Latest news with #Mukuba
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What are realistic expectations for Andrew Mukuba's rookie season with the Eagles?
Eagles rookie Andrew Mukuba may be asked to grow up fast, and he's ready to answer the call Just one day before the veterans report to Philadelphia Eagles training camp, news has emerged from the NovCare Complex: they have officially signed Andrew Mukuba to his rookie deal. Now, all ten players from the 2025 draft class are under contract. We can officially rule out holdouts and theories about what may be going wrong behind the scenes. That begs the question. What can be expected from the rookie in year one? Thank you for asking. How about we all throw around a few theories? Expectations for Andrew Mukuba's rookie season He stands at six feet. He weighs 190 pounds. He earned Third-Team All-ACC, Freshman All-American, and ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 while playing for the Clemson Tigers. He was a teammate of Will Shipley and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. there. His most recent (and final) season at the NCAA level was played as a member of the Texas Longhorns. He earned Third-Team All-SEC honors before being drafted 64th overall. Something tells us the Eagles are going to ask him to grow up quickly. That being said, here are a few reasonable expectations for the first year. Eagles fans love Sydney Brown. So do his teammates and position coaches. Here's a theory. Don't quote it. It's only a theory. It feels like Vic Fangio likes Brown but isn't in love with him. We've heard Coach Fangio mention Tristin McCollum without being prompted. We've seen many of the practice snaps that we thought would be given to Brown go to Andre' Sam. DeVonta Smith is usually pretty reserved during interviews. When he tips his cap to a rookie, pay attention. Mukuba will crack this starting lineup, and it may be sooner than you think. Fangio's scheme lends itself to funneling the ball carriers back to the linebackers and safeties. Trust this next theory. Mukuba will have opportunities to make plays. Fifty tackles seems reasonable. So does three interceptions, as he demonstrated his penchant for making plays at the collegiate level. Philadelphia will miss C.J. Gardner-Johnson's ability to lay the wood, but Mukuba will make fans forget him rather quickly. It's possible Jihaad Campbell could end his rookie campaign as a Defensive Rookie of the Year Candidate. It seems feasible that Mukuba could do the same. If we had to guess, we'd assume the latter won't wear the crown. He has stiff competition from other early favorites to win this award, like fellow safety Malaki Starks and star edge rusher Abdul Carter.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles' Second-Round Pick Marked to 'Surprise' in 2025
Eagles' Second-Round Pick Marked to 'Surprise' in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Eagles had some roster spots to replace in this year's draft after losing C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Texans via trade and Darius Slay Jr. signing with the Steelers in free agency. Philadelphia elected to draft Texas safety Andrew Mukuka with their second-round pick at No. 64 overall. Mukuba will add some immediate depth to the secondary as a four-year starter in college, splitting seasons with Clemson and Texas. He could also be a surprise for the Eagles, as USA Today's Bucs Wire predicted. "Jihaad Campbell may be the first-round pick, but it's the Swiss army knife from the University of Texas that will have an opportunity to make the most significant impact from Day 1," Eagles Wire's Glen Erby wrote. " At 6-0, 186 pounds, Mukuba is undersized but makes up for it with excellent ball skills and instincts. He possesses good length and exhibits ball-hawking tendencies, tying the SEC lead with five interceptions in 2024. Over his final 26 games in college, Mukuba recorded 18 pass breakups and committed zero penalties. "That's impressive for a player who's aggressive at the catch point. Mukuba allowed just 74 yards and a 12.1 passer rating on 401 coverage snaps last season, per PFF." Mukuba had an SEC-leading five interceptions last season, and that's an aspect of his game that Eagles GM Howie Roseman hopes continues at the next level. One starting safety spot is open, and Mukuba should offer stiff competition to 2023 third-round pick Sydney Brown for the job. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles Join NFL In Concern Over Second-Round Draft Pick Contract
