Eagles Pro Bowler Speaks Out on Impressive ‘Draft Steal’ Rookie originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Many analysts and scouts loved what the Philadelphia Eagles were able to do during the 2025 Draft.

The organization replenished its defense with immediate impact stars from some of the best colleges in the country. Linebacker Jihaad Campbell, defensive tackle Ty Robinson, and cornerback Mac McWilliams could all help the Eagles out on that side of the ball this year.

Of all the defensive players drafted by the team in April, though, one stands out above the rest.

Texas safety Andrew Mukuba was Philadelphia’s second-round selection … and could be a steal. His athleticism and ball-hawking abilities had some analysts predicting he could go as high as a late first-round pick.

Through offseason workouts, Mukuba has stood out the most to Pro Bowl receiver DeVonta Smith.

“Just seeing him out there, seeing the way he moves around, things like that, the way he goes about his business,” Smith said during his celebrity softball game this weekend.

Mukuba will compete with former third-round safety Sydney Brown for a starting role on Philadelphia’s top-ranked defense.

Both Brown and Mukuba will be under tremendous pressure this season.

The winner of their position battle will be tasked with replacing a star in C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The outspoken defender led the team in interceptions last year with six and was key to establishing Philadelphia’s physical identity on that side of the ball.

If Smith is right, Mukuba could be an early favorite to fit in Gardner-Johnson’s shoes.

Or, at the very least, he can be a serviceable player at an important position on their defense. 

Related: ‘Overlooked’ Rookie Poised As Next Late-Round Gem in Eagles Roster Pipeline

Related: Eagles All-Pro Sounds Off On ‘Evolution’ of Nick Sirianni

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.