Eagles are feeling Nakobe Dean’s absence through first three games

Nakobe Dean’s departure from Philadelphia was understandable. That doesn’t mean the Eagles aren’t feeling the consequences.

Three games into the season, Dean has become a driving force behind the Las Vegas Raiders‘ surprising 3-0 start. He has brought speed, aggression, and a knack for forcing turnovers to a defense that needed another dependable playmaker alongside Maxx Crosby.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, is still attempting to find the correct formula at linebacker. Jihaad Campbell is piling up tackles, but opponents have consistently exposed him in coverage. The contrast between Dean’s early production and Campbell’s uneven start raises a fair question: Did the Eagles move on from a proven linebacker without a proper replacement plan?

Dean has earned an 84.5 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking third among 71 qualified linebackers through three games. His 79.4 coverage grade ranks 11th, his 71.4 run-defense grade ranks 15th, and his 83.0 pass-rush grade is second at the position. The numbers reflect the versatile player Philadelphia waited several years to see consistently. Dean has recorded 22 solo tackles, five pressures, and two sacks while forcing a fumble in each of Las Vegas’ first three games. He has forced three fumbles over his four seasons with the Eagles.

Dean delivered his latest momentum-changing play during Las Vegas’ 35-27 comeback victory over New Orleans. The Raiders erased an 11-point second-half deficit and improved to 3-0, with Dean finishing with 12 tackles, a pass breakup, and another forced fumble. He also recorded five defensive stops and earned a 90.4 PFF grade.

His performance has not been flawless. Dean has been charged with six missed tackles and has allowed a 114.2 passer rating when targeted. Those figures matter, but so does the impact of his pressures, takeaways, and plays around the line of scrimmage.

Las Vegas has given Dean the freedom to attack. He has rewarded that trust by becoming one of the NFL’s most productive linebackers through three weeks.

The Eagles had legitimate reasons to hesitate before committing to Dean again.

Philadelphia selected him in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft, but he did not start a game as a rookie. His anticipated breakout in 2023 never materialized because of multiple foot injuries. A Lisfranc sprain eventually placed him on injured reserve and limited him to five games. Dean finally established himself as a full-time starter in 2024, recording 128 tackles, three sacks, nine tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, and an interception in 15 starts. He also handled relaying Vic Fangio’s defensive calls.

That breakthrough ended with a torn patellar tendon in his left knee during Philadelphia’s wild-card victory over Green Bay in January 2025. The injury required a lengthy rehabilitation and placed his availability for the following season in doubt. Dean returned to play 10 games in 2025, starting eight, before leaving Philadelphia. His injury history, projected cost, and the team’s investment in younger linebackers made the separation defensible.

The problem is that Dean now looks healthy, explosive, and comfortable in Las Vegas. Philadelphia is watching the best version of him emerge somewhere else.

Campbell’s season requires a more nuanced evaluation than labeling him a disappointment.

The second-year linebacker has recorded 28 tackles, tied for seventh in the NFL and third among NFC defenders. He co-led the Eagles with nine stops during Monday night’s 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears and is well ahead of the pace that produced 80 tackles over 17 games as a rookie.

His ability to run, close space, and finish plays is obvious. His coverage awareness is far less developed.

Campbell has surrendered 10 completions on 12 targets for 128 yards and one touchdown as the primary coverage defender. One tracking source calculated a 138.9 opposing passer rating, while PFF credited him with a 140.9 rating allowed. The minor statistical difference does not change the conclusion: Quarterbacks have identified Campbell as a favorable matchup.

His 67.9 overall PFF grade ranks 27th among 71 qualified linebackers. Campbell ranks 28th in coverage, 29th against the run, and 31st as a pass rusher. He has produced three pressures and one sack, with only one missed tackle.

Campbell is tackling efficiently and getting to the football. The issue is what happens before the catch, particularly when he must recognize route combinations, gain depth in zone coverage, or match a receiver moving through his area.

Those processing errors have contributed to explosive plays in consecutive weeks. Philadelphia’s entire defense has struggled with communication and coverage discipline, but Campbell’s mistakes have been among the most visible.

Campbell’s athletic profile made him one of the most versatile defenders in the 2025 draft. He played off the ball and attacked from the edge at Alabama, raising questions about where he would be most effective in the NFL.

Philadelphia used a first-round pick on Campbell, believing he could become a complete linebacker. Moving him permanently to the edge after three games of his second season would be premature. It would also prevent him from developing the coverage recognition required to reach his ceiling.

That doesn’t mean the Eagles should keep using him the same way, with Jeremiah Trotter Jr. as a potential replacement.

Fangio could reduce Campbell’s most demanding coverage assignments while increasing his opportunities as a blitzer, simulated-pressure piece, and occasional edge rusher. Campbell’s acceleration and closing speed become more dangerous when he can attack forward instead of processing multiple routes while retreating.

His current pass-rush production does not prove that he should change positions. Three pressures and a 64.5 pass-rush grade are not enough evidence to support a full-time move. His physical tools, however, give Philadelphia enough reason to explore a more aggressive situational role.

The goal should be to expand Campbell’s value, not abandon his development at linebacker.

Yes, but not because Campbell has already proven incapable of becoming a quality linebacker.

Philadelphia should be worried because its defense has failed to force a turnover through three games, its young linebackers have been repeatedly targeted in coverage, and Dean is producing exactly the disruptive plays the Eagles are missing.

Dean’s forced fumbles, pressures, and downhill aggression would help a defense searching for an identity. His departure is magnified because Philadelphia has not adequately replaced his combination of leadership, communication, and playmaking.

Campbell can still become that player. He has the athletic ability, tackling production, and versatility to develop into a foundational defender. He is also a second-year player working through responsibilities that require experience and rapid recognition. The Eagles should not regret drafting Campbell, and Dean’s injury history made a long-term investment risky. They should, however, question whether Campbell’s current deployment puts him in the best position to succeed.

Dean is thriving because Las Vegas lets him attack. Philadelphia may need to borrow that approach. Asking Campbell to rush more often wouldn’t solve every problem. Still, it could unlock the part of his game best equipped to help the Eagles immediately while his coverage instincts continue developing.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles are feeling Nakobe Dean’s absence through first three games