Eagles Day 3 rookie could be sleeper to win starting job from Day 1

Ryan OLeary

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Eagles Day 3 rookie could be sleeper to win starting job from Day 1 image

When the Philadelphia Eagles traded out of the third round last weekend, leaving them a whopping eight selections on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, the stated goal from GM Howie Roseman to his staff was to find multiple starters, not just depth players.

Based on some behind-the-scenes war room footage released by the team, the Eagles may have found a Day 1 starter at pick No. 161 overall in the fifth round.

Eagles scout Lee DiValerio had high praise for Georgia inside linebacker Smael Mondon Jr., who could have an immediate path to playing time this offseason with 2024 starter Nakobe Dean likely to open the season on the PUP list (physically unable to perform).

“Mondon was my highest upside player left (on Day 3),” DiValerio said. “Size, speed, range, blitz ability, drop back in coverage — I think he can do it all. Three-down starter.”

Philly landed one of the draft’s biggest steals in Round 1 in linebacker Jihaad Campbell, but the team could have bigger plans for the Alabama superstar. Campbell projects more as an off-ball backer in the NFL, similar to the role Zack Baun commanded at an All-Pro level last year. With Baun now locked up long-term, the Eagles could address their biggest need on defense by moving Campbell outside to the EDGE. 

"This is a guy who was recruited from IMG at Alabama as an EDGE rusher — hand-in-the-dirt EDGE rusher," Roseman said of Campbell after Day 1 of the draft. "They had some injuries at Alabama. They played him off the ball. You see his explosiveness and his speed, and really... you see Penn State, give them a lot of credit for what they've done. They've had guys off the ball move to EDGE rushers. Obviously, their last two guys who've been drafted really high, they started off the ball and they moved to EDGE rushers."

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If Campbell does indeed move outside, Mondon and 2024 fifth-rounder Jeremiah Trotter Jr. would be left competing for the middle linebacker role next to Baun. Trotter was more of a core special teams player last season for Philly, and despite similar draft capital, it’s possible the team views Mondon as the better prospect. He likely would have been a Day 2 selection had he not missed time during the pre-draft process due to a foot injury.

The Eagles had a ton of turnover on defense this offseason, which should open up immediate opportunity for young players like Jalyx Hunt, Andrew Mukuba and even Mac McWilliams to compete for first-team reps in training camp. Due to Dean’s knee injury and uncertain status for 2025, we also can’t rule out a major role for Mondon right out of the chute.

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Ryan OLeary

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.