The Chicago Bears got a lot of backlash from fans and media when they traded the #9 pick to Philadelphia for the #10 pick and a 4th rounder. It was an explicit declaration by them that they had no intentions of drafting Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. They couldn’t understand it. The guy was a perfect fit for Matt Eberflus’ defense as an interior pass rusher. Experts agreed he was a rare physical specimen. Chicago had every reason to draft him. There was one problem. Carter was a walking red flag. He had multiple off-the-field incidents in college and was hounded by questions about his work ethic. GM Ryan Poles wasn’t going to take chances on somebody like that.
It turns out the Bears may have known what they were doing. The season started strong for Carter. He had four sacks and seven QB hits in his first eight games with the Eagles. However, he managed only two sacks and two QB hits over the final nine. His effectiveness dwindled drastically. Then, as if to rub salt in the wound of Philadelphia’s disappointing season, he got embroiled in another controversy. This time, he revealed San Francisco 49ers guard Jon Feliciano jabbed him about the teammate who was killed in the car accident Carter was involved in at Georgia.
Initial backlash was harsh on Felciano. Only there was one problem. Carter actually started the exchange by saying he was going to murder the guard and his children. Yes, really.
Jalen Carter is a headcase and doesn’t belong on this team.
Nobody disputes his talent, but sometimes the talent isn’t worth it. His presence didn’t do anything to improve the Eagles’ defense. They were 31st against the pass last season. For somebody who was supposed to be the next gamewrecker, his impact was minimal once offensive linemen figured him out. Maybe he will improve over the next year, but it sounds like the guy hasn’t matured. He is still the questionable human being he was in college. Only now he’s making a ton of money and expected to act like an adult.
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Meanwhile, Darnell Wright started the entire season at right tackle and looked good. He has all the makings of a long-term fixture on the offensive line. It is safe to say the Bears don’t regret passing on Jalen Carter in the slightest. They found a young defensive tackle just fine in the 2nd round with Gervon Dexter. He actually had a strong second half of last season than Carter did. That is because he worked hard and was focused on his job, not threatening another man’s family with murder.
