Philadelphia Eagles second-year defensive tackle Jalen Carter has heard all of the noise in recent years.
Carter fell to the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft due to concerns about his conditioning and decision-making off the field. Yet the Eagles were willing to take a chance on Carter and his sky-high ceiling.
During his rookie season in Philadelphia, Jalen Carter got off to a scorching hot start. In his first eight games with the Eagles, Carter recorded five sacks and 29 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
Many began to crown Carter as the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year and a potential All-Pro player. Yet the hype died down during the second half of the season.
In the final nine games of the Georgia product’s rookie season, he had just two sacks and 21 total pressures. Although Philadelphia’s defense as a whole struggled during the second half of the season, many blamed Carter’s lack of conditioning for his struggles.
The esteemed defensive tackle took accountability for his decline in production during the second half of his rookie season, as he was asked about his struggles during OTAs in May.
“It wasn’t how I wanted it to end,” Jalen Carter said. “A lot of stuff I saw on film is the stuff I needed to fix. It’s okay. We’re here now, and I’m ready to be better than last year.”
A new era for Jalen Carter & the Eagles defense
Thanks to the arrival of Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, it was obvious that Carter would see a significant increase in snaps this season. Christian Wilkins enjoyed a career year under Fangio with the Miami Dolphins, but would Carter be able to do the same in Philadelphia?
While some were concerned about the Georgia product’s ability to play a bigger role in 2024, he has surpassed expectations. Although there was a bump in the road to begin Carter’s second season in Philadelphia.
In Week 2, Jalen Carter was benched for Philadelphia’s first defensive series, due to being late to a team meeting earlier in the week. Carter took accountability for his tardiness and was able to earn Fangio’s trust once again.
Now Carter is thriving as a foundational piece for Philadelphia’s dominant defense. After recording 50 total pressures during his rookie season, Carter already has 33 total pressures in 10 games in 2024.
His dominance as both a pass rusher and a run defender has allowed Fangio to lean on him for a massive percentage of the team’s defensive snaps. In Week 11, Carter played 100% of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps for the first time in his NFL career.
The 23-year-old defensive tackle is on pace to play 839 total snaps during the regular season in 2024. During Jalen Carter’s rookie season, he played 599 total snaps, including the regular season and postseason.
If Carter maintains his current production for the remainder of the regular season, he’s on pace to finish his second year with 56 total pressures and seven sacks, which could earn him a spot in the Pro Bowl.
The scary part is that Fangio believes Jalen Carter is getting better with each passing week. Fangio praised Carter for his growth following Philadelphia’s victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10.
“He’s gotten better and better every week, which to me is a good thing,” Fangio said. “He’s playing better with his hands, using his hands, and being a better technician. And that’s translating into good play because of his talent.”
If Fangio is correct and Carter continues to ascend in Philadelphia, the rest of the NFL needs to watch out.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
