The Philadelphia Eagles are getting ready to defend their Super Bowl title as OTAs are now into the second week of the offseason. It is going to be a full summer of work for a talented roster that has every reason to believe in its ceiling to repeat. One big piece of this was the contributions of Georgia product Jalen Carter. The defensive lineman's dominance on the inside so often set up big plays or forced poor decisions from the opposing quarterback. It is fun to imagine what Carter can continue to accomplish in a Philly uniform.
However, if the latest quote is to be believed, all of these accomplishments are simply Carter playing off physical skills. The former Eagle is pointing out that Carter doesn't know all the nuances of the position, but is playing off of pure "raw talent." It is an interesting take that would give Carter an incredible ceiling if he truly doesn't yet fully understand the position. Still, it is difficult to believe a player producing at Carter's level is doing so based on pure physical skill.
Former Eagle Jermiah Trotter Suggested Jalen Carter Doesn't Yet Know How to Play His Position
“Word is on the street is he doesn’t even know how to play the position yet…From guys I talk to inside…he doesn’t even know how to play the position yet. He’s just playing off of raw talent. The sky is the limit for this kid”
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) June 2, 2025
— Jeremiah Trotter on Jalen Carter@AfternoonsWIP
Trotter's comments were framed as a compliment, with the former Eagle talking about Carter's potential ceiling. However, it is difficult to believe that with Carter's ability and time in the league, he truly doesn't understand his position. Looking at the tape, there are so many things Carter does at a high level that require great anticipation and understanding. This makes buying into the comments all the more difficult.
Yes, it would be fun to imagine Carter's ceiling as even higher than already imagined, but it simply doesn't add up. Furthering this point is the fact that Carter is a Georgia product. Current head coach Kirby Smart prides himself on developing his players and having them as close to NFL-ready as possible. Carter going through this proud college system while never learning to play his position simply doesn't make logical sense.
With this in mind, these comments should be taken with a heavy grain of salt. The true takeaway from the surprise headlines should be the fact that Carter is an incredibly promising player. One who is still not yet in his prime seasons, based on continued development. Jalen Carter not knowing how to play his position is unlikely; what isn't is the incredible defender continuing to improve and helping push Philly to defend its title in the 2025 season.