Rookie Radar: Jihaad Campbell & Andrew Mukuba's progression through 4 weeks

Where he’s been even more advanced is in coverage. Fangio’s system puts stress on linebackers to handle tight ends and backs in space without exposing the middle of the field.

Campbell has met that demand. Through four weeks, he’s matched up with tight ends in man, carried vertical stems, and sunk into underneath zones with enough spatial awareness to disrupt windows.

Signal-callers haven’t picked on him, and that reliability has allowed the Eagles to stay flexible in their personnel groupings.

His burst to close is another factor that’s shown up on tape. When the ball comes out underneath, Campbell arrives in a hurry and with a purpose. He’s also held up well against the run, stacking blocks and scrapping through traffic without getting washed.

For a rookie playing heavy snaps in Fangio’s front (247 through four starts), he looks like a long-term building block already.

Mukuba: Hybrid Value and Physical Identity

On the back end, the Texas Longhorns product in Mukuba has stepped into one of the most demanding jobs in the league -- the hybrid safety/nickel/enforcer role that C.J. Gardner-Johnson once thrived in.

It’s not a plug-and-play spot, but Mukuba has shown the versatility to handle it. He’s lined up deep (152 snaps), dropped into the box (44), played over the slot (24), and rotated post-snap without looking lost.

What’s continued to pop on tape has been his willingness to hit while still playing under control. Mukuba brings an enforcer’s edge, but he hasn’t sacrificed discipline for landing a shot.

In run support and screen recognition, he’s attacked downhill with violence and sure tackling. When he rotates into the box, his physicality helps eliminate space quickly and take on bigger bodies without hesitation.

But he also has the coverage chops and athletic traits to survive in space. On early downs and in sub-packages, Mukuba has covered tight ends, wideouts, and backs without being mismatched. His transitions are smooth, and his short-area quickness lets him mirror routes out of the slot.

Fangio has already trusted him in single-high, two-high looks, robber alignments, and rotated shells -- responsibilities typically earned, not given, by Week 4.

His presence has brought back a layer of disguise that Fangio leans on. Mukuba can start high, buzz down, or spin late into coverage without tipping the call. That freedom lets the Eagles mix leverage and spacing without telegraphing assignments.

It also gives the pass rush an extra heartbeat, knowing the back end is sound.

The most promising part of Campbell and Mukuba’s rise has been how seamlessly they fit into what Fangio wants: interchangeable defenders who can hold up in coverage, communicate pre- and post-snap, and tackle in space. Through four games, neither looks situational -- both look like foundational pieces.

With Campbell wiping out width and matching tight ends, and Mukuba moving across all three levels with violence and range, the Eagles now field two rookies who don’t need to leave the field. That unlocks sub-packages, disguises, and fronts that Fangio typically only deploys with veterans.

Four weeks in, their impact isn’t just encouraging -- it’s shaping the identity of a defense that thrives on adaptability.