2023 NFL Draft News & Rumors

Cowboys, Raiders Host WR Zay Flowers

April 5th, 2023 at 6:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Plenty of draft speculation pertains to how this year’s QB class will shake out, but intrigue also exists at the wide receiver position. One of the wideouts receiving attention in the build-up to the draft is Boston College product Zay Flowers.

The Cowboys and Raiders met with Flowers this week, as noted by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter links). In both instances, the encounters counted towards the team’s top-30 allotments. Interest shown by Dallas and Vegas follows a sit-down Flowers had with the Giants, and it will surely be matched by other teams eyeing additions to their pass-catching corps.

Flowers spent the past four seasons with the Eagles, taking on a major role within the team’s offense starting in his second campaign. In each of the last three years, he led Boston College in receiving yards, making the most catches on the team in 2021 and 2022. In the latter campaign, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time, adding new career highs in catches (78) and touchdowns (12).

Size has been raised as a potential concern for the 5-10, 177-pounder. Even in the event he is able to add to his frame in advance of adapting to the pro game, he is likely to operate primarily in the slot at the NFL level. Flowers flashed potential as a punt returner this past season, though, and should be able to carve out a notable role for himself as a rookie given his elusiveness and vertical speed.

The Cowboys’ receiver group looked significantly different in 2022 after they traded away Amari Cooper, a move which has led to a reaction this offseason. Dallas traded for Brandin Cooks to give them a veteran presence on the outside, but further additions could easily come at the draft. Currently set to pick 26th, Flowers could fall within range for the Cowboys (who have also done their homework on Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt) toward the back of round one.

The situation is different on Day 1 for the Raiders, who own pick No. 7. A quarterback could be in play at that spot for Vegas, or if not, a host of more highly-touted prospects will likely be considered. The Raiders have added Jakobi Meyers with one of the most lucrative deals of free agency amongst receivers, but they also lost a dependable producer by trading away Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller. Even though slot man Hunter Renfrow remains under contract for two more years, Vegas could thus be well-served to target an impact pass-catcher in the draft. Their second-round selection (38th overall) would represent solid value if Flowers waits that long to hear his name called.

Raiders To Meet With QB Bryce Young

April 5th, 2023 at 2:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bryce Young is not expected to be available when the Raiders pick at No. 7 overall, but the team will still continue its quarterback research project by meeting with the former Heisman Trophy winner.

The Alabama-developed prospect will meet with the Raiders on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Young will head to Las Vegas for the meeting, doing so after spending time with Raiders brass in Tuscaloosa around the date of his pro day. Young is also working out for the Colts in California this week.

The Raiders have been connected to potentially trading up for a quarterback, though the window for a move — the Cardinals’ slot at No. 3 overall — may still not be sufficient to land Young. The Panthers are still in play to take Young at No. 1 overall, though C.J. Stroud may have a slight lead, and the Texans have been the team steadily connected to the 5-foot-10 passer. A recent report, however, indicated Houston is not dead-set on selecting a quarterback at No. 2 overall. That would open the door for Young or Stroud to be available at No. 3.

Jimmy Garoppolo signed a three-year deal with the Raiders; the team guaranteed the veteran starter $33.75MM. The Garoppolo agreement has not taken the Raiders out of consideration for a first-round QB, and as the team transitions from its nine-year Derek Carr era, the Josh McDaniels–Dave Ziegler duo is doing regular homework on this year’s crop of rookie arms. Garoppolo profiles as a bridge player, and Brian Hoyer is now in place as a veteran backup. But the Raiders also may have Hoyer in mind as a mentor-type for a draftee-to-be.

A scenario in which the Texans take Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson at No. 2 would make Young or Stroud available to teams that may not have anticipated such an outcome, potentially increasing the value of the Cardinals’ draft choice. Of course, Anderson going higher than expected would also mean three first-round-level QBs are available beyond No. 2 overall compared to two. The Raiders have done work on each passer, having already met with Will Levis. They will be the first team to host Anthony Richardson as well; that meeting is set for Friday.

Both Mel Kiper Jr. and ESPN colleague Todd McShay have Young going to the Texans at 2. Frame concerns notwithstanding, Young is viewed as a safer bet compared to Richardson or Levis. Young threw 47 touchdown passes during his 2021 Heisman season, adding 4,782 passing yards. The two-year Crimson Tide starter sits No. 1 on both NFL.com and ESPN.com’s respective big boards.

