Posted April 27th, 2023 | Comments Off on Jalen Carter is Coming to Town!!!
This is the best opening set of picks I can remember. Everything broke the Eagles way up to pick 9. At that point, Howie Roseman couldn’t wait any longer. He sent a 2024 fourth round pick to Chicago to move up one spot and get the best player in the draft.
I spent Saturdays in the fall watching Carter and dreaming of him in midnight green. Even with the Saints pick, I just didn’t think there was a chance the Eagles would be able to get him. Then came a troubling offseason and Carter fell from #1 to…#9.
Big Dom probably did more research on Carter than he’s done on any other player. He knows every possible detail and obviously gave a thumbs up. That doesn’t mean Carter is all good, but the Eagles felt he was worth taking a chance on.
They have the veteran leaders to help Carter adjust to life in the NFL. Nick Sirianni does a great job of connecting with his players. That can be critical with a guy like Carter. I think it also helps that he’s not here to fix the defense, but rather to be part of it.
Here are some raw notes I had on him.
Special player. Big, powerful and agile. Can win with strength or athleticism. Watch the Kentucky game and Carter looks like he was born to 2-gap. Engages blockers and sheds them with ease. Able to finish plays. Watch Tennessee or LSU and you see his ability to fire upfield and get the QB. Quick off the ball. Able to shoot gaps and be distruptive. Uses his hands well when he’s shedding blocks. Can overwhelm blockers when he fires off the ball and gets into their pads. Great prospect, but his involvement in a fatal car crash could affect his draft value.
Stud.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbPwMAzyxuI&t=35s
We’ll talk more about Carter and where he projects this season. Let’s get back to the draft for now.
The Eagles are coming off a great year where they were dominant in the regular season and made it to the Super Bowl. They lost a lot of talent in the offseason so Howie Roseman and the personnel staff need to add young talent to replinish the roster.
Remember that the draft is about the future. There are times when need aligns with the pick. Lane Johnson started as a rookie. So did Miles Sanders and DeVonta Smith. We’ve also seen guys like Josh Sweat and Jordan Mailata take time to develop. Jordan Davis, Cam Jurgens and Nakobe Dean all showed good talent last year, but sat on the bench most of the time.
I always think it is important to look at what the Eagles already have in place. Here is my guess at the depth chart for now, focusing on projected starters and key backups.
WR DeVonta Smith ..… WR AJ Brown …… WR Quez Watkins ….. Olamide Zaccheaus …. Britain Covey QB  Jalen Hurts …….. Marcus Mariota ….. Ian Book RB  Rashad Penny ..… Kenneth Gainwell ……. Boston Scott TE Dallas Goedert …… Jack Stoll ……..… Grant Calcaterra LT Jordan Mailata …….… Jack Driscoll LG Landon Dickerson….. Sua Opeta OC  Jason Kelce ………. RG  Cam Jurgens ….… Brett Toth RT  Lane Johnson …….
DE Josh Sweat …… Brandon Graham …. Derek Barnett ….. Tarron Jackson DL Milton Williams …. Kentavius Street NT Jordan Davis …… Noah Ellis ……………. Marvin Wilson DL Fletcher Cox ………… Marlon Tuipulotu SB Haason Reddick ….. Patrick Johnson ….. Kyron Johnson MB Nick Morrow ……. Shaun Bradley …… Christian Elliss WB Nakobe Dean ……… Davion Taylor SS Terrell Edmunds ……. K’Von Wallace FS Reed Blankenship …… Justin Evans …….Andre Chachere CB  Darius Slay ……… Greedy Williams ……. Josh Jobe CB James Bradberry ……Zech McPhearson …… NB Avonte Maddox …… Josiah Scott
P K Jake Elliott LS Rick Lovato
NEEDS
The Eagles lost multiple DL and have aging players in Cox and Graham. They need to add talent and depth. They could use a run stuffer and a pass rusher. They have to replace Javon Hargrave’s 11 sacks, but don’t forget the Super Bowl. KC ran for 158 yards. The Eagles need guys who can control the middle. Davis is one. They need at least one more to mix in, if not become a starter.