The NFL saw a seismic trade with the Chicago Bears, who acquired four-time Pro Bowler Jeffery Simmons, which has sparked an odd conversation among Philadelphia Eagles fans and media about Jalen Carter.
As part of the trade, the Tennessee Titans acquired two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick. The Bears got Simmons and a Day 3 selection.
Many in Philly have wondered what kind of deal the Eagles would get if they traded away Carter, since he plays the same position as Simmons. That really needs to stop right now, and everyone needs to shift the focus elsewhere.
What everyone is saying about a potential Eagles trade with Jalen Carter
Many of the talks with Carter focus on what kind of draft picks the Eagles would get in a trade. For the type of player he is, it would require some serious draft picks.
Since 2023, Carter has been selected to two Pro Bowls, and in 2024, he earned second-team All-Pro honors. In 50 games, he has racked up 126 tackles, 39 quarterback hits, 30 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, 15 pass deflections, seven forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown.
This season has been interesting for Carter, though, as he has been dealing with a wrist injury that has affected his play on the field. He has still racked up 18 tackles, 16 pressures, 12 hurries, five tackles for loss, three sacks, three forced fumbles, two quarterback hits, and two pass deflections in seven games.
Pro Football Focus has given Carter an overall grade of 57, ranking him 70th among 126 eligible interior defensive linemen. He also has a pass-rush grade of 56.2 (ranked 96th) and a run-defense grade of 55.6 (ranked 57th).
Despite being considered one of the NFL's best defensive tackles, most of the talk about a Carter trade doesn't include two first-round picks. Instead, the most popular projection is one first-round pick and a Day 3 selection.
Why the Eagles need to avoid trading Jalen Carter away
There's two reasons why this kind of narrative is starting to heat up in Philly. One, what Tennessee got from the Simmons trade has every Eagles fans interested since the team is on the verge of a total rebuild and they could use extra points. Two, Carter's most recent comments about not caring about what fans think has made fans and media sour on him a bit.
With Carter versus Simmons, they are in similar situations as the NFL nears the trade deadline. Both guys just signed contract extensions in the summer with the idea they would stay with their teams long-term. Also, their teams are not doing well in 2026.
The difference here is the Titans are in more danger with their future, as their roster does not have good young players on there. Philly has young superstars on offense and defense, leaving their rebuild a lot easier to do.
Letting Carter go in a trade would be a mistake since the team is financially strapped right now and can't afford to let him go. Plus, Carter is a top-five defensive tackle and those just don't fall from the sky often.
Read more: Eagles safety Michael Carter II named Week 8 NFLPA Community MVP
If Philly is serious about getting this team right, they need Carter as a cornerstone piece for the future. While he might frustrate fans and media, he is a terrific player who can really help the franchise out in 2027 and beyond.
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