Jihaad Campbell lasted until the No. 31 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, likely because of shoulder surgery he had following his final season at Alabama.

However, the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles didn’t seem concerned about any injury issue for the former Crimson Tide linebacker. They traded up one spot to select Campbell, a first-team All-SEC pick in 2024.

Nick Saban, the coach who recruited Campbell to Alabama, saw the selection as a potential goldmine for the Eagles.

“I just love this pick,” Saban said during ABC’s NFL draft coverage. “I really do. I mean, this guy lit it up at the combine. The only reason they’re getting him here is because people had some injury questions in terms of shoulder surgery. Can he be ready for camp?

“But if you’re the Philadelphia Eagles, what do you care? You’re going to pick a guy that’s going to be there maybe for the next 10 years for you and be a really, really good player. And when he does get healthy, he’s going to have success.”

Saban noted that Campbell has played a variety of positions during his football career, including defensive end in high school, then outside linebacker before finally settling in at inside linebacker. The New Jersey native led the Alabama team with 117 tackles and 12 tackles for loss last season.

“He played with his hand in the dirt in high school, went to IMG (Academy), came out as an outside backer, moved to inside backer, and got better and better and better,” Saban said. “And I thought he had a fantastic year this year.

“He has tremendous range, speed, he can play in or out. He never played behind the line before we moved him two years ago because of injuries, but he’s developed into a first-round inside guy. He could be an edge rusher.”

Campbell was one of two Alabama players selected in Thursday’s first round, after guard Tyler Booker went No. 12 to the Dallas Cowboys. The draft continues with Rounds 2-3 on Friday.