Even though Nakobe Dean hasn’t been able to practice yet this summer as he rehabs from a torn patellar tendon, he has been a huge resource for the Eagles’ rookie linebackers.
Including his fellow Georgia Bulldog Smael Mondon Jr.
The Eagles’ fifth-round linebacker has gotten off to a good start this summer and has been learning all he can from Dean.
“A lot. I be asking Nakobe a lot of questions,” Mondon said. “I be trying to not like annoy him and ask him stuff. I be picking his brain a lot because Nakobe is real smart. Even at Georgia, I was doing the same thing. So to get here and see how much he’s learned and the game he’s willing to give me as a younger guy in the room. Nakobe’s been great being able to help out.”
Because he’s not on the field yet, Dean has a different perspective on practice and is able to provide a view that’s almost like one a coach would have. Mondon explained that sometimes when you’re actually on the field, it’s hard to see the full picture.
Dean is able to see it all and it’s been helping Mondon and the other rookies as they get acclimated to the NFL.
“Nakobe, in general, he just kind of has a coach’s mindset to him,” Mondon said. “Him being off the field, seeing that, he’s been able to help me whether I do something bad in a rep, he’s helping me, telling me what I can fix or if I do something good, he’s telling me what I could do better or how to keep improving at it. He’s been a big help for real.”
Not only has Dean missed the first six days of training camp on the PUP list but Zack Baun has missed the last two practices with a back contusion. That means that Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Jihaad Campbell have been getting the bulk of the first-team reps but Mondon has mixed in too and has performed well.
Realistically, Mondon’s role as a rookie is going to be as a special teams player, but he’s already proving that he can provide the Eagles with some much-needed linebacker depth in 2025. The Eagles are noticeably deeper at linebacker going into this season than they have been in a long time.
The Eagles already had Baun and Trotter, and they’ll eventually get Dean back from his injury. And then they drafted Campbell in the first round and Mondon in the fifth. Even undrafted Lance Dixon out of Toledo has had some strong moments throughout the first week or so of camp.
Mondon is still learning a ton but has settled into a routine six practices into training camp.
What has he tried to work on most?
“Really, the first couple days just really making sure I learned everything in the playbook,” Mondon said, “because you’re not going to be able to play confidently if you don’t really know what you’re doing.
“So just getting a good footing and building that foundation. I’m really trying to work on now playing looser and not being as timid, not being as afraid to make mistakes. Just being more confident my ability and being able to play fast and free. But that comes with being confident in the playbook.”
