Aaron Murray says Philadelphia is the 'perfect spot' for Jalen Carter
The arrest warrant and involvement of Jalen Carter surrounding a fatal car accident in Athens, Georgia in January took a severe blow to the defensive tackle’s draft stock earlier this year. The once-projected No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft fell to the No. 9 pick, with the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles trading up one spot to select him.
Another former Georgia Bulldog Aaron Murray spoke about Carter’s fit with the Eagles on ‘3 and Out with John Middlekauff’, breaking down how the two could be a perfect match.
“He went to the right spot for him, I think the biggest thing is the Georgia players,” Murray said. “I mean to have that many guys that were his boys that he knows and that he’s comfortable with, if I’m Howie [Roseman] I’m telling those guys hey, you better be taking him to dinner, you better be rooming with him, you better be with him 247 and you guys just rotate and essentially be glorified babysitters.”
The off-the-field issues surrounding Carter definitely served as a red flag for many teams, but Philadelphia had familiarity on their side, with players like Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean already on the squad who were former teammates with Carter at Georgia.
Philadelphia also drafted former Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith and cornerback Kelee Ringo as well this year, and have a strong core of veterans, especially on the defensive side of the ball to keep Carter on the right path moving forward.
“So I think for him it’s the perfect spot because he’s gonna be comfortable to be able to hang out with those guys to hopefully stay out of trouble and do everything right,” Murray said. “But when it comes to just pure talent, he was the most talented player in this draft to me. I mean he was the best player in the draft, he’s the guy that if you didn’t need a quarterback I’m picking him first.”
Carter’s talent is undeniable, presenting generational size, speed, and strength at his interior line spot. And according to the former Georgia quarterback, his skillset specific to his position makes him a nightmare for any offensive coordinator.
“He’s instant Aaron Donald, day one disrupter, takes on two blocks, can win in the run game, can win in the pass game. To me as a quarterback that’s always a tougher guy, like I love Will Anderson, but if there’s a one-technique or a three-technique that can get after the quarterback and put pressure in my face, that is so much harder than a defensive end coming off the edge, so much harder,” Murray explained.
Carter’s off-the-field concerns keep him from being a perfect prospect, but on and off the field the Philadelphia Eagles may just be the perfect home for him as he enters his rookie season.
“So best player, most gifted player in the draft, if that incident didn’t happen with the crash I think he goes higher,” Murray said. “But I think for his sake this was the best situation for him to go to the Eagles.”