Eagles draft Jalen Carter in first round of NFL Draft
The Philadelphia Eagles took no chances to take what many believe is the best player in the 2023 NFL Draft. Their already stacked defensive line just got better by selecting Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Philadelphia traded up one spot with the Chicago Bears to select Carter and sacrificed just a fourth-round pick in next […]
The Philadelphia Eagles took no chances to take what many believe is the best player in the 2023 NFL Draft. Their already stacked defensive line just got better by selecting Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
Philadelphia traded up one spot with the Chicago Bears to select Carter and sacrificed just a fourth-round pick in next year's draft get him with the ninth overall pick.
The Eagles are very used to taking huge defensive linemen from Georgia. They drafted Jordan Davis in the first round last year, and now continue to add to one of their best position groups.
Carter was a projected top-five pick entering the offseason, but an incident that involved the death of two people led to an arrest warrant being brought on against Carter in March. Ultimately, the incident didn't have Carter fall out of the top 10 picks.
For a look at what Carter does well, here's what A to Z Sports' Tyler Browning wrote in his evaluation:
Incredibly explosive off the snap. Puts pressure on offensive linemen almost immediately. Can wedge himself between two offensive linemen and work his way into the backfield almost immediately after the snap…Plays with ferocious power, is able to get into the backfield in the blink of an eye. Can wedge himself between offensive linemen. Often see him stagger offensive linemen with his hands. Consistently collapses the pocket with his bull rush.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler had this to say about Carter in his NFL Draft guide
Carter needs to continue growing in several areas, but his block destruction is special because of a rare combination of body control, quickness, and power. He presents a conundrum for the NFL decision-makers, he is a very youngplayer and maturation isn't a guarantee, but he is arguably the most talented prospect in this draft class with the potential to develop into a top-five player at his position in the NFL.
In three years at Georgia, Carter accumulated 83 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks. He was a first-team All-American; and First Team All-SEC in 2022.
