Former Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell has signed his first NFL contract, the Philadelphia Eagles announced on Wednesday.
The Eagles chose Campbell at No. 31 in the NFL Draft on April 24, trading up one spot in the first round to make sure they got him.
Campbell signed a fully guaranteed, four-year $14.844 million contract that included a $7.465 million signing bonus. The contract contains a fifth-year team option.
But after Campbell had offseason shoulder surgery, he did not participate in Philadelphia’s offseason practices.
The Eagles completed their offseason program on Tuesday. The Philadelphia players report for training camp on July 22.
Campbell is not expected to be ready then either.
“We’ll see,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said on Tuesday about Campbell. “I never want to put a timetable on anybody. Some guys get through things quicker than others and vice versa, so no timetable on that as far as when he’ll be ready. I know he’s doing everything he can to get himself ready.”
Sirianni said Philadelphia’s goal for Campbell has been “making sure he can get all the mental reps that he possibly can get at this particular time. I think that we’re probably the only sport that practices more than they play, and then also that has more walkthrough than you even have practice reps, so he’s going to be getting a lot of those opportunities to watch walkthroughs, to watch practice to get those mental reps because as a guy is not in, obviously, you’re not working the fundamentals of block destruction or tackling or how to take the football away. But what you’re trying to make sure is they have the mental part of the game down. And those are things that he can do in the film room, those are things he can do out on the field when he’s watching practice, so that’s kind of his mission right now and our goal for him right now.”
Earlier this month, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Philadelphia had Campbell learning the inside-linebacker positions, but Sirianni didn’t rule out the rookie playing outside linebacker.
“Looking forward to being able to get our hands on him when he’s able to start practicing,” Sirianni said. “But he’s a good football player. We drafted him because he’s a really, really good football player and excited to have him in whatever role he’s going to execute. We know that he’s versatile and able to do multiple things.”
