Future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald referred to the Philadelphia Eagles standout as his replacement after dominating the game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Aaron Donald Gives High Praise Eagles’ Jalen Carter
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was dominant last Sunday against the Rams in the NFC Divisional Round matchup. He finished the game with three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, and one pass defended. He finished with a Pro Football Focus grade of 90.3, the highest of all defenders from that weekend. He also has the most pressures forced of any defenders in the playoffs.
His performance has apparently caught the eye of three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald. On Fox Sports 1’s show The Facility, LeSean McCoy said he spoke to Donald, and Donald spoke highly of Carter, saying that Carter is his replacement.
“I had a chance to talk to Aaron Donald, one of my best friends,” McCoy said on The Facility. “You know what he said? He said I haven’t watched football like that in a long time. That guy, Jalen Carter, bro. My replacement is here.”
What Aaron Donald said about Jalen Carter 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dk77oEuO7U
— tom stakes (@tomstakes) January 24, 2025
Carter saved the Eagles’ season last Sunday with two back-to-back game-sealing plays against the Rams. The Rams were driving on their final possession of the game and were 13 yards away from potentially winning the game, but Carter’s sack and batted-down passes officially put the Rams season on ice.
The former Georgia standout enjoyed his best season as a pro this season as he finished the year with 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 12 tackles for loss for the Eagles. His efforts earned him second-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl games selection.
Carter was well regarded as a “Donald-like” prospect coming out of Georgia ahead of the 2023 NFL draft. He was projected to be the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but due to off-the-field issues, he ended up dropping to pick nine to the Eagles. It was a shock to many to see Carter fall that low and the Eagles were praised for their drafting of the former Georgia standout before he fell any further.
With Donald retired, eyes will be on Carter to take the mantle as the league’s best defensive tackle. At 23 years old, Carter is already ahead of schedule in taking the league by storm, and it gets no better for Carter than a high-paying compliment from an all-time great who played before him. His rookie season put spectators on notice with his flash plays and it has now caught the eyes of his peers as well. Carter’s dominance will be pivotal in Philly’s quest for a Super Bowl title.
In the NFC Championship game, the Eagles will take on the Washington Commanders, and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury had this to say about having to gameplan for a player like Carter.
“One of the most dominant players in the league,” Kingsbury said in his media availability before the NFC championship. “If not one of the most dominant I’ve seen. He can wreck a game by himself. A ton of respect for how he plays. He has changed that entire defense.”
That is high praise from Kingsbury, who also had to gameplan against Donald in his days as the Arizona Cardinals head coach. With his big sophomore season, Carter will be one of the betting favorites next season for Defensive Player of the Year. Donald won the award three times, and it’s not hard to see Carter winning at least a couple before he is done playing.
Is the next Aaron Donald currently in Philadelphia? Well, Donald himself seems to think so. Lofty expectations for Carter, but he has the talent capable of livening up to it.
Main Image: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
