The Philadelphia Eagles have consistently found success by drafting from the Georgia Bulldogs pipeline. They continued that trend in the NFL Draft by selecting linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. in the fifth round, once again showing their confidence in Georgia’s ability to develop elite defensive players. Mondon, a versatile inside linebacker, joins a growing list of former Bulldogs now in Philadelphia. Over the last four drafts, the Eagles have added six players from Georgia, beginning with defensive tackle Jordan Davis in the first round of 2022, followed by linebacker Nakobe Dean in the third. In 2023, they chose defensive tackle Jalen Carter at No. 9 overall, linebacker Nolan Smith at No. 30, and cornerback Kelee Ringo in the fourth round.
After picking Mondon, the Eagles’ social media team had some fun, posting on X: “Collecting Bulldogs like Infinity Stones,” a perfect nod to their strategy of building a championship roster by gathering key players, much like Thanos assembling his powerful stones.
https://x.com/Eagles/status/1916206959369351197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1916206959369351197%7Ctwgr%5E2892aaa37eb085eb86b1f8e479bbfdf98cd0ffe1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fathlonsports.com%2Fcollege%2Fgeorgia-bulldogs%2Fphiladelphia-eagles-news-nfl-draft-smael-mondon-jr-georgia-bulldogs
Carter, Smith, Davis, and Ringo all played major roles in the Eagles’ Super Bowl run last season. Although Dean was sidelined by injury, he remains an important part of their defense. Now, Mondon will compete for a spot alongside Dean, Zack Baun, and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. in a talented linebacker group.
https://x.com/BrendenDeeg_/status/1916206780369010861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1916206780369010861%7Ctwgr%5E2892aaa37eb085eb86b1f8e479bbfdf98cd0ffe1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fathlonsports.com%2Fcollege%2Fgeorgia-bulldogs%2Fphiladelphia-eagles-news-nfl-draft-smael-mondon-jr-georgia-bulldogs
Philadelphia now has eight former Bulldogs on their roster, including standouts Lewis Cine and Azeez Ojulari, many of whom were stars on Georgia’s national championship teams. If history is any indication, bringing in another Bulldog could be another smart move for the Eagles as they aim to stay on top.
