The 2023 NFL Draft brought the Philadelphia Eagles a massive presence on the defensive line, and NFL fans still wonder how the team selected him.
After trading with the Chicago Bears in the first round to move up to the ninth pick, the Eagles selected defensive tackle Jalen Carter. And the rest was history.
With just two years of experience, Carter has established himself as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. While the stats might not blow away anyone, PFF showcased how good he is while disrespecting him in the worst way possible.
How Carter might actually be underrated after PFF's questionable ranking
PFF writer Jonathon Macri ranked the top 25 players in the NFL who are under 25. Eagles fans will be pleased to know that Carter made the list. They might not like to hear that he only made it as high as 17th.
Macri shared Carter's PFF grades and stats while adding that while he has performed well, his year two did not excel like his rookie season did.
- Three-year grade: 83.5
- Snaps played since 2022: 1,666
- Average since 2022: 0.34
"Carter debuted with an excellent rookie season in 2023, earning top-10 marks for his position in PFF overall grade (87.4) and PFF pass-rush grade (84.6). That led to big expectations for Year 2 as he greatly increased his workload.
While Carter didn’t improve his PFF overall grade, he did continue to deliver the high-end pass-rush upside that we’d expect from a former top-10 pick, ranking in the top five in PFF pass-rush grade (84.4) and pressures (75), and in the top 10 in win rate (12.9%)."
In 32 games in the midnight green uniform, Carter has racked up 75 tackles, 25 quarterback hits, 10.5 sacks, six pass deflections, four forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown. His play helped him finish as a runner-up for AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and was a Pro Bowler and AP second-team All-Pro selection last year.
Carter's addition alongside Jordan Davis to the interior of the defensive line has made this duo one of the most dangerous in the NFL. Carter created more quarterback pressures in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's scheme.
The good news on the PFF list is that Carter is the highest listed interior defensive lineman. What is a red flag is how low he ranks compared to the other 16 players, as he seems to be ranked lower because other players' stats might be better.
Carter can use this as motivation to prove the league wrong, as the 24-year-old is only getting better and is about to hit his prime.
