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.
How did we get back on the QB conversation? Aren’t you guys tired of that yet?
Funny how the “experts” and “insiders” last year, and apparently this year, are trying to form the narrative. Take the “simple” answer instead of diving deeper, only to prove how WRONG they can be. It was refreshing to see Warren’s point of view. Giving a team time instead of panicking before the plan is completed points to maturity and experience. With Poles taking a HARD PASS on Carter, it looks like they have a QUALITY 10 year starter as a result. If Poles filters out the noise, and looks at the circumstances that surrounded Fields his first three years, he… Read more »
He prolly shops at Target.
Man, I’m glad that we avoided that nightmare. With all the stuff we already dealt with this season, trying to help him mature might have destroyed our locker room. Poles knew what he was doing when he said the locker room wasn’t strong enough yet to add him to it. I hope the young man gets the help he needs though. Let this also be a lesson about trusting what you read and hear in the media, too. “Everybody knew” we were a lock to take Jalen Carter. Even after his arrest and after trading the #1 pick. They said,… Read more »
He’s easy to not like.. glad Bears didn’t draft him. He’s got *sshole vibes.