Don’t look now, but Eagles rookie Smael Mondon Jr. is starting to stack days. He is showing off athleticism and traits. Over the first two weeks of training camp, Mondon has begun turning heads on the field and in the building, not only with splashy picks or headline plays, but with consistency and a motor that doesn’t have an off switch.
Eagles Training Camp and Preseason
At the start of camp, Smael Mondon Jr. was running with the third team. He was low-profile, just taking everything in. But by the middle of the first full week, you started seeing him mixed into the second team, where his speed and range immediately stood out. He moves like a safety but hits like a linebacker. The processing is still a work in progress, but the instincts are coming alive.
Now, Mondon is starting to look like a player who belongs. The fifth-round rookie had one of the strongest defensive days of camp last week, flashing in both coverage and run support. He erased a would-be touchdown to Saquon Barkley on a wheel route, carrying him stride for stride 30 yards downfield and getting a hand in late to break it up. T
his was a veteran-level play from a first-year linebacker. Mondon Jr. had a nice moment in coverage, locking up Saquon on Tuesday on a route that looked like Hurts’ first read. Hurts waited on it for a couple of beats before moving on. That’s a win for the rookie linebacker. He’s also taken first-team reps alongside Jeremiah Trotter Jr. in 11-on-11s and made his presence felt in the run game, blowing up multiple plays at the line. His comfort level is clear, and the game is starting to slow down.
Mondon logged four tackles versus the Bengals in his first NFL pre-season game. His night was a mix of flashes and frustrations. He gained valuable experience on the Eagles’ defense, and seemed to play better as the game progressed. He is showing impressive promise and assuaging all fears of a need to add to the LB depth chart.
Eagles LB Room
LB was a question mark coming into camp, but the young guys are starting to answer the call. Vic Fangio’s arrival reshaped this group, and with Nakobe Dean still on PUP, there’s a real opportunity on the table. Smael Mondon Jr. is quietly positioning himself to matter. He’s not ready to start tomorrow, but he’s showing he’s tough, coachable, and improving by the day. And in a linebacker room full of former Bulldogs, he looks right at home. Philly’s basically Georgia North at this point, and Mondon’s already starting to fit the mold.
Conclusion
Mondon’s making waves! He’s doing what you want a rookie fifth-rounder to do: learn, adapt, and show you something every day. The arrow’s pointing up.
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