NFL Draft insider: 'No way' troubled Georgia DL Jalen Carter falls outside Top 10
The NFL Draft process has not gone the way of Jalen Carter thus far. While talking with teams in Indianapolis during the Combine, Carter has a warrant out for his arrest and left to return to Athens. Although he returned, the defensive tackle did not work out and followed suit at Georgia Pro Day.
Originally, Carter was viewed as a candidate to be the first non-quarterback off the board. Now, he is slipping a bit but according to ESPN’s Jordan Reid, there’s not too much to be concerned about. While attending the Pro Day and talking to NFL scouts, Carter should still hear his name called early on Thursday night.
“There’s still some teams that have him high up on their board,” Reid said. “Getting scouts trying to reveal their hand here today, nobody said where exactly they would take him. But the consensus is that — they say there’s no way he’s getting outside of the top 10.
The talent from Carter is still evident. Off-the-field issues have tank players’ draft stock in the past but at some point, teams realize how good of a player they are. When. you have somebody like Carter — a 6’3, 300 pounds defensive tackle that can change a game — someone will give in.
“He’s too special of a player. He was the centerpiece of Georgia’s defense a year ago. An explosive, penetrative 3-technique that can be up the field and be a Day One starter for you. But with some of the questions from the Pro Day and some of the off-the-field things, where exactly are you going to select Jalen Carter? But the consensus here is that he’s going to go inside of the top 10.”
For now, the thought is quarterbacks CJ Stroud and Bryce Young will be the first two players selected in some order. Will Anderson is a popular defensive line player as well, dominating during his two seasons with Alabama. For now, Carter’s name is not being mentioned alongside them.
If Carter does slide toward the end of the top 10, somebody will be getting incredible value from a football standpoint. The Chicago Bears recently placed themselves at No. 9, while non-quarterback-needing teams are just ahead of them.
Carter has issues to fix up in a few different aspects. There is still over a month for the Georgia product to get back on the right track and prove his worth to NFL teams. He will have a solid support staff with him along the way, guiding him all the way until Thursday night in Las Vegas.