As the Philadelphia Eagles and general manager Howie Roseman continue to navigate the 2026 NFL Free Agency period, the organization will focus on rebuilding its roster for the upcoming season.

After a heartbreaking loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the 2025-26 Playoffs, the Eagles will now have to replace multiple key starters from the previous season. This includes a ton of starters from the defensive side of the ball, such as linebacker Nakobe Dean, safety Reed Blankenship, and EDGE Jaelan Phillips.

Luckily for Rosman, he was able to sign former Seattle Seahawks defensive back Riq Woolen to a one-year deal worth up to $15 million.

However, one of the main concerns will be the linebacker position, as Dean played a critical role for the team over the past few seasons. Philadelphia took his replacement during the 2025 NFL Draft in first-round pick Jihaad Campbell, but a shoulder injury that occurred late in the season could affect his timeline to return for the 2026 season.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio discussed Campbell’s injury with NBS Sports’ John Clark earlier this week, claiming that the young linebacker will “probably miss most of the offseason.”

Campbell, a highly-touted linebacker in last year’s draft, was regarded as one of the top defensive players in his class. In his final season with the Alabama Crimson Tide, the 6-foot-3, 235 lbs. playmaker recorded 119 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles, but managed to fall in the lap of Philadelphia at pick No. 32.

As a rookie playing behind the likes of Dean, Campbell played in all 18 games for the Eagles during the 2025-26 season. Despite his rather limited role on Fangio’s defense last year, the 22-year-old still made his impact felt, ending the year with 80 tackles, two stuffs, and one interception. His most notable game with the franchise last season was against the Denver Broncos, as he tallied 11 total tackles and one stuff in the team’s 21-17 loss.

Now, with Dean signing a three-year, $36 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason, it’s clear that the organization will need Campbell to step up in a huge way next year.

Fortunately for Roseman and the rest of the franchise, Campbell’s unique skill set at the linebacker position should aid him with his elevated role in 2026. The rising star has proven to be a terrific run defender, while also having the ability to drop back in coverage against opposing team’s passing game.

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