Eagles Rookies Jalen Carter & Nolan Smith Already Showing 'Pretty Crazy' Work Ethic

Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Josh Sweat is impressed with the team's duo of first-round picks.

Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, the Philadelphia Eagles' first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, established an impressive reputation for anchoring one of the most dominant defenses in college football history.

Over the past two years, their pivotal roles were instrumental in the triumph of the Georgia Bulldogs, as they played integral parts in the team's back-to-back national championship victories in 2022 and 2023.

Eagles defensive lineman Josh Sweat has already noticed the exceptional work ethic of Carter and Smith, and expressed his admiration.

"The work ethic is pretty crazy for both of them," Sweat said. "They're already working. Shoot, they're professionals, man. Like it's actually surprising coming out of college. But they're working. They're just here to learn and they're making improvement quickly."

With their remarkable dedication, Eagles fans can be hopeful they pair will contribute to a franchise-best pass rush from last season, hopefully ensuring a continuous high-level performance in September.

Continuing their embrace of a trend to acquire talent from Georgia, the Eagles further strengthened their roster with former Bulldogs with the additions of Carter and Smith. Along with these two, the Eagles have welcomed a total of five former Georgia players onto their team, including defensive tackle Jordan Davis (first round, 2022), linebacker Nakobe Dean (third round, 2022) and cornerback Kelee Ringo (fourth round, 2023).

In addition to their recent draft selections, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman also brought in former Georgia running back D'Andre Swift through a trade with the Detroit Lions on day three of the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Philadelphia should hold optimism that these talented Georgia players bring their winning ways to the franchise. Their championship presence provides a promising opportunity for the team to bounce back from their narrow loss to the Chiefs last season and make a strong push toward winning the Super Bowl. 

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