4 Out Of 7 NFL.com Analysts Believe Bucs Draft Jihaad Campbell
April 11th, 2025
Tea leaves reading by NFL.com.
The Bucs formally professed their confidence in SirVocea Dennis as a starting linebacker last week.
Joe is confident Dennis is talented, but Joe isn’t confident he can stay on the field.
Dennis has missed a whole bunch of time in his first two years in the NFL. Last year, he played five snaps in Week 4 against the Eagles and got hurt. He was done for the season and headed for shoulder surgery.
The Bucs now have faith that Dennis can stay on the field. Joe, however, is a burning bush kinda guy and needs to see it first before Joe becomes a believer. Joe’s no fan of hope when building a Super Bowl team.
That’s why Joe was riding the bandwagon for beastly Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell before it was announced that Campbell had shoulder surgery after the NFL Scouting Combine. As a result, Joe is skittish about drafting Campbell.
Dennis missing most of the season “hurt” the defense, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. But apparently the crowd at NFL.com hasn’t received the message.
NFL.com launched something of an AI draft guide called “Draft IQ.” It tries to predict how the Bucs will attack the draft based on both history and needs. And yeah, some NFL.com reporters/analysts give their two cents.
Of the seven reporters/analysts, four believe Campbell will be the Bucs’ pick in at No. 19 overall. Here is how those four see it:
Eric Edholm: LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
The Bucs have traditionally not strayed too far from their primary needs under GM Jason Licht in Round 1, so snagging Campbell makes perfect sense — and could be a home run selection. I believe he’s a top-15 player in this draft and could be the franchise’s next great linebacker.Charles Davis: LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
With Todd Bowles at the helm, the Bucs defense is predicated on creating pressure. Campbell can play off the ball, but expect him to be utilized extensively off the edge.Bucky Brooks: LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
It is hard to find inside linebackers with pass-rush potential. Campbell is a splashy game wrecker with the tools to upgrade the Buccaneers’ defense as a designated playmaker.Mike Band: LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
The Buccaneers brought back Lavonte David, one of the top off-ball blitzers in the NFL by pressures, according to Next Gen Stats, on a one-year deal. Who better for three-down linebacker Jihaad Campbell (5.0 sacks in 2024 with Alabama) to learn from before assuming green-dot duties than the 13-year veteran? Between Darron Lee in 2016 with the Jets and Devin White in 2019 in Tampa, Todd Bowles-led defenses have not been shy about investing first-round capital at the linebacker position.
This is all very logical.
Joe wanted Campbell because pairing Campbell with Lavonte David could turn the Bucs’ linebackers into hell on earth for offenses.
But since Campbell had surgery for a mysterious injury, and one veteran NFL reporter floated Campbell could be out a maximum of eight months, Joe had his heels cooled big time on Campbell.
April 11th, 2025 at 5:19 am
I doubt he makes it to us, but even if he did his injury is concerning. Seems like half the top players of the drafter have injuries.
April 11th, 2025 at 5:21 am
Bucs are driving for a Super Bowl championship this year, and we need to ‘fix’ several starting defensive positions to get there, as well as build depth.
o Rnd 1: Beastly DT/NT to rotate in with Vea – Philly showed the NFL what it takes to get a consistent pass rush with only the front 4-5 guys. Bucs NEED another giant to rotate in with Vea for us to get that same CONSISTENT pass rush without excessive blitzing.
o Rnd 2 & 3: Starting-caliber outside CB AND a starting-caliber MLB. Injury-prone need not apply.
o Rnd 4: Safety
o Rnd 5-7: BPA
April 11th, 2025 at 6:49 am
What NFL team is going to draft any player in the first round that will have a redshirt year? Campbell will miss all of off-season workouts, miss training camp, miss half if not more of the regular season. He will be no help to any NFL team in his rookie season. That’s a big leap of faith and I certainly don’t see Jason Licht making that leap. He wants to win now.
April 11th, 2025 at 7:05 am
If the Bucs draft him, going to be due to the fact they know a lot more about his surgery and current recovery rate than we do. If he falls to us and we don’t draft him, it’s pretty much the same thing. They knew he couldn’t help us enough this season and the Bucs are in “WIN NOW” mode with the window wide open and decide to go with the comparable player, at probably a different position, who can help us day one.
April 11th, 2025 at 7:07 am
We just need the guy to get acclimated and be ready NEXT year, when LD probably is gone. What are the odds of drafting a kid next year who’s also ready to start?
