NFL Rumors: Eagles might be eyeing DT Jalen Carter with the 10th overall pick
Now that it’s officially NFL Draft month, we’re bound to hear rumors galore from now until draft night. Since the Philadelphia Eagles hold two picks in the first round this year (10th and 30th overall), they’ll be the subject of several rumors/reports leading up to April 27.
Georgia DT Jalen Carter has been linked to the Eagles throughout the offseason and it’s continuing to gain momentum as we approach draft night. Philly is also the first team Carter met with for a pre-draft visit.
On Tuesday, NFL Network’s draft expert Daniel Jeremiah chopped it up with Pat McAfee and talked all things NFL Draft. When asked specifically about Carter and his refusal to schedule any pre-draft meetings with teams outside the top-ten, Jeremiah explained why the Eagles may be the reason why.
Jeremiah: “The Eagles would be my educated guess on why Jalen Carter isn’t taking meetings outside the top-ten”
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“Usually when decisions like this get made, it’s because you have a backstop,” Jeremiah explained. “There’s somebody that’s given you assurances of where the slide ends, ‘you’re not getting passed us.,’ and you can trust that information. Now, I don’t know who that is, but I’m guessing, just by looking at all the factors involved, that the Philadelphia Eagles having Jordan Davis, a former teammate of his, having Nakobe Dean, a teammate of his, being a team that’s pass rush obsessed… So when I heard he’s not meeting teams outside of ten, he’s got to have a backstop in that top-ten, and the Eagles would be my educated guess.”
As of right now, the only other team Carter has opted to meet with is the Chicago Bears, who just so happen to pick right before the Eagles at ninth overall. So, DJ’s theory here does check out.
Despite Carter’s generational football talent, the off-field issues are hard to ignore. So much so that any team inside the top-ten taking him off their boards is justified. There’s plenty of talented defensive lineman in this year’s class. No need to take a guy with character concerns when you can get someone who’s pretty great in their own right, but doesn’t come with the baggage.
In regards to the Eagles, they may not have that luxury, with the likes of Will Anderson, Nolan Smith, and Tyree Wilson all potentially being off the board by tenth overall.
We also have to remember that it’s no guarantee Carter is even available at pick ten. Chicago is the only other team to meet with Carter at this point and it wouldn’t shock me in the slightest if they decide to snag him at ninth. The Eagles might actually need to trade up to get Carter if they want him that badly. Given all the red flags surrounding him, I’m not sure Howie would be willing to sell off the assets required to pull it off.
The way I see it, the Eagles will undoubtedly take Carter if he’s there at ten. I don’t think they’d be willing to trade up for him. If he gets selected by the Bears, Howie will more than likely trade back to gain more assets in the middle rounds.
Or…. they take Bijan Robinson and cause a nuclear apocalypse on Eagles Twitter. Hopefully they don’t do that.
>> Read More: Eagles Mock Draft: Matt’s Mock 1.0 with five rounds and trades galore
Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports
