As a run defender and as a pass rusher, Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter beats offensive linemen with speed, power, long arms and an array of pass-rush moves.
NFL teams have to game plan for Carter’s disruption, but their best solutions to stop him, including using double-team blocks, often fail.
Most offensive line coaches won’t make their offensive guards block Carter one-on-one — it rarely ends well. But when they send two blockers in Carter’s direction, it frees up everybody else on the Eagles’ defensive line to make plays, so either way he makes an impact.
Entering his third season, Carter has the talent to win the 2025 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. To begin that campaign, he could punish Cowboys offensive guard Tyler Booker, whom Dallas selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, in their Week 1 matchup against the Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field.
By the end of that night, Booker might regret saying Carter is the NFL player he’s most excited to line up against as a rookie. Eventually, Booker’s battles against Carter could make him a great guard, but at first, he could get embarrassed on a national stage.
The Eagles’ All-Pro defensive tackle has a great first step, which allows him to sneak past offensive linemen before getting contacted. His initial quickness could give him a significant edge over Booker, who tested poorly and struggles with in-game athleticism.
Booker said on Bleacher Report’s draft show that he likes to make defensive linemen question their love for football, but he will struggle to do that against Carter, who is physically imposing.
In 20 games last season, including Philadelphia’s playoff run, Carter amassed 75 total pressures and seven sacks. He saved the Eagles’ season late in the fourth quarter of their NFC Divisional Round win against the Los Angeles Rams when he sacked quarterback Matthew Stafford on third-and-2.
Now, Carter could make more crucial plays in 2025 to help the Eagles return to another Super Bowl. Some of his best highlights could occur against Booker and the Cowboys’ young offensive line.
If Dallas offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, the former offensive line coach of the Arizona Cardinals, doesn’t provide Booker with extra support, things could get ugly fast.
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Cayden Steele may be reached atCSteele@njadvancemedia.com