Through Week 9, Carter had generated 29 pressures (tied for eighth in the league among interior defensive linemen) according to Pro Football Focus, including four sacks and 20 hurries.
During the first half of the season, Carter played 49% of the defensive snaps (despite missing Week 6 against the New York Jets with an injury), second among Eagles defensive tackles behind only Fletcher Cox.
His production fell off down the stretch.
Carter finished his rookie year with 6.0 sacks, 33 tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery (which he returned for a touchdown) in 16 regular-season games.
A Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist, Carter started just one game and played 51 percent of the Eagles’ defensive snaps, but the ninth overall pick in the 2023 Draft was third on the team in sacks and fifth among all rookies.
Smith was drafted to huge fanfare after sliding down to pick No. 30 in the first round. After watching safeties like Brian Branch flourish.
Compared to that of fellow first-round pick Jalen Carter, Smith’s utilization was far more sparse. Playing behind Josh Sweat, Haason Reddick, Brandon Graham, and Derek Barnett, Smith played 16% of the defensive snaps (188).
He notched his first career sack against the Miami Dolphins in Week 7.
Overall, Smith recorded 18 tackles and 1.0 sacks in 17 regular-season games in his rookie season.
Smith didn’t play more than eight defensive snaps in a game until Week 12, and his season high in that category was 21 snaps, coming in the final week of the regular season, when the team rested several starters.
The 30th overall pick will look to compete for a larger defensive role in camp this summer.
