Few teams in the NFL have the kind of talent across their roster quite like the Philadelphia Eagles do. The defending Super Bowl champions have All-Pro caliber players at almost every position group on the field.
That alone might be enough to make them favorites to win a second straight Lombardi trophy.
Recently, ESPN researched its way into what makes the Eagles so elite. According to Bill Barnwell, Philadelphia's trio of weapons is the difference. In his latest article on ESPN, Barnwell pushed running back Saquon Barkley and receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith way up to being ranked as the best in the league.
"It's not as simple as saying the Eagles' star wideouts would turn more routes into more receiving yards at the same efficiency level, but Brown and Smith have both been superstars with larger target totals in previous seasons," Barnwell said. "All three of Philadelphia's stars are in the prime of their respective careers, making it easier to project that they'll stay at this level in 2025."
His last point is an important distinction.
Philadelphia's core seems so talented because the entire roster is in its prime. They are all playing their best football together.
Philadelphia's ability to afford to pay Barkley, Brown, and Smith while also locking up key defensive players and their offensive line shows how good the organization is at rewarding its own.
It's even scarier to realize that, as good as Philly's trio is, they are the second-best group on their offense. ... The best, of course, is their offensive line.
And that is what makes the team so terrifying to rivals in the NFC East and beyond.