April 11th, 2025 at 7:08 am
“Mysterious injury”? I thought the surgery was for a torn labrum.
April 11th, 2025 at 7:17 am
Campbell will NOT be the pick even if he is available. Ezerauku,Emmanwori, or Barron will be., or Bucs trade back and acquire more 2 nd round picks. 2nd Round is loaded with talent this year and a great round to have multiple picks.
April 11th, 2025 at 7:19 am
“The Bucs now have faith that Dennis can stay on the field.” Until it happens, it hasn’t happened.
April 11th, 2025 at 7:51 am
I don’t love drafting Alabama defensive players much tbh. Idk most of them seem kinda tapped out. I also don’t want to draft a guy that is pretty much redshirted this whole year. There will be other lbs next year or you can look for one that will actually be able to participate in the 2nd 3rd round. I also doubt Jason drafts a lb early usually when he misses he it takes him a long time to draft that position 1st round again see oj Howard, vh3,James Winston,Devin white
April 11th, 2025 at 8:21 am
odd nobody references his injury, even in freshly written stuff. who’s his agent Jason Bourne?
April 11th, 2025 at 8:22 am
LB3 @19
April 11th, 2025 at 8:30 am
How well did Darron Lee and Devon White work out?
April 11th, 2025 at 8:35 am
Cornerback in the first dean isn’t going to last
April 11th, 2025 at 8:36 am
Because of your Benjamin Morris article — l looked up college injury stats on Dean and Davis — in the 5 seasons those two started for Auburn they only missed a total of 3 games. Davis 2 games in 3 seasons and Dean 1 game in 2 seasons.
Do the Bucs (or Jason Licht) in this instance pick guys with injury histories?
Barton seems to be an exception missing 5 games in 3 seasons – which is kinda middle of the road. He has had hamstring issues in both college and pros.
Kancey missed 2 games in 3 seasons.
Devin White missed zero games in 3 seasons.
Logan Hall missed 1 game in 4 seasons.
JTS missed 2 games in 2 seasons.
April 11th, 2025 at 8:43 am
I’m not concerned about the injury. There are simply too many other needs to justify drafting a linebacker in the first round—unless it’s a situation like the year we drafted Sapp and Brooks, with two first-round picks. Historically and analytically, both linebacker and running back are positions that can be found in any round of the draft. It’s been proven time and again. Plus it’s a deep year at Linebacker and Bassa, Martin, Stutsman, Kiser, or Carter might be the best one anyways… Might even be Kobe King point being there’s gonna be a late LB or 2 that are just as good if not better Defensive Line, Pass Rush, Or Secondary first and second round but who knows could be wr depending on bpa….
April 11th, 2025 at 8:44 am
If he’s there and the medical outlook shows no long term problems or interim setbacks, he’ll be a Buc. We have 2 other ILBs that can fill the void in the short term and Jason won’t pass up his college production and NFL potential. He has also seemingly been overly cautious with injuries to young players in recent years. Injuries are just a part of the game.
April 11th, 2025 at 9:10 am
That’s great, we have Dennis who can’t stay on the field and now we are going to draft a first rounder who won’t be able to get on the field. Makes no sense if the Bucs are really trying to get to the SB this year. Sometimes I think Jason and team overthinks the draft.
April 11th, 2025 at 9:13 am
There is literally no way the Bucs are drafting an off-ball LB with a shoulder injury who won’t be ready for this season. Literally no way
April 11th, 2025 at 9:14 am
Which one of these guys was right last year? Wish I could get paid to guess what a team is actually doing because it is nothing more than a guess. Especially when you have 18 other teams drafting before you do! Their entire draft board might be 5% right and that’s the first 5 picks.
April 11th, 2025 at 9:21 am
If Dennis could stay healthy- He had shown the ability to be a perfect fit in our defense.
But that’s a Big,Big if. We can hope.
The Bucs have freed up a lot of Cap space. I think we draft the best player available- at our positions of need. If it’s a LB, Safety, or Edge.
We draft the best guy on the board- at one of those positions.
If we don’t fill every need- we have the Money to sign a difference maker in Free agency. We aren’t dependent on just the Draft.
And that’s a nice luxury.
