Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Draft Strategy: Why Desmond Watson Could Be a Day 3 Steal

The Philadelphia Eagles landed linebacker Jihaad Campbell on Thursday night in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Now people are shifting their attention to what they might do with the rest of their picks in Rounds 2-5.

Campbell had a terrific season with Alabama, notching 117 tackles, 11.5 for loss, and five sacks.

"This was a top-10 player on our board, said Eagles Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman. We think he's a versatile player who can do a lot of different things. So obviously, the main thing that you see is the energy that he plays with, the speed that he plays with, and relentless effort that he plays with, and that fits on defense."

Eagles Round 2-5 Preview: What’s Next After Jihaad Campbell?

The team has plenty of ammunition in the middle of the draft, with picks in Round 2, 3,4, and three picks, after a trade on Thursday night, in Round 5.

Over at ESPN.com Matt Miller has his Round 2 mock draft with the Eagles addressing a key position, tight end, with Miami's Elijah Arroyo with pick 64.

The run of tight end Dallas Goedert might be nearing an end in Philadelphia. No team better prepares for the future by addressing needs than general manager Howie Roseman's crew, and Arroyo is the type of speedy seam buster the Eagles could use.

Most fans get excited about Thursday and Friday, but the Eagles have been able to land some winning picks on Day 3 of the draft, and with four fifth-round picks, they could land some more depth to the roster.

Day 3 History: Eagles’ Late-Round Success Stories

Think about some of the players they have drafted in Round 5 or later, Jordan Mailata (7th), Jason Kelce (6th), Moro Ojomo (7th),  Kenneth Gainwell (5th), Jalen Mills (7th), Brent Celek (5th), Beau Allen (7th) are just some of the players that helped the Eagles win Super Bowls during the 2017 and 2024 seasons.

One name to watch on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft?

According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, one name to keep an eye on is University of Florida defensive tackle Desmond Watson.

This is a completely personal perspective, but the Day 3 marriage of team and player that I'm hoping to see is Florida defensive tackle Desmond Watson to the Eagles. Watson weighs 464 pounds -- 80-plus pounds more than the heaviest player in the NFL in 2024.

Could Watson Replace Jordan Davis?

With Jordan Davis set to enter his fifth and potential final year with the team, Watson could be a viable replacement for Davis in 2026. The Eagles have until May 1 to decide if they will pick up Davis' fifth-year option, leaving their options open because of certain draft scenarios, which could include landing a stout interior defender. Davis was the No. 13 overall pick back in 2022 and has been a solid rotational player, but certainly not a star. He opened eyes with one of the most impressive performances of all time at the combine with his massive size (6-6, 341 lbs.), speed (4.78 40-yard dash), and strength. Like Davis, Watson had a tremendous Pro Day showing incredible strength and agility for his size (36 bench press reps and a 25-inch vertical jump) and could be a Jordan Davis replacement on Day 3. 

Keep an eye on Watson on Saturday during Day 3.