Philadelphia Eagles rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter was the talk of the 2023 NFL Draft due to both his No. 1 overall pick-worthy talent and some concerning off-field issues.
Regardless, the Eagles took a chance on the Georgia product and traded up one spot with the Chicago Bears from No. 10 to No. 9 to select Carter after he nearly fell out of the top 10.
Safe to say it paid off, and as a result, Carter is officially a finalist for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Here are the five finalists, which were revealed Thursday:
- Will Anderson, Houston Texans defensive end
- Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle
- Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback
- Kobie Turner, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle
- Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks cornerback
Carter finished the regular season having played in 16 games while posting 33 total tackles, six sacks, nine quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery, which he returned 42 yards for a touchdown in Philadelphia's 33-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14.
The Eagles' defense isn't getting any younger. Fletcher Cox's future with the team is still unclear while Brandon Graham has said he's ready for a farewell tour in what would be his final year next season.
After a stellar rookie season, Carter will now look to become the face of the Philly defense for years to come.
The winner of the award will be revealed at NFL Honors on Thursday, Feb. 8.
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