When the visiting Washington Commanders look to move the chains at the Linc this weekend, they are going to meet with fierce opposition from the vaunted defensive line interior of the Philadelphia Eagles.
From Georgia Bulldogs teammates to stalwarts on the Philadelphia Eagles defensive line, former first-round selections Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter are out to wreck the Washington game plan. And overall, they are well on their way to becoming the strongest interior duo in the game this coming season.
Since their playing days at the University of Georgia, Carter and Davis have shared a strong bond. With Carter tabbed with the 13th selection in the 2022 draft, his younger teammate followed suit the following season, with Roseman drafting Carter at ninth overall in the 2023 draft.
Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis can dominate Week 1 for Eagles
It hasn't always been perfectly smooth sailing for each defensive tackle. For Davis, early bouts with conditioning at the pro level kept him relegated to the sidelines a bit too much for Eagles fans' liking, but he has absolutely transformed in that facet of his approach, and his stout performance last season resulted in his hefty contract extension.
Meanwhile, consistency and maintaining a clean bill of health hindered Carter last season, but his flashes of elite production and vast ceiling made the decision for Roseman to make him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league a relatively easy one.
For general manager Howie Roseman, keeping the trench duo in town long-term was always a top priority.
"That's the way we have done things for a long time," Roseman said. "Keep as many talented players as possible. We can't keep them all. Building at the line of scrimmage, inside, that has always been a priority for us."
Both armed with new deals and a raised bar of expectations, they now have their sights set on becoming the league's best interior duo. The first test is Week 1 against Washington, and this matchup screams mismatch in the trenches.
Washington visits the Linc with Nick Allegretti as the team's starting center. Allegretti, 30, has seven career starts, and the journeyman lineman was shaky in spot duty last season in Washington.
Per a deep dive over at Hogs Haven, Allegretti’s 5.7% pressure rate surrendered in pass protection in his four starts last year would have placed him in only the 21st percentile of all starting interior offensive linemen.
Meanwhile, Allegretti will be flanked by Chris Paul (left guard) and Sam Cosmi (right guard) in week 1 while lining up against Davis and Carter on the inside. Cosmi has looked good since transitioning from tackle to the interior, but Paul is a still-developing talent at guard who is susceptible to getting beat, especially by such talented players as Davis and Carter.
This is a matchup in the trenches that must be decidedly owned by Philadelphia. Carter and Davis are now armed with massive new contracts, and all eyes are on this trench tandem entering Week 1.
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It all starts up front in Philadelphia, and this defense will go as far as Davis and Carter take them in 2026.
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