April 11th, 2025 at 9:36 am
Lol, that why there are several disclaimers in my prediction. They know more than us! What I do know is Todd highly values ILBs, especially with pass rushing ability and our current t HoF one close to retirement. I also know if he was t injured he wouldn’t get close to 19 AND his production at a high quality, NFL like program, in the SEC is simply undeniable. You think if people knew how good LVD would be he wouldn’t have been drafted in Rd3? No! It’s a crap shoot in later rounds, but rd1 is reserved for Tier 1 playmakers.
April 11th, 2025 at 9:51 am
There’s a reason injured or tarnished players projected in early rd1 fall to the back half of the 1st. Because those teams are desperate for immediate production. Look at Philly last year. If my memory serves me right, they had an extra 1st and drafted Jalen Carter at 10 to work into a rotation. A number 1 overall talent that fell from his driving issues. Campbell isn’t a number 1 overall talent, but he’d probably be Carolina’s pick without the injury, so about 10 spot drop
April 11th, 2025 at 10:49 am
The bucs have a lot of needs to waste R1 pick on a maybe like Campbell….
April 11th, 2025 at 10:53 am
Landon Dickerson was a huge college injury guy (only 1 healthy season) with 1st round talent.
Slipped to 2nd round. I bet a lot of teams had him totally off their board.
April 11th, 2025 at 11:04 am
Derrick Brooks was first round pick #28. The results were five times First Team All-Pro, four times Second Team All-Pro, eleven Pro Bowls, one Super Bowl Champion, and induction into the NFL Hall of Fame. So, picking the right LB in the first round of the draft can be worthwhile, and Campbell looks like the right guy.
And, a lot of first round players do have injury concerns. But, there is evidence which convinces me that Campbell’s injury should not cause the Bucs to hesitate to pick him if there information is solid and goes along with what could be seen at the NFL Combine.
Jihaad Campbell did not do two tests at the NFL Combine – the vertical leap where you vigorously thrust your arm as high as possible, and the three cone drill where you could slip with your upper body weight and momentum suddenly crashing into your shoulder. That suggests to me that the injury occurred before the Combine. But, look at the film of the rest of his activities at the Combine. Running the forty, both arms are pumping, and he is fluid moving and catching the ball in the pass defense drills.
Licht has commented about SVD something to the effect that he had previously had a shoulder issue that he had hoped to avoid surgery for until he further injured it this past season.
Labrum injuries can range from fraying and small tears that can be repaired laparoscopically to severe damage that requires shoulder dissection and reconstruction.
The Combine videos do not suggest a player needing a major reconstruction. Rather, they suggest a player with a lesser injury, perhaps like what SVD tried to play with. It looks like Campbell decided to attend to it upfront in the offseason.
Eight months is the return to play time for a major reconstruction. But, Campbell’s Combine drill choices and performance make it likely that he underwent a lesser repair which should allow non-hitting drills in camp and full contact around the time of the pre-season games.
April 11th, 2025 at 11:45 am
I like DR’s draft ideas. I do realize that a poll of fans here shows a majority with a different set of priorities.
Didn’t Dennis have a surgical procedure to take care of the chronic problem causing him to miss games?
April 11th, 2025 at 12:14 pm
Jason knows what he is doing. See the last three drafts. That said, I subscribe to DR’s formula absent knowing what Jason will do. But if Campbell is the guy, it means Jason’s data on the shoulder show it’s a nothing burger.
April 11th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
Tbh I don’t really care much about rushing the passe at ILB..I want the best coverage backer available. Obviously stopping the run will always be important in a Bowles defense. It sounds like from reports he can do it all, but him not even practicing until after season starts seems like a bad value for an off ball backer. Id rather trade back at the very least or just get the best coverage guy in the second. Sesms like a smarter move. Pass defense in the middle and against RB was our weakness
April 11th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
Umm maybe I am wrong but …. Hey Joe I understood that Dennis originally got hurt in College and choose NOT to have surgery. Then played in the NFL and the same shoulder got hurt the year before last, again no surgery, and then hurt badly enough last year that he was forced into surgery. I think his frailness comes from not wanting surgery, not because he is injury prone. Maybe I am wrong but I don’t think I am.
April 11th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
Knucknbuc Says:
April 11th, 2025 at 7:51 am
I don’t love drafting Alabama defensive players much tbh. Idk most of them seem kinda tapped out.