Eagles Join NFL In Concern Over Second-Round Draft Pick Contract originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Eagles were thrilled when they were able to draft Texas safety Andrew Mukuba. The hard-hitting safety was seen as a perfect replacement for the outspoken and now departed Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. Advertisement There is a major problem with Mukuba, though. And it has nothing to do with on-field prowess. It has everything to do with his current contract status. Like so many other current second-round picks, Mukuba has yet to sign his rookie contract. A holdup over guaranteed money is a big reason why 30 of 32 second-round rookies across the NFL have yet to be signed at this stage as well. Mukuba led the SEC last season with five interceptions and was a key part in the Longhorns' run to the College Football Playoff. If he can find a way to get on the field early, it will only help the Eagles' long-term trajectory. Advertisement And ahead of camp, Mukuba was already turning heads during offseason workouts. "Just seeing him out there, seeing the way he moves around, things like that," DeVonta Smith said at his fourth annual celebrity softball game at Coca-Cola Park recently, remarking on his impression of the rookie. "The way he goes about his business." Philadelphia needs Mukuba on the field - in some capacity - as early as possible. The defense under coordinator Vic Fangio is a complex system that takes time to learn. Mukuba will need all the reps he can get to fully grasp what is being asked of him. The issue for now is of course the fact that rookies cannot practice with their teams if they don't have a signed contract. Advertisement He'll miss precious time if he can't figure out a way to get a deal done with the Eagles. ... putting Philly in the same position as so many other NFL clubs with the same exact concern. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
7 most explosive Eagles heading into the 2025 season include two dynamic rookies
With the rookies and veterans set to report to the NovaCare Complex next Tuesday, we're looking at the seven most explosive players on the Eagles roster. The Eagles are nine days away from reporting to the NovaCare Complex for training camp. Nick Sirianni's team is focused on having a singular goal for the 2025 NFL regular season. Howie Roseman orchestrated another roster makeover in free agency, the 10-player NFL Draft, and several talented undrafted free agents. Training Camp begins in late July, with July 22 as the report day, followed by a practice on July 23. Although a surprise move or two could still be on the way, the majority of the work has been completed. After watching 12 players depart in free agency, Roseman added two dynamic SEC linebackers, an All-American pass rusher, three offensive linemen, and an accomplished quarterback from Philadelphia. With the rookies and veterans set to report to the NovaCare Complex on Monday, July 21, we're looking at the seven most explosive players on the Eagles roster. QB Jalen Hurts Hurts broke his Super Bowl QB record with 72 rushing yards, becoming the first QB to have multiple Super Bowls with a 100+ passer rating and 50+ rushing yards. He is the second QB to post a 115+ rating and rush for 50+ yards in a Super Bowl, along with Joe Montana in Super Bowl XIX (1/20/85). RB Saquon Barkley Barkley's 2,005 rushing yards were the eighth most in a regular season in NFL history, and he compiled an NFL-high 46 runs of 10-plus yards in 2024. WR A.J. Brown In 2024, Brown ranked 1st in receiving average (16.1) (min. 60 catches) and 3rd in receiving yards per game (83.0) (min. 13 games), behind Ja'Marr Chase (100.5) and Justin Jefferson (90.2). DT Jalen Carter During the 2024 regular season, Carter was 4th among interior defensive linemen with an 81.5 PFF pass-rush grade, behind Chris Jones (91.0), Cameron Heyward (87.2), and Jeffery Simmons (81.6) in that category. LB Jihaad Campbell (Rookie) Campbell was named to a list of players who could make an immediate impact for Philadelphia at linebacker. The 6'3", 235-pounder has sideline-to-sideline speed and impressive coverage skills. He also flourished as a quality pass rusher, registering five sacks in 2024. During his final season in Tuscaloosa, Campbell was putting together a stellar 2024 campaign before suffering a torn left labrum, totaling career-highs in tackles (117) and sacks (5.0) in 13 games. He was named first-team All-SEC and was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's top linebacker. DB Andrew Mukuba (Rookie) Over his final 26 games in college, Mukuba recorded 18 pass breakups and committed zero penalties. That's impressive for a player who's aggressive at the catch point. Mukuba allowed just 74 yards and a 12.1 passer rating on 401 coverage snaps last season, per PFF. At 6-0, 186 pounds, Mukuba is undersized but makes up for it with excellent ball skills and instincts. He possesses good length and exhibits ball-hawking tendencies, tying the SEC lead with five interceptions in 2024. If he were a few inches taller and 15 pounds heavier, Mukuba would've been a first-round pick. DB Cooper DeJean DeJean, who did not allow a TD in coverage in 2024, became the youngest player (22) to record an INT-TD in a Super Bowl when he had a 38-yard INT-TD against Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX.
