The Philadelphia Eagles might have their concerns about defensive tackle Jalen Carter, but there are no arguments to be made: he is a force to be reckoned with.
Since being drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Carter has been a star in the league, being selected to two Pro Bowls in his three-year NFL career. Sports Illustrated had a group of writers put together the NFL's top 10 defensive tackles, with Carter landing at number two behind Jeffrey Simmons.
"Carter is a nightmare for opposing offenses, thanks to his remarkably quick first step," SI writer
Karl Rasmussen
said. "He’s able to disrupt plays regularly because of his combination of speed and power, which often forces the offensive line to put two bodies in front of him. That, in turn, opens up pass-rushing avenues for his teammates in the trenches.Â
Carter can do it all on the line. His ability to quickly get through the offensive line forces quarterbacks to hurry their throws or adjust their throwing angles, and he’s recorded 13 pass defenses over the past two seasons, as well as 7.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and 28 quarterback hits."
Should Jalen Carter be where he is ranked among NFL defensive tackles?
The Eagles' defense has seen a massive upgrade in its performance since Carter's arrival. He has racked up 108 tackles, 37 quarterback hits, 25 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, 13 pass deflections, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one defensive touchdown in 43 games.
Despite making the Pro Bowl last year, Carter did not play at the level that he did in 2024. He ended up missing five games due to heel and shoulders injuries, while missing one more after getting ejected for spitting in the first game of the season against the Dallas Cowboys.
Carter's fifth-year option has been picked up on his rookie contract, and now the wait is on to see when he will get his contract extension. If it doesn't happen before training camp, there is cause for concern that everyone thinks Eagles general manager Howie Roseman will end up trading Carter away.
The likelihood of Carter actually getting traded seems very low, but with Roseman, nothing can be counted out. If the Eagles do have concerns about Carter's health and his character, as SI's Albert Breer has reported, Philly is more likely just to let him play out the season and reevaluate his contract extension in the offseason.
Read more: Eagles underdog may become the kind of player other teams monitor
No matter what is said, though, Carter is an elite player that Eagles fans hope will stay in Philly for a very long time.
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