It was the right selection.

The Philadelphia Eagles traded up one spot from the 10th pick to the ninth Thursday night and drafted University of Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. The Eagles traded just a 2024 fourth-round pick for an absolute beast and a major need

Bijan Robinson was the name most people wanted, but why? The Eagles lost Javon Hargrave in free agency, a major piece to their success last season. The Eagles lost veterans in Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph. 

The Eagles needed another defensive tackle. 

Listen, I understand why most wanted Robinson. A flashy, new toy would’ve been fun. He would have made the offense much more dangerous. But unless you’re new to being an Eagles fan, here’s a news flash: The Eagles are not about having top running backs. LeSean McCoy was the last big-time player out of the backfield. Maybe you can argue DeMarco Murray, if you want to count that, but I don’t. 

The Eagles won a Super Bowl without flashy running backs. Jay Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount were good, but top running level? Absolutely not! The Eagles like having a committee, and the talented offensive line is the bread and butter of the running game. Plus, a lot of the running game went through Jalen Hurts. Having someone like Robinson would have not made complete sense.

I can’t argue that Robinson would have helped the offense, but the pick was excellent. Carter had a dominant career at Georgia. He finished with back-to-back championships and was a leader on the Bulldog defense. In the previous two seasons, Carter had 30-plus tackles and three sacks. Carter combined for 15.5 tackles for loss. At 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, Carter is a force against the run. He continually showed he could be a disruptive pass rusher. He has great quickness and strength, as shown in his draft profile. 

Imagine this: Nakobe Dean Jordan Davis and Carter all up front. … That’s scary! That trio has the potential to create some chaos. So, I understand the disappointment about not getting Robinson. However, let’s look at it this way. Did the Eagles lose that Super Bowl because of the offense or running game? They scored 35 points, so the answer should be a resounding no.

The defense caused the Eagles to lose in the Super Bowl. The defense could not make a stop. The defense could not get to Patrick Mahomes. The defense needed to create more pressure that game. Man, if only that could be addressed…. Was that sarcastic enough?

Carter will make an immediate impact. The Eagles have the rest of the draft to select a running back, which they should. But Carter was arguably one of the best players in this draft class, and this was undoubtedly the right move. 

Howie Roseman just keeps on winning.