The Jalen Carter cost | Best of unCovering the Birds
Jalen Carter's play has been a source of tension as the Eagles prepare to face the Commanders this week.
When Jalen Carter is at his game-wrecking best, he’s as unstoppable a force as there is in the NFL. Such was the case during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run two years ago. But since then, between injuries and uneven play, the defensive tackle’s contributions have been inconsistent. On the heels of general manager Howie Roseman signing Carter to a historic contract, The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane looks at the costs of the extension — both in terms of dollars and cents, as well as roster construction. Plus, Jeff advances storylines for the Nov. 10th NFL trade deadline, and, in his weekly mailbag, addresses some reporting about the Eagles’ salary cap situation.
Watch the full episode below and subscribe to the audio podcast.
It may seem like a small thing, but every detail matters at the NFL level, especially when you’re the centerpiece of the defense. Statistics don’t ever tell the full story, but there are some concerning numbers when it comes to Jalen Carter’s progression.
He leads the Eagles, alongside with Nolan Smith Jr., with three sacks. But he has only two quarterback hits despite having 72 more pass-rush snaps than the next player. Even more alarming is his pressure rate — yes, he’s getting doubled a lot — but Carter ranks 71st out of 93 qualifying defensive linemen.
Carter doesn’t even compare close to what he was as rookie, in fact, his pressure rate has decreased in each of his four seasons from 12.3% to 8.9 to 7.7 to this season’s 6.6. While he once had the quickest get-off in his first season at 0.86 seconds, he’s hovered around just 1 second in the next three seasons.
That might not sound like a lot, but more than one-tenth of a second is a big difference.
Carter’s wrist clearly impacted him early on. He wore a rather large soft cast after suffering the injury in the opener, but the Eagles fitted him with a smaller cast before the Jaguars game and it seemed to give him more movement with his hand. He didn’t appear to be wearing any additional cover against the Cowboys, but he said he may go back to a soft cast.
Either way he said he probably won’t be fully recovered this season.
“Just getting better. You know, it’s probably not gonna be 100 [percent] throughout this season,” Carter said. “But feeling better, getting better. You know, treatment, etc., like that. Yes, sir.”
As for why he gave the media the Heisman after the Dallas game, Carter offered this explanation.
“I don’t think I’m a public spokesperson. I think y’all just want to talk to me because we’re losing. But you know, I seen you guys talking to [Jordan Davis]. You know, I was getting ready right next to you guys. Usually, you know, y’all hover the locker even when we’re getting ready. So, but I seen y’all talking to JD. By the time I put everything on and took my stuff out, I was called. But by that time, it’s too late.”
In truth, reporters are always waiting at Carter’s stall after games, win or loss — he’s that important. I don’t want to get too inside journalism here, but it’s maybe more important to ask questions after losses because you want to give players and coaches the opportunity to not only defend themselves but give pertinent information or insight, or offer context to their performances. We don’t know close to everything that happens on any given play, let alone what may be happening in an individual player’s or coach’s life.
I can still do my job without player quotes. I don’t think they owe the media explanations, or even the fans. Carter doesn’t wear a “C” on his chest, that honor belongs to fellow defensive tackle Jordan Davis and linebacker Zack Baun.
Over my time covering the beat there have been plenty of Eagles who weren’t exactly media friendly, or they were shy and they were given ample space. Former tackle Jason Peters hardly ever spoke during the week, but you knew he was going to be a brick wall on the left flank on Sundays and he almost always spoke after the games — and spoke candidly.
If Carter plays the way he’s capable of playing, no one is going to care if he talks to reporters or not, that’s the bottom line. But you have to wonder if Eagles general manager Howie Roseman did his due diligence before he extended Carter.
There was some scuttlebutt last offseason about a potential trade. I heard it as well, but Roseman denied he considered moving Carter instead of giving him a four-year extension in July. Maybe it was just a leverage ploy in negotiations, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Roseman had certain qualifiers in Carter’s deal that would make it possible for him to cut bait without crippling salary cap ramifications.
You don’t typically want to move on from franchise cornerstones that were homegrown and have elite abilities, and my guess is Carter is more likely to be here next season than not. But I don’t think he’s an immovable object — the same could be said for how he’s played in the trenches so far this season.
When Jalen Carter is at his game-wrecking best, he’s as unstoppable a force as there is in the NFL. Such was the case during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run two years ago. But since then, between injuries and uneven play, the defensive tackle’s contributions have been inconsistent. On the heels of general manager Howie Roseman signing Carter to a historic contract, The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane looks at the costs of the extension — both in terms of dollars and cents, as well as roster construction. Plus, Jeff advances storylines for the Nov. 10th NFL trade deadline, and, in his weekly mailbag, addresses some reporting about the Eagles’ salary cap situation. Listen here.
Listen to all episodes here or wherever you get your podcasts.