‐—————-
Maybe the most insane statement I’ve ever heard. Will Anderson Jr? Brian Branch? Minkah Fitzpatrick? Marlon Humphrey? Jonathan Allen? Quinnen Williams? Reigning DPoY Pat Surtain II? Barmore? Xavier McKinney? I could go on too
April 11th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
All of you have compelling arguments. I can’t say I disagree, but Campbell is a smart and relatively safe pick. I get that everyone wants to latch onto Joe’s 3rd party testimonial projecting an 8 month recovery, but that is hearsay. I know depth on the interior is essential, but this draft is deep in the big beef dept. I get that Dean is Mr. Glass, but TB and JL have a proven record with later rd DBs. Regardless of how you pin your hopes on a journeyman (Walker), the rehab rocket (Dennis), or our aging Superman (David), depth and the future at ILB are needed now. Get the kid while David is pushing for HOF. Ironically, Dennis was apparently drafted with shoulder issues and now everyone is pinning their hopes on him for the future.
With that said, I feel you can trade back a few spots and still get Campbell…wouldn’t that be sweet
April 11th, 2025 at 4:05 pm
Toopanca
Yes, thank you. We see things similarly
ChiBuc
Agreed. Let’s trade back with the Steelers so they can get their QB and maybe pick up a 4th.
April 11th, 2025 at 4:28 pm
Joe, considering how many analysts are linking him to the Bucs, I’d suspect a bunch of teams probably see it similarly. The benefit of him being injured is if he does fall to us, other teams are highly unlikely to spend draft capital to move up on an injured player. We shall see.
April 11th, 2025 at 4:40 pm
Would give up Bucs 1st and a 4th round in exchange for Hendrickson and Cinci 3rd. There is no way Licht will find a player as impactful as Hendrickson at 19 in this draft. Have to be thinking Super Bowls in 2025-26 given the age of ME and CG. Moreover, if Mayfield performs like he did the last 2 years, he will command a huge salary increase in 2027. The time to win is now.
April 11th, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Emanwori is almost the same size and runs a 4.3 40. A player we can drop down into the box as a nickel linebacker and use as a safety, his natural position. I don’t understand why there is more hubbub about this cat
April 11th, 2025 at 5:27 pm
Go get this kid. What if the injury doesn’t take as long and he’s ready before mid season. With this kid we can hit both goals of trying to the SB and also the future of the team. Gotta think past this season JOE.
April 11th, 2025 at 6:14 pm
Gipper
I totally agree with that logic too. My only concern is the big money Hendrickson wants. At his current contract sure, but we won’t be able to keep both Reddick and Hendrickson if they both blow up. Baker is coming due next year, in addition to several others, such as goedeke and Evans.
April 11th, 2025 at 6:51 pm
4 Out Of 7 NFL.com Analysts Believe Bucs Draft Jihaad Campbell
Probably the same 4 that said Baker was done when the bucs signed him
April 11th, 2025 at 8:11 pm
BayouBullet
Rimshot for that one. Well done! We all need a good chuckle.
April 11th, 2025 at 8:12 pm
Enjoyed the article. Enjoyed the comments even more. I’m pretty sure JL has done his homework on Campbell’s injury. He might be looking at something else anyway. Rarely have I had so little clue as to what we will do. Except for the shoulder I’d love the Campbell pick. All I know for sure is I make a big feast for the draft…oh and I’m pretty sure I will with more Friday morning than Thursday morning. Pass me a beer, Joe, will ya?
April 11th, 2025 at 9:22 pm
Esteban85,
I have been pounding the table for Emmanwori for weeks thinking he is going to be great. Naturally, I am onboard taking him unless we can make a deal for Hendrickson. Really believe Emmanwori can be a Troy Polameu like player. The Hendrickson thing I can get behind if Bucs are serious about contending for a SB in the next couple of years.
April 12th, 2025 at 6:35 am
I like This dude but will Jaon be willing to wait for his health?
That is the bottom line in this. Jason By now knows more about Campbell’s injury and recovery than any of us in Buc Land. Up to you Jason.
Smoke screens?
I do not believe the time line I have seen for his recovery. I have had rotator cuff surgery and I was quite a bit older then this young strapping athlete. I also played the game at OT for more than 6 years. Dr Andrews’ Staff did it for me at 45 ish and I could have done OTAs after a couple of months of Non NFL therapy. Even at my age. No, OTAs are not football! No hitting other than maybe a sled or tackling dummy. Drills are not football. Training camp? Maybe he can.
Go Bucs!
April 12th, 2025 at 8:17 am
Hard pass on Campbell.