Commanders To Host QB Hendon Hooker

April 4th, 2023 at 1:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Multiple teams out of range to grab one of this draft’s top quarterbacks are set to meet with Hendon Hooker. In addition to a Saints summit, the ex-Tennessee QB will meet with the Commanders, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets.

Hooker is the only quarterback presently part of the Commanders’ visit itinerary, Albert Breer of SI.com adds (on Twitter). The rehabbing passer will head to Washington later this month. Thus far, only the Saints and Commanders have been confirmed as Hooker hosts. New Orleans brass is meeting with Hooker today.

The Commanders hold the No. 16 overall pick — 13 spots ahead of the Saints’ first draft slot — and Ron Rivera did not rule out a quarterback addition in the draft. The team has added Jacoby Brissett and offered 2022 fifth-rounder Sam Howell considerable praise, given the North Carolina product’s one NFL appearance, this offseason. While Hooker’s November ACL tear could slide him into the developmental realm, he is also 25. That is a concern for some teams, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com notes. This and the knee injury have affected the productive passer’s draft stock.

Hooker put up big numbers during both his Tennessee seasons. Over the past two years, he posted a 58-to-5 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio. The 6-foot-3 passer also topped 1,000 rushing yards over his two Volunteers campaigns. Despite his season ending a bit early, Hooker finished fifth in the 2022 Heisman voting. He completed a career-high 69.6% of his passes as a senior. The 6-foot-3 passer targeted multiple wideouts expected to be chosen fairly early — Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman — and led the Volunteers to wins over five ranked teams in 2022, including Alabama in a shootout that featured five Hooker touchdown passes.

Hooker would be an interesting addition for one of the teams not in position to draft C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis or Anthony Richardson. Teams like the Titans, Buccaneers, Saints and Commanders represent potential destinations. Excepting the Saints, who have Derek Carr signed to a deal with a $100MM practical guarantee, the rest of this lot has starters signed for just one season.

Scouts Inc. slotted four QBs inside its top 25; Hooker is the only other passer inside the top 85. Sitting at No. 67 (No. 49 on Jeremiah’s board), the former Virginia Tech recruit will be a wild card come draft weekend.

Colts Working Out QBs Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis

April 4th, 2023 at 1:24pm CST by Adam La Rose

APRIL 4: Indianapolis brass will go through an important week. In addition to the Stroud and Young meetings, the Colts plan to work out Levis on Thursday in Lexington, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. The Colts are also working out Richardson.

These meetings will carry significant weight. Despite the league knowing the Colts need a quarterback, the AFC South club did not have a representative at Levis’ pro day. Area scout Mike Lacy was the Colts’ only rep at Ohio State’s pro day, and Breer adds chief personnel executive Morocco Brown served as the Indy presence at Alabama’s. These are rather light contingents compared to most teams’ groups, but the Colts will clearly place more stock in their one-on-one sessions. Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent mock has the Colts selecting Levis; Todd McShay’s has them trading up to No. 3 for Richardson.

APRIL 3: The team perhaps mentioned most frequently with respect to quarterback speculation this offseason has been the Colts. Set to draft fourth overall, they will have the chance to add a long-term signal-caller, though their options are expected to be limited to a degree. In spite of that, the team is committed to doing their homework on the top prospects at the position.

Indianapolis is set to hold workouts today with Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, reports Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link). Those two are widely regarded as the top passers in the 2023 class, leading to the expectation that they will be taken first and second overall (in one order or the other) by the Panthers and Texans.

Presuming that happens, the Colts will need to turn to either Anthony Richardson or Will Levis if they wish to select a quarterback; a number of options at other positions will be available as well, of course. Breer notes that Indianapolis elected to not send a large contingent of coaches, scouts and executives to last week’s quarterback Pro Days, preferring to hold private workouts with potential draftees instead.

Young is seen by many as the top QB available, after his highly productive tenure with Alabama. The 2021 Heisman winner took a step back in terms of production this past season, but still showcased his abilities as a passer and, occasionally, a rusher. His frame has led to notable concerns about his ability to translate his success to the pro game, though the strengths of the other elements of his game and his pre-draft process to date have alleviated some of them.