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Andrew Mukuba named the potential remedy to the Eagles' ongoing rookie jinx
Might this be the year that an Eagles star is finally named Defensive Rookie of the Year? Howie Roseman has certainly done wonders with a Philadelphia Eagles roster that seemed like it was in shambles at the end of the Doug Pederson era. Since then, Philadelphia moved off of Carson Wentz in favor of Jalen Hurts. On offense, they looked to the NFL Draft to surround him with elite talent along the offensive line and at the skill positions. Guys like Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, and DeVonta Smith come to mind. In constructing an elite roster, the draft can't be seen as the only tool. A healthy mix of veteran talent is also required. Check that box for Roseman as well. He used both trades and free agency to land the likes of A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley. He even found solid defenders to play on the other side of the ball. Zack Baun was a depth piece and special-teams player who now looks like a perennial Pro Bowler and All-Pro. The draft helps solidify the future, and much of the core of Philly's defense is young. Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, Moro Ojomo, Jordan Davis, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean have all been in the league for five seasons or fewer. That brings us to two rookies Philly expects a lot out of, Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba. The former's debut may be delayed as he continues to work his way back from recent injuries and offseason procedures. The latter is being mentioned as someone capable of doing something no Eagles star has done before. Can Andrew Mukuba become the first Eagles player to win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors? Though it's feasible to consider Campbell as a realistic Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, he may miss time to begin the season, and that could hinder his chances at a realistic shot to win the trophy. Mukuba is being talked about frequently by teammates and Eagles coaches. DeVonta Smith even brought him up at his celebrity softball game. The young safety has a chance at cracking the starting lineup, and even if he doesn't, it seems obvious that he will play significant snaps early. Ed Kracz has been covering the Eagles full-time for over a decade. He has written about Philly sports since 1996. If he speaks, people ought to listen. Recently, he acknowledged that no Eagle has ever won Defensive ROY. He also mentioned, during a recent write-up, that Mukuba has all of the skills to become the first Philly star to do so. "The Eagles spent their first five picks on defense in last spring's NFL draft. It's the first two picks, though, that probably have the better shot at doing it, just like last year's 1-2 draft punch of (Quinyon Mitchell) and (Cooper DeJean). Those two picks are Jihaad Campbell and Drew Mukuba" Mitchell and DeJean were both finalists for the honor, but ultimately, Los Angeles Rams star Jared Verse would take the trophy home. One year prior, Jalen Carter hit the proverbial 'rookie wall' down the stretch and finished second to Houston Texans star Will Anderson. Mukuba once teamed with fellow Eagles Will Shipley and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. while a member of the Clemson Tigers. His final season at the collegiate level was spent with the Texas Longhorns. During his NCAA career, he was named a Third-team All-SEC honoree. This is after earning a Freshman All-American mention, a Third-Team All-ACC nod, and ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors during the 2021 college football season. He embodies a workmanlike persona. He's a playmaker in the secondary who notched an SEC-leading five interceptions last season. If all of that talent translates, Philly will have ensured themselves that they have a baller.
