The Philadelphia Eagles began the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the number 10 and 30 selections; then, they converted selection 10 and a 2024 fourth-round pick to trade up with the Chicago Bears and select Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Late in the evening, they added to their defence by drafting Carter’s teammate, linebacker Nolan Smith. From just losing the Super Bowl, to securing franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts, to drafting two of the higher-ranking members of the 2023 NFL rookie class, the Philadelphia Eagles have had an off-season that could stick in fans’ memories for some time.
Philadelphia Eagles Select Top Ranked Defenders Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith
The Philadelphia Eagles were one of several teams with multiple first round selections in the 2023 NFL Draft (the others being the Houston Texans, Seattle Sehawks and Detroit Lions). The Eagles spent their selections entirely on the defensive side of the ball, and drafted two top-ranked defenders doing so. Jalen Carter is the highest-ranked player in the 2023 NFL Draft according to some pundits, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper. Infamously, teams him down their draft board and out of the top-five selections due to showing up overweight to workouts, not finishing workouts, interviewing poorly, and pleading no-contest to misdemeanour charges of street racing. The draft process was a very low time in Carter’s life.
However, he can still have a stunning NFL career. He can beat any offensive lineman with elite pass rushing skills. He is explosive, strong, and smart when playing off the edge. Carter’s time at Georgia saw him dominate all offensive lineman with crazy athletic feats. Meanwhile, teammate and linebacker Nolan Smith is a highly-polished run defender, capable of working over offensive lineman with pure strength. Smith is a unique player to hold the edge, as he can effectively blitz and defend against the run. While Carter will be an every-down player, Smith adds a rotational linebacker who with enough productivity can play every down in Philly.
Carter and Smith add to Philadelphia Bulldogs
At this point, every Philadelphia Eagles fan and sports writer has highlighted that the Eagles defence should be called the Philadelphia Bulldogs. Carter and Smith join Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean, two former Bulldogs also in Philadelphia. Four players coming from an elite Georgia defence speaks both to the Georgia Bulldogs success over the past five years, and the Eagles commitment to building a defence defined by teamwork. For Carter, this is unquestionably the best landing spot, as more mature and veteran defenders can help answer any maturity questions.
For Smith, he joins a defence capable of massive adjustments in 2023. Haason Reddick was one of the elite pass rushers in the 2023 season, earning Pro Bowl accolades. Reddick is likely to help Smith adjust to the NFL and refine his weaker points. Four players landed over 10 sacks in the 2022 campaign, although not all will be returning. Hence, there was a need to draft elite rookie defenders who can turn the Eagles 2022 NFC Championship into a defense that dominates the NFL year in and out.
With Jalen Hurts now the long-term quarterback in Philadelphia, an elite Eagles defence to match Hurts consistency should see the Eagles competing for NFC Championships for several years. In the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Eagles might be the team most readily addressing their positional needs. Although Carter has consistency and maturity questions at the NFL level, if he turns into an elite defender, he might be one of the biggest steals of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Eagles traded up to add him to their unit, meaning they had targeted him and have an idea of how Carter can immediately contribute to the earning another trip to the NFC Championship match.
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