The Chicago Bears came under fire in the 2023 draft. After trading down from #1 overall to #9, many felt it was the perfect spot to take Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. He was the unquestioned best defensive tackle in the class and that elusive interior pass rusher they’d been missing since Akiem Hicks left. He was exactly what Matt Eberflus’ defense needed. Instead, Bears general manager Ryan Poles struck a minor trade with Philadelphia to move from #9 to #10, allowing the Eagles to take Carter. Chicago took right tackle Darnell Wright instead.
Fans were not happy. Handing one of the best teams in the NFC that caliber of talent felt stupid, but the Bears weren’t willing to gamble on the multiple reported character concerns surrounding Carter. Philadelphia went on to win the Super Bowl the next year. It seemed like the gamble paid off. However, things began shifting this offseason. Green Bay Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons revealed that Philadelphia tried trading for him last year.
Carter was included in the package to get him.
This has been confirmed since then by both accurate Twitter (X) insider Rickey Scoops and now Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
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“With defensive tackle Jordan Davis now extended, Philly also must weigh whether to extend Jalen Carter, who is eligible for a new deal. I’m told Philly has received trade calls on Carter.”
The Eagles shopping Jalen Carter is a massive red flag.
Remember who the general manager is. Howie Roseman is one of the best in the business. He traded up to get Carter. That organization doesn’t give away talents of elite caliber unless there is something seriously wrong behind the scenes. Now injuries haunted Carter last year. He missed six games with heel, shoulder, and hip problems. Pile that onto the perceived attitude concerns, and you start to wonder if they know something about his long-term prospects and are trying to get out now before it falls off a cliff.
That hasn’t stopped fans of other teams from frantically urging their front offices to make the trade, salivating at what a game-changer it would be. Meanwhile, the Bears are preparing to make Wright one of the highest-paid right tackles in the league after an excellent 2025 season. Chicago made the right call. The Eagles got a temporary contributor to an already stacked team. The Bears got a foundational piece for what is now one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Somebody will still make the trade.
Jalen Carter is way too talented, and Roseman is too good a GM for it not to happen. Somebody will convince themselves that they can handle the potential risks, giving up multiple high draft picks, and then sign him to a massive contract. It happens way more often in the NFL than teams will ever admit. Sometimes the Bears have been guilty of this. Thankfully, this time they were smart enough to avoid the land mine. Let him be somebody else’s problem.
That said, the Bears do need to figure out what to do at defensive tackle. Gervon Dexter is in his last season under contract. Andrew Billings and Chris Williams are free agents. Grady Jarrett will be 34 this year. They need at least two new faces at that position. That could be problematic, given that free agency and the draft look somewhat weak at the position. This is another reason why the Eagles are probably making Carter available.
