How the Eagles could dominate the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year race again

USA Today

07-05-2025

How the Eagles could dominate the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year race again Lightning will strike twice in 2025.
Yeah... We're convinced more now than ever. We watch the same games you do. We watched the Philadelphia Eagles tick off most of the nation by being too good at the quarterback sneak. No... We're being serious.
That's been a conversation for what now? Three years or so? Stop laughing. This is serious. We've learned something in all of this. We're convinced about something we once tried to tell ourselves wasn't that big of an issue.
There's an unmistakable and undeniable angst towards this team that few reserve for other franchises. You aren't talking us out of this. League offices are going to ban the Brotherly Shove. That's how this ends. We've made our peace about this. We don't think that's where the madness will see its ending.
The collusion won't stop there.
They'll probably tell us A.J. Brown can't run the slant route either because Philly is too good at that. Then, they'll set their sights on Howie Roseman for drafting too well.
We predict the Eagles will again field two Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists.
How does Howie outsmart the rest of the NFL in these annual drafts? He didn't just grab Jalen Carter, arguably the 2023 NFL Draft's best player. He did so with the ninth overall selection. Then, he also grabbed Nolan Smith on night one of that same selection meeting.
In 2024, he worked his magic again. None of us thought the Birds could grab Quinyon Mitchell with the 22nd overall selection. We would have thought he'd be long gone by then, but that's why Howie Roseman is Howie Roseman. He added insult to injury by acquiring Cooper DeJean in Round 2.
Much of the feedback was about Howie's brilliance. He had grabbed two of the class's top corners, and he did so between picks 22 and 40. We all know how that turned out. Q and Coop played their way into being Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists.
Expect lightning to strike twice thanks to more of Howie's draft magic. How about a bold prediction? Two Birds will again be DROY finalists. Here's why we can state that with confidence.
NFL fans love bigger brands (even if they choose to deny it).
People say they love underdogs, but the ratings prove that's not true. There's a reason we used to call the NFC East the NFL's 'Money Division'.
Four teams, four huge media markets, four of the most popular brands in sports—fans love to cheer for these teams and root against them.
The Philadelphia Eagles are typically in the spotlight regardless of their performance. Throw in the angle that they're defending Super Bowl champions, and the spotlight will burn even brighter. That will allow their young stars to become household names.
The Eagles will play in several prime-time games on the national stage.
Life is great when you're the champs and winning. The reigning champs wind up in more prime-time games each year than anyone else. In 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs played in five.
Standalone games played in front of a national audience mean more viewers for the Birds, which means their young rookies will be displayed often.
Vic Fangio's scheme will allow his best young players plenty of opportunities to be successful.
Jihaad Campbell, Andrew Mukuba, and Ty Robinson will all see the field and contribute as rookies. Vic Fangio's scheme, one that accentuates the talents of its key pieces, will put these young Birds in plenty of positions to be successful.
The linebackers, Campbell included, will make a ton of tackles. Mukuba will have chances to make plays in coverage (as Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean did a year ago). Robinson will earn opportunities to wreak havoc while opposing offenses key in on Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis.
Guess what that means. The youngsters are going to pile up some stats. Gaudy stats mean Pro Bowl votes, lots of attention, and, potentially, postseason awards.
Winning teams typically see their best players in the conversations for postseason awards.
It's no accident that Philly sent six players to the Pro Bowl. A 14-3 regular-season record will do that for you. The Eagles were also home to six All-Pros.
Some might argue that better talent equals Pro Bowl votes and All-Pro designations. Those people would be correct, but the other side of that coin is that fans vote for players on winning teams (and their favorite players on their own team).
Final thoughts: Howie knocked another NFL Draft out of the park. At some point, they'll talk about how they can't allow him to do so at the annual league meetings, but until then, we can marvel at his work and smile.
Somehow, he did it again. He landed Jihaad Campbell, Andrew Mukuba, and Ty Robinson in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he landed each one later than many thought they'd be taken.
At least two of these young Birds will be Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists when the regular season ends. Our money is on Campbell and Mukuba, but we wouldn't be shocked if Robinson finds his way into the conversation.