Fifth Round Pick Called ‘Best Rookie’ in Eagles Training Camp

While the difference between a first round pick and a fifth round pick might feel like the Grand Canyon during the NFL draft, when the pads come on there’s really no difference at all. It’s the great equalizer.

In Philadelphia Eagles training camp, that great equalizer has resulted in one of the more shocking come ups as off ball linebacker and fifth round pick Smael Mondon is in the running to start opposite NFL All-Pro Zack Baun and, perhaps more notably, ahead of first round pick Jihaad Campbell.

“Through the first week-plus of camp, Campbell has not been the Eagles’ best rookie,” The Delaware Journal’s Martin Frank wrote on August 1. “Heck, he hasn’t even been the Eagles’ best rookie linebacker. For now, that honor belongs to Smael Mondon, the Eagles’ fifth-round pick out of Georgia, and it went beyond Mondon getting the vast majority of first-team reps in practice on Aug. 1, while Campbell was mostly with the second unit.”

With Baun out with a back injury for several practices, Mondon has gotten the edge with first team reps as Jeremiah Trotter Jr. fills in for Baun until he returns.

Last year’s starter, Nakobe Dean, is on the PUP list after he suffered a torn patellar tendon in last season’s NFC playoffs.

“(Mondon) was in single coverage on none other than Saquon Barkley on a wheel route into the end zone, running step for step with Barkley,” Frank wrote. “Then at the last possible second, Mondon reached in as Jalen Hurts‘ pass was arriving and knocked the ball away. Conversely, Campbell was beaten on a similar wheel route from running back Will Shipley earlier in practice as Shipley hauled in Hurts’ pass for a 25-yard touchdown.”

Potentially Historic Group of Off-Ball Linebackers

The Eagles signed Baun to a 3-year, $51 million contract after he helped lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl win last season and seemingly drafted Campbell to replace Dean in the near and long term.

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane made an astute observation about exactly how much talent the Eagles have managed to pack into one position group.

“In my near 20 seasons covering the #Eagles, I’ve never seen them have a collection of off-ball linebackers as potentially great as this group,” McLane wrote on his official X account on July 31. “The top five guys — Zack Baun, Nakobe Dean, Jeremiah Trotter, Jr., Jihaad Campbell and Smael Mondon — are all dudes. Dean has to return from injury the same guy, of course. And the rookies have a ways to go. But they don’t have wishing-and-hoping vets and undrafted rookies, like in the past because of organizational undervaluing of the position. Credit DC Vic Fangio for stressing the importance, but also GM Howie Roseman for listening and executing.”

Smondon could be the wild card in the whole affair.

“A three-year starter for Kirby Smart at Georgia, Mondon’s length and speed at 6-2, 224 turned him into a heavy producer inside one of the country’s most talented defensive units,” The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner wrote. “Mondon, who has dealt with several injuries, is a leader and one of the most vocal defenders in this class.”