For a team to win the Super Bowl, contributions must come from ascending players who see a jump in performance and production from one year to the next.
Last year, a number of Eagles players made “the leap.” Zack Baun. Nolan Smith. Milton Williams. Nakobe Dean (before he got hurt). Mekhi Becton. Without significant improvement from all five of those players, the Birds likely don’t blitz through the NFC playoffs and win Super Bowl 59.
Thanks to the departure of multiple key free agents, the Eagles are depending on younger players to make “the leap” as they defend their title this year.