balance and runs hard. He has some KOR experience. It will be interesting to see if his speed shows up in Training Camp. That has to happen if he’s got any shot at the roster or practice squad.
WR Taylor Morin – Wake Forest – 5-10, 188
Highly productive slot receiver and return specialist. Holds the record for the most receiving yards in a career at Wake Forest with 2,974. His 21 receiving touchdowns in his career ranks tied for fourth in program history. Ranks second all-time in career receptions with 227, only two catches shy of the program record. Ranks second all-time in career punt return yards in program history with 809.
Good Pro Day: 4.49 in the 40, 37 VJ, 6.70 in the SS. That shows speed, agility and explosion. You see that athleticism when you watch him play.
Morin is the classic slot receiver. He does a great job of working the middle of the field. He’s comfortable playing in traffic. Has the skills to get open with quick cuts. Good hands. Outstanding with the ball in his hands, as a receiver or returner. He’s both elusive and fast. Morin will compete with Ainias Smith and Avery Williams for a spot as the RS and role player on offense.
CB B.J. Mayes – Texas A&M – 6-1, 187
The Eagles like speedy corners. Mayes only runs 4.54, so he’s not ideally their type of corner. He played the slot for the Aggies so you can get away with mediocre speed inside. He does have quick feet. Mayes played at two other schools before A&M. He had 4 INTs in 2024 and finished with 7 in his career. He’s got some pop when he hits. Feels like he will be a long shot to push for a roster spot.
DB Brandon Johnson – Oregon – 5-9, 179
Johnson was a 2-year starter at nickel for Duke and then transferred to Oregon last season. He was the nickel for them. Johnson broke up 6 passes and picked one off. He is small, even for a nickel, but did run 4.40 at his Pro Day. Johnson played in the box in some sets and was tougher than you might expect. I think the Eagles will project him at nickel, but he could also try at safety. I just think he’s small for that spot. Another long shot.
WR Darius Cooper – Tarleton State – 5-11, 213
Dominant player at the FCS level. Led the FCS in receiving yards. Has good body control and can make some tough catches. Ran 4.49 at his Pro Day, but I don’t think you see that speed on tape. Has a strong, thick build.
Tarleton State WR Darius Cooper – 6’0″ 190lbs
76 receptions for 1,449 yards and 14 TDs in 2024.
Strong hands in contest/at the catch point. Good contact balance and upfield burst, becoming dangerous after the catch. Future RedZone Threat?