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Jalen Carter Is Taking the Next Step

Jalen Carter has turned into the premier defensive tackle the Eagles expected when they drafted him out of Georgia.

Like many players on this Eagles defense, Jalen Carter is a former Georgia Bulldog, and having a breakout season. The Eagles have been the best defense in football since their bye week. With the unit playing so well, it is not a surprise that there are plenty of standout players. Former top-10 pick Jalen Carter has been particularly impressive in the middle of the Eagles’ defense.

Jalen Carter Is Taking the Next Step

All the Talent in the World

Jalen Carter’s talent level has never been in question. He was a five-star recruit who dominated at Georgia. Carter was seen as one of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, his pre-draft process was disastrous, which led to many teams having second thoughts about drafting him. This led him to slip to number nine in the draft, where Howie Roseman decided the talent was too much to pass up. As long as Carter could stay out of trouble, and stay in shape, he had all the potential to become a Chris Jones-type player.

He showed some of that potential in his rookie season. Carter’s disruptive, bull-in-a-china shop style of play led him to be nicknamed the Baby Rhino by fans. In his rookie season, Carter racked up six sacks and forced two fumbles. However, he was not immune to the Eagles late season collapse, with his play diminishing down the stretch. However, hopes were still high for Carter entering year two, with Eagles fans hopeful that the big man could emerge as a star on the defensive line.

Game Wrecker

While he was better than the rest of the defensive line, Jalen Carter’s start to the season was slightly underwhelming. He was playing well, but by no means was he elite. However, that has changed in recent weeks. Carter came out of the bye red hot, recording three sacks in the first two games afterward. His performance on Thursday Night against the Commanders was his best of the season, despite not recording a sack. Carter was making life miserable for rookie sensation Jayden Daniels all night. He was constantly getting the better of Sam Cosmi, who was one of the better guards in the league. Carter looked like one of the best players in the league on Thursday.

There is no reason why this cannot be the norm with the level of talent Carter possesses. Few humans on this planet have the combination of strength and quickness that Carter has. He can throw around 300-plus-pound athletes for fun but is also freakishly nimble for his size. Another key trait for Carter is his stamina. He was on the field for every single snap in the Commanders game. This is the first time an Eagles defensive tackle has been on the field every snap since tracking began in 2012. For a 315-pounder to play that many snaps, and still manage to wreck the game for the offense in the fourth quarter is rare. These rare traits are why Howie Roseman decided to use a top-10 pick on him despite question marks. At the end of the day, talent is king in the NFL, and Carter has it in spades.

Main Photo: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

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