The Eagles were one of six NFL teams to hold rookie minicamp over the weekend, and while on-field action was limited, these three things stood out.
1. The team will be patient with LB Jihaad Campbell.
Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell started immediately as a first-round pick last season, something Campbell may not be able to do. Of course, had the 21-year-old linebacker not had surgery to repair a torn labrum in March, he would not have been available for Philadelphia with the 31st pick in the draft.
According to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports, Campbell was on the field for minicamp, but he did not have a helmet and did not participate in practice. Instead, he took shadow reps about 10 yards behind the players who were practicing.
On Thursday, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman preached patience during an appearance on 94.1 WIP and compared Campbell’s situation to that of cornerback Cooper DeJean, who suffered a hamstring injury ahead of last year’s training camp.
“I’m not saying this is apples to apples, but last year we drafted Coop in the second round,” Roseman said. “Coop didn’t play until the week of our last preseason game. I mean, it’s hard to remember, but he didn’t start until Week 6, which was really our fifth game. How did that work out?”
Pretty well, actually. DeJean started nine games for the team last year and finished fourth in voting for the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, something the team would love to repeat with Campbell.
2. Philadelphia should be very comfortable with QB Kyle McCord.
The Eagles’ sixth-round quarterback had the offense to himself during minicamp and looked good throwing short passes, but he got everyone’s attention when discussing his relationship with new quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler.
“We go way back,” McCord said. “When I was in eighth grade, he was at Boston College and he offered me a scholarship in eighth grade, so I’ve known him forever. And we’ve kept in touch, too. He’s one of the few college coaches that I didn’t play for that I still have a lot of conversations with.”
Loeffler spent the last six seasons as head coach of Bowling Green, but McCord revealed the coach would often reach out after games to give advice and congratulate the young quarterback. McCord led the FBS in passing last season and holds single-season records at Syracuse for most passing yards (4,779) and touchdowns (34).
3. Keep an eye on OT Hollin Pierce.
Pierce came to Rutgers as a walk-on in 2020 and overcame weight issues to appear in 51 games at right and left tackle. This year, the 6-foot-8, 341-pound lineman hopes to make the Eagles roster as an undrafted free agent.
Last offseason, Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland helped turn 6-foot-7, 363-pound Mekhi Becton, a disappointing four-year tackle with the Jets, into one of the best right guards in football. Now that Becton is with the Chargers, the team needs another guard. Can Stoutland do it again with the former Scarlet Knight?
In what may be a sign of things to come, Stoutland used Pierce at right guard during minicamp. Of course, things can change during OTAs, but it’s fun to imagine Pierce playing on a line between 6-foot-8, 365-pound left tackle Jordan Mailata and 6-foot-6, 325-pound right tackle Lane Johnson.
