After a bitter defeat in the Super Bowl, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman compiled two spectacular draft classes in 2023 and 2024, and several of those players are playing big roles in the Eagles’ return to the big game.

Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, Philadelphia’s two first-round picks in 2023 after back-to-back national title runs in college at Georgia, are now the Eagles’ two leading pass-rushers. Third-rounder Sydney Brown and fourth-rounder Kelee Ringo are key depth pieces in the secondary and on special teams.

In 2024, Roseman spent his first two picks on cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean to reinforce Philadelphia’s battered secondary, and both rookies have done just that.

Roseman gets a lot of credit for his savvy pickups of veterans such as A.J. Brown, Darius Slay, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Zack Baum and of course Saquon Barkley. But this NFL-best Eagles defense is built on a young foundation established since the last time Philadelphia was in the Super Bowl just two years ago.

Now, the Eagles are back.