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Contract details
The Eagles have officially inked Campbell to a fully guaranteed four-year rookie deal worth approximately $14.9 million ($14,903,574), with a sizeable signing bonus—reportedly between $7.4–7.5 million—and a fifth-year club option en.wikipedia.org+14bleacherreport.com+14yardbarker.com+14. -
Fully guaranteed money matters
Under the current NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, rookies don’t typically hold out. But securing guaranteed money, especially for late first-round picks, shows the Eagles strongly believe in his long-term value profootballrumors.com+8en.wikipedia.org+8en.wikipedia.org+8.
The Physical Setback & Mental Edge
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Recovering from surgery
Campbell suffered a labrum injury in March and had offseason shoulder surgery. He’s been taking part in team meetings and mental reps, though he won’t return to full on-field work until summer, potentially missing early training camp or even the preseason heavy.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1thedraftnetwork.com. -
Injury timeline impact
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has stressed patience—Campbell likely won’t ramp up until August, after training camp begins insidetheiggles.com+11thedraftnetwork.com+11heavy.com+11.
Transitioning to the Eagles’ Defense
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Hybrid linebacker with versatility
At 6’3″, 235 lbs, Campbell offers positional flexibility. He played edge in college, but Florida Fangio envisions him as an “on-the-ball” linebacker who can rush, cover, and play multiple roles across the formation heavy.com. -
High praise from evaluators
Analysts have compared his upside to MLB greats like Patrick Willis, citing his combination of size, athleticism, and instincts insidetheiggles.comheavy.com. -
A chess piece in disguise-heavy schemes
Fangio’s usage plans include deploying Campbell in blitz packages alongside Zack Baun, giving the defense unpredictability. One NFL exec noted:“Vic Fangio will use … Baun off the ball and Campbell on the ball … like Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman in San Francisco.” philadelphiaeagles.com+10heavy.com+10insidetheiggles.com+10
Immediate & Long-Term Outlook
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Timeline & expectations
While Campbell won’t participate much on the field until late summer, his preparation and mental reps are defining his rookie trajectory. If health allows, he could emerge as a key rotational linebacker by mid-season profootballrumors.com+5thedraftnetwork.com+5timesofindia.indiatimes.com+5. -
Cap & roster impact
His cap hit ramps up over the term—from around $2.7 million in 2025 to roughly $4.7 million in 2028—with the team holding a fifth-year option. He replaces veteran spots at linebacker, giving Philly flexibility and depth yardbarker.com+8thedraftnetwork.com+8insidetheiggles.com+8. -
High ceiling, big expectations
A first-team All-SEC honoree at Alabama with 117 tackles and 5 sacks in 2024, Campbell carries a lot of projection. Analysts have pegged him as a future Pro Bowler—or even All-Pro—in his early seasons bleacherreport.com+2heavy.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+3insidetheiggles.com+3heavy.com+3.
Why This Signing Matters
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Faith in his talent: Fully guaranteed money underlines that Philly views him as a cornerstone—not a depth piece.
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Shoring up linebacker depth: As Nakobe Dean rehabs and Zack Baun rotates, Campbell’s hybrid skills add value.
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Fangio’s chess piece: A linebacker who can rush, cover, and disguise packages aligns perfectly with the scheme.
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Financial control: Rookie deals like this stabilize the position for years, with cost certainty and an option year.
✏️ Final Take
The Eagles’ four-year, $14.9 million fully guaranteed deal highlights their conviction in Jihaad Campbell’s upside. Despite the early setback from shoulder surgery, the team’s patient, mental-first approach reflects a long-term vision. If he stays healthy and lives up to the hype, Campbell could become a cornerstone—perhaps even a game-wrecker—in Philly’s defensive core.
Let me know if you’d like a deeper dive—contract structures, performance breakdowns, or comparison to other rookie contracts.
