The Eagles are the latest team to wrap up their rookie deals in time for training camp. Second-round safety Andrew Mukuba inked his contract on Monday, per a team announcement. 
Like 29 other players taken in the second round of April’s draft Mukuba was unsigned at the start of last week. Round 2 picks have received a notable uptick in guaranteed compensation this year, with a number of players taken at the top of the round seeing all four years of their deals locked in (something which was previously only the case for Day 1 draftees). As the 64th pick, Mukuba is not in line to have his entire deal guaranteed, but his agreement no doubt represents a step in that direction compared to previous years.
During three seasons at Clemson, Mukuba operated as a key member of the team’s secondary. He recorded only one interception within that span, but things changed in 2024. After transferring to Texas, Mukuba notched five picks while adding seven pass deflections. That production helped his draft stock considerably, and he now enters the NFL with a chance to carve out a starting role on defense.
Philadelphia’s offseason has included a number of defensive departures, including the trade which sent C.J. Gardner Johnson to the Texans. The Eagles informed Gardner-Johnson of their decision to move on from him during the opening stages of free agency, and the trade created a vacancy at the safety spot. Reed Blankenship is set to return for 2025, and the same is true of Sydney Brown.
Those two could operate as Philadelphia’s starting safety tandem in 2025, although the Super Bowl champions could also find themselves in the market for one of the veterans still on the free agent market. Barring an addition, Mukuba should at least be able to occupy a special teams role during his rookie season. With Blankenship entering the final year of his contract, a path could exist down the road to a first-team defensive gig.
Here is a final look at the Eagles’ 2025 draft class:
- Round 1, No. 31 (from Chiefs): Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 64: Andrew Mukuba (S, Texas) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 111 (from Panthers through Broncos): Ty Robinson (DT, Nebraska) (signed)
- Round 5, Nos. 145 (from Jets): Mac McWilliams (CB, Central Florida) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 161: (from Texans): Smael Mondon (LB, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 168: Drew Kendall (C, Boston College) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 181 (from Patriots through Chargers): Kyle McCord (QB, Syracuse) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 191 (from Cardinals): Myles Hinton (T, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 207 (from Chiefs and Jets): Cameron Williams (T, Texas) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 209 (from Chargers)*: Antwaun Powell-Ryland (OLB, Virginia Tech) (signed)