CBS Sports' top 25 players under 25 includes Eagles franchise cornerstones

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has genuinely been a wizard in the NFL Draft, as he has found some great talent over the last five years.

From Jalen Hurts to Cooper DeJean, there haven't been many misses from Roseman since the 2020 NFL Draft. A projected 13 starters on the Eagles' depth chart are selections from the draft in the last five years.

Not many NFL teams can claim to be building their roster from the ground up. Two of the selections Philadelphia has picked are now considered the best among the young players under the age of 25.

Two Eagles defenders included in CBS Sports' top 25 players under 25

CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin ranked the best 25 players in the NFL who are under the age of 25. The Eagles had two players included from the defensive side of the ball: Quinyon Mitchell at 23 and Jalen Carter at 12.

Mitchell's rapid rise occurred just one year after completing his rookie season in the NFL. Despite no interceptions in the regular season, Mitchell showed off the shutdown corner traits.

"It's notoriously difficult for cornerbacks to become Day 1 stars in the NFL, but Mitchell never batted an eye as a perimeter starter for the Eagles. He didn't light up the turnover sheet, but he saved his best work for the brightest lights, logging two picks and four pass breakups during a playoff run all the way to Super Bowl glory."

Last year, Mitchell allowed a completion percentage of 54.7% and a passer rating of 87.2. He finished as the runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Mitchell did nab two interceptions in the postseason.

Carter was the highest-rated Eagle under 25 as he finished his second season in the NFL last year. His performance is starting to resemble that of a future Hall of Famer.

"He's coming off just his first year as a full-timer, but there might not be a more tenacious interior force this side of Aaron Donald's retirement. Carter's pocket-breaking violence was huge for the Eagles' title run; he totaled 23 quarterback hits in 2024, including playoffs. And most would agree he's not even close to hitting his prime."

Similar to Mitchell, Carter was also a runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year back in 2023. Last year, he nabbed a Pro Bowl selection and an All-Pro selection after finishing with 42 tackles, 16 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss, six pass deflections, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 16 games.

The Eagles know they have something special in Mitchell and Carter, as they are setting themselves up with having to pay them big money in the future at the rate they are going. It's a good problem to have for Roseman, as these two players show how good the scouting department is in Philadelphia.