Philadelphia, PA – June 8, 2025
Jalen Carter was drafted with expectations so heavy they could collapse any pocket — literally and figuratively. Touted as the most disruptive interior force since Aaron Donald, he entered the league not just to contribute, but to dominate. Yet, as he enters Year 3 with the Eagles, the comparison to Donald feels less like destiny and more like delusion.
In flashes, Carter has been a terror. His rookie campaign included 6.5 sacks, eye-popping explosiveness, and Pro Bowl hype. But those moments have been just that — flashes. What’s missing is the week-in, week-out terror that made Aaron Donald the gold standard of interior defense. Donald didn’t need time to “develop.” He didn’t just look good on tape — he wrecked games.
Carter himself admits: “I’m not elite yet. I still have a lot to prove.” That humility is admirable, but also telling. Elite players don’t just talk about being elite. They force the league to acknowledge it. Aaron Donald commanded double-teams and still posted All-Pro numbers year after year. Carter? He’s winning just 12.9% of his pass rush reps — a number that ranks far below top-tier DTs like Chris Jones (19.8%) or Quinnen Williams (17.6%).
And that’s not just a stat. It’s a storyline.
The Eagles have bet big on Carter becoming the anchor of their defensive future, especially with Fletcher Cox gone, Brandon Graham retired, and the pass-rushing load shifting squarely onto Carter’s shoulders. But if Carter doesn’t take the leap from “talented” to “terrifying,” Philly’s defense could quickly turn from feared to figured out.
Sure, he logged more snaps and more QB pressures in 2024, but the impact didn’t match the volume. “Sometimes I felt like I was close every play… but close isn’t good enough,” Carter admitted this offseason. Exactly. In a league that worships production, “almost” is invisible.
This isn’t to say Carter is a bust — far from it. His ceiling remains sky-high. He’s still only 23. He’s drawing the double-teams, eating blocks, showing leadership in camp. But if the standard is Aaron Donald, we need to stop pretending Carter’s anywhere near it. Because right now, he's not.
The scary part? He might never be.
And that’s a problem for a franchise that’s already building statues in their minds.
