Eagles trade up 1 spot to land Jalen Carter at No. 9
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, ninth overall.
Philly traded up to land Carter, sending the No. 10 selection and a 2024 fourth-round pick to the Chicago Bears as part of the deal.
Philadelphia had acquired the 10th overall pick via a trade with the New Orleans Saints last year. Chicago originally owned the first overall selection but traded that choice to the Carolina Panthers in a blockbuster move.
Carter was considered one of the top prospects in this year's draft after posting a dominant career at Georgia, but off-field issues affected his stock.
He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing in connection with a Jan. 15 crash that killed a Georgia teammate and staff member hours after the Bulldogs celebrated their second straight national championship with a parade and ceremony. His attorney later said Carter didn't cause a car wreck and wasn't under the influence of alcohol or any illegal substances.
Carter weighed 323 pounds at Georgia's pro day in March, nine pounds heavier than he was at the NFL combine in February. He was a limited participant at the pro day, opting to do only position drills.
The 22-year-old racked up 83 tackles (18.5 for loss) and six sacks over three seasons with the Bulldogs.
In Philly, Carter will reunite with former Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis, whom the Eagles selected 13th overall last year. Philadelphia's defensive line also features Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and Josh Sweat, among others. Last year, the Eagles became the only team in NFL history to roster four players with 10-plus sacks in a single season.
Pre-draft profile
Looking for Carter on the Georgia tape? He's the one who is virtually unblockable up front. There are essentially no questions about the on-field ability here - Carter is one of the best players in this draft. He has outstanding movement skills for a lineman of his size, the powerful hands to match, a good arsenal of rush moves, and the stack-and-shed ability that'll make him a plus defender in the run game. Teams will have to weigh that talent against the off-field concerns. Carter briefly left the combine in March to turn himself in on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing in connection with a fatal crash. He was released on bond and later pleaded no contest.