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Meet the Prospect: Jihaad Campbell

Name: Jihaad Campbell

Position: Linebacker

School: Alabama

Ht/Wt: 6-3, 235

40-yard dash: 4.52 seconds

Bench: Did not bench

Vertical: Did not jump

Broad: 10-foot-7

3-cone: Did not run

20-yard shuttle: Did not run

View photos of 2025 NFL Draft linebacker prospect Jihaad Campbell.

How he fits: New Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard values versatility in his linebacker group and Campbell isn't just the most versatile linebacker in this draft - he might be the most versatile football player overall outside of maybe Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

The first-team All-SEC performer led Alabama with 117 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and two forced fumbles. He's a terrific cover linebacker and blitzer and could be a three-down player at a number of different spots as a chess-piece player on defense.

Key observations: In 2024, Campbell posted a 13.1 percent pass-rush win rate, graded positively on 17.1 percent of run plays, and forced incompletions on 13.3 percent of targets while recording 22 coverage stops, per Pro Football Focus stats. That's rare impact.

What they had to say about him: "Campbell is a tall, rangy and explosive linebacker. He was recruited to Alabama as an edge rusher but initially moved to linebacker because of the Crimson Tide's depth on the edges (Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner, among others). This past season, he played both off the ball and on the edge.

"As an off-ball linebacker, he doesn't possess elite instincts but offers excellent speed and physicality. He can range sideline to sideline and flashes the ability to thump off blockers and collect tackles on inside runs.

"He displays exciting tools in his pass-rush opportunities off the edge. He can burst/bend and finish. He also grew more comfortable in coverage throughout the 2024 season. He anticipates routes and positions himself to make plays on the ball. Overall, Campbell expands the playbook for defensive coordinators and his best football is ahead of him." – Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media analyst

Go behind the scenes with the Detroit Lions during 2025 free agency.

How he stacks up: Jeremiah has Campbell as his No. 12 overall prospect in his latest list of the Top 50 players in this draft. The Athletic's Dane Brugler ranks Campbell No. 23 on his list of the Top 100 Players in the draft.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. listed Campbell as his No. 3 draft riser coming out of the NFL Scouting Combine.

ESPN's Field Yates has Campbell as his No. 24 overall prospect. NFL.com lead writer Eric Edholm puts Campbell at No. 20 on his list of the 100 Top Players in the class.

What he had to say: "I feel like I'm Mr. Can-do-it-all. I'm a Swiss Army Knife, as I can say," Campbell said at the Combine. "I can blitz through the A gap, I can come off the edge, I can play the run in Tampa Two, I can drop strong, hook curl, match, whatever you want me to do. I can man-to-man on the tight end, running back, receiver, anything."

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