Eagles’ Jordan Davis Predicted Drafting of Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis is eager to help his former Georgia teammates with the transition from college to NFL, and their chemistry should benefit the team sooner rather than later.

PHILADELPHIA - Jordan Davis is a defensive tackle, one whose role with the Philadelphia Eagles is expected to grow exponentially in his second season.

What Davis isn’t is a fortune teller.

Yet, his crystal ball was shining brightly leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft when it revealed a pair of former teammates from the University of Georgia, Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, joining him and Nakobe Dean in Philly.

“I told those boys y'all know you're fittin' to be some Eagles,” Davis said following an Eagles OTA practice on Thursday afternoon.

“I told Nolan maybe March, early March, you know you're gonna be an Eagle and I told Jalen that (Wednesday, the day before the first round began on April 27) with the No. 10 pick, but lo and behold they moved up.”

Carter came with the ninth overall pick. Smith was the 30th overall player taken.

As an added bonus, the Eagles traded up to an early slot in the fourth round to select cornerback Kelee Ringo.

“Just having those guys, it's exciting, it's a piece of home and that means a lot for guys like me and Nakobe for somebody that's been in a culture, for somebody that understands what it takes to win, understand what your brothers have gone through,” Davis said.

The chemistry between Davis and especially Carter, but Smith, too, is something that is baked in from their days as teammates on Georgia’s defensive line.

And that familiarity should benefit the Eagles sooner rather than later.

“Just having that experience of we're both on the field at the same time,” Davis said. “I'm like, 'Hey, you know, let's get freaky, you know if I want to jab inside just make sure you cover me’ just stuff like that.”

Granted, it will take some time because the Georgians are in a different city playing at the highest level of professional football.

Davis and Dean are here to help with the adjustment for the newcomer Bulldogs, especially Carter, who Davis said is like a brother to him.

“It's hard, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it,” said Davis about the transition from college to the NFL. “It's hard. And just knowing those guys, they came from not one but two National Championships, which is the longest season in college football, so no one knows guys and how they have to go through that journey. And luckily, I'm not too far removed. I understand what it takes.

“Anytime I can go over there and get those boys, get Kelee out, get all those guys out, just to show them around the city, the places that I've been in this past year and going out to explore more places. 

"It means a lot and it builds that bond again, you know, that's what we were doing in Georgia.”

---

Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.

Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Philadelphia Eagles? Click Here.

Want even more Philadelphia Eagles news? Check out the SI.com team page here