Jalen Carter: Grading the Eagles’ No. 9 NFL Draft Pick

This 2023 NFL Draft has been wild and full of chaos with trades. The Chicago Bears made chaos earlier in the draft process by trading their original first overall pick the Carolina Panthers for an extensive and generous package. They continued to make chaos by trading back one pick to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles saw Carter slip so far through the draft and felt concerned that their top player on their draft boards was going to be taken by the Bears or anyone team would for them. It may seem like a rash pick, but it took to move up was the Eagles’ fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Grading Jalen Carter to the Eagles

Carter was easily one of the most talented prospects in the entire 2023 NFL Draft class. He is a dynamic playmaker in the interior defensive line as he can clog the running lanes for opposing offenses and create a solid pass rush.

In three years at Georgia, Carter accumulated 83 total tackles, 44 solo tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. This season, he accounted for 32 total tackles, 16 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.

The key concerns of Carter were not really on the football field, but more off the field as his two misdemeanors this offseason were a problem. Carter was also nine pounds heavier in between the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine and his Pro Day at Georgia.

Outside of his off-the-field issues, Carter is a stud in the interior as he gets paired with former Georgia Bulldogs teammate Jordan Davis, a one-technique defensive tackle. Having Carter and Davis on the same defensive line should make running the ball hell for opposing offenses.

Grade: A