Jalen Carter, the No. 9 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, got off to a fast start last season. Even after fading down the stretch, the former Georgia All-American was still the runner-up for the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Through the first nine weeks of 2023, Carter generated 29 pressures (tied for eighth in the league among interior defensive linemen), according to Pro Football Focus, including four sacks and 20 hurries.
A year later, Carter is the face of the Eagles defense after Fletcher Cox announced his retirement during the spring. Ahead of Friday night’s showdown in Brazil, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur had high praise for Cater.
“He’s a freak. He’s a freakshow. He can do it in the run game, he can do it in the pass game. Freak is a term of endearment, so. But he’s an elite level athlete. He can do anything out there on the field. I think he’s going to keep improving and he’ll be — if he’s not already — one of the premier defensive linemen in the league.”
Carter finished his rookie year with 6.0 sacks, 33 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery (which he returned for a touchdown) in 16 regular-season games.
During the first half of the 2023 season, Carter played 49% of the defensive snaps (despite missing Week 6 against the New York Jets with an injury), second among Eagles defensive tackles behind only Fletcher Cox.
That snap count and level of responsibility will increase for Carter and several other Eagles.
