Eagles’ Jalen Carter is the only 2023 rookie to place in PFF’s Top-50 players list

While the Philadelphia Eagles season spiraled out of the control over the final six weeks of 2023, we can’t let ourselves forget how dominant Jalen Carter was during his rookie campaign.

Although his production tailed off in the latter half of the year, Carter was still a force along the interior of the Eagles defense. On the season, he recorded 6 sacks, 33 combined tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, and a touchdown. His potential is through the roof.

Entering his sophomore campaign in 2024, expectations are justifiably high for Carter. Pro Football Focus is in the middle of releasing their annual PFF50 list, where they rank the top-50 players in the NFL. Carter came in at No. 41 and was the only rookie from last year’s class to land on the list.

Jalen Carter: The only 2023 rookie to make an appearance on this year's PFF50 👀

📎 https://t.co/3XQSrKFIS6 pic.twitter.com/8aaYtMXcOX

— PFF (@PFF) July 15, 2024

PFF on the Eagles DT

For the first several weeks of the 2023 season — his rookie season — Jalen Carter was grading and producing like future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald. That level was perhaps inevitably unsustainable, but even so, he finished his debut season with an 89.0 PFF overall grade, ranking fifth in the NFL. Carter has the talent to be at the very top of this list. Only players like Donald have showcased that kind of instant impact at the position over the past decade or so.

Now that Fletcher Cox is no longer in the picture, Carter will be relied upon even more this year than he was during his rookie season. Based on what we saw last year, he should be up to the challenge.

We just need to see his first-half production fleshed out over an entire season. If that happens, we’re talking about multiple Pro Bowls and All-Pro’s for the young DT.

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