Stroud likewise delivered on high expectations at Ohio State while serving as their QB1. Putting up two campaigns with substantial production, he projects as the most traditional NFL passer given his combination of size and accuracy. Those factors have led many to believe he is the favorite to be taken first overall, with an apparent floor of the No. 2 spot owned by the Texans.

The Colts are taking an expansive view of all (potential) options under center, as they look to make this the final offseason for many years in which they search for a new quarterback atop the depth chart. They signed Gardner Minshew during free agency, and have been loosely connected to pursuing Lamar Jackson, though an addition of the latter remains unlikely at this point. The team has remained steadfast in their preference for a rookie to take on the starting role relatively soon, and for the long-term future. Young and Stroud most closely fit the bill in that regard, and Indianapolis will be well-informed should either slide down the board to them.

Texans, Lions, Bears Host Will Anderson Jr.; Houston Not Locked Into QB At No. 2?

April 4th, 2023 at 12:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Pre-draft visit season is in full swing, and the Texans are once again in possession of a top-three pick. The rebuilding team has long been expected to go with a quarterback at No. 2 overall, but GM Nick Caserio has not yet rushed into choosing a potential long-term Deshaun Watson replacement.

The Texans have met with Will Anderson Jr., Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. Houston joins Chicago and Detroit in having met with the sought-after edge rusher. The Bears and Lions have made their plans known at quarterback, committing to Justin Fields and Jared Goff for 2023. The Texans’ meeting obviously proves more interesting.

Houston has been linked to Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud. Young and Will Levis have met with the Texans on pre-draft visits, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds Stroud will do so Wednesday (Twitter link). Expected to be the second team to take a quarterback in this draft, the Texans are not a lock to do so. Were Caserio not to love a quarterback who will be available at 2, NBC Sports’ Peter King hears some chatter the Texans could draft Anderson, who is considered a safer bet. The team has not scheduled a meeting with Florida’s Anthony Richardson.

In this scenario, King notes the Texans could use their No. 12 overall pick to trade back into position for one of the top quarterbacks. But taking Anderson at 2 and sacrificing future draft capital for perhaps the draft’s third- or fourth-best QB may not be the best plan from a value standpoint, but if the Texans like Anderson that much, it is a potential blueprint to monitor. The Texans do not have much in the way of edge talent, having lost Ogbonnia Okoronkwo to the Browns in free agency. DeMeco Ryans built his head coaching candidacy on the strength of strong defensive lines. The Texans have signed Sheldon Rankins and still have Maliek Collins under contract, but they are light on edge-rushing presences.

This should still be considered the less likely route for Houston, and King expects Caserio to indeed commit to a quarterback at 2. This marks the GM’s second draft with Watson in the rearview mirror, and after making his first two HC hires (David Culley, Lovie Smith) one-and-dones, Caserio has likely moved closer to the hot seat. Passing on a quarterback — potentially a former Heisman winner in Young, as the Panthers have been more closely linked to Stroud as of late — in this spot will inject more risk into Caserio’s situation.

Anderson has recorded 27.5 sacks over the past two seasons; ESPN’s Scouts Inc. grades the two-time Bronko Nagurski trophy recipient as the second-best prospect in this year’s draft. Anderson sits between Young and Stroud on that list, further illustrating the risk the Texans would take by going with the acclaimed edge rusher. Both Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay’s most recent mock drafts have Houston taking Young at 2.

Holding the No. 6 pick, the Lions may be sitting a bit low for Anderson, who would obviously make for an intriguing pass rusher on an Aidan Hutchinson-anchored defensive line. Three quarterbacks are expected to be taken in the top five, though Richardson and Levis’ statuses are more difficult to peg compared to Stroud and Young’s. Anderson’s availability could depend on where the Cardinals end up — should they trade out of No. 3 overall — and how the Seahawks proceed at 5. Even if all four top QBs go in the top five, it would still leave one slot available for Anderson, whom both McShay and Kiper have as the first non-passer off the board. The Bears are eyeing pass-rushing help, but Anderson will probably be out of their reach at No. 9.

Titans Interested In Moving Up For QB

April 3rd, 2023 at 10:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Both Mike Vrabel and new GM Ran Carthon have provided relative endorsements for Ryan Tannehill to return for a fifth season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback. But a succession plan is clearly being considered.

Carthon trekked to each of