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Eagles’ Jalen Carter Gets Second-Best PFF Rookie Grade for Preseason

Not surprisingly, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter has graded out well so far this preseason.

Tim Kelly

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If not for off-the-field concerns and a disappointing pro day performance, defensive tackle Jalen Carter would have been a candidate to be the first defensive player selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. But he instead fell to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 9 overall, a turn of events you increasingly get the feeling the rest of the league may come to regret in relatively short order. 

While Carter has seen just nine snaps in the first two preseason games for the Eagles, he's received a 91.4 grade from Pro Football Focus. It's fair to point out how small of a sample size that is, but the impressive grade backs up what observers have seen with their eyes when Carter has been on the field:

The only first-round pick who has received a higher grade from PFF so far this preseason is Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., who has earned a 92.4 mark for his 21 snaps. Houston traded their 2024 first-round pick -- which could very well be a top-five selection -- to the Arizona Cardinals for the right to move up and take Anderson with the third overall pick. He may have as much pressure on him as any rookie in the league. 

As for the Eagles, they saw star defensive tackle Javon Hargrave depart in free agency this offseason to join the San Francisco 49ers. Carter and last year's first-round pick, Jordan Davis, will be crucial as they attempt to replace him. 

Joining Carter and Davis on the defensive line -- and as former Georgia Bulldogs selected by the Eagles in the first round -- is pass rusher Nolan Smith. Selected by the Eagles with the No. 30 pick in this year's draft, Smith has received a 59.1 PFF grade for his 47 snaps this preseason. 

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Tim Kelly
TIM KELLY

Tim Kelly is a contributor to SI's NFL team sites. Additionally, Kelly covers the Philadelphia Phillies as the Editorial Director for PhilliesNation.com. Previously, Kelly has been a producer at SportsRadio 94 WIP and a content producer for Audacy Sports, with written content syndicated to WIP, WFAN, WEEI and some of the biggest sports radio stations in the country. Kelly also has contributed to Bleacher Report, Just Baseball, Sports Talk Philly and Section 215, FanSided's Philadelphia affiliate. Kelly is a 2018 graduate of Bloomsburg University, with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in political science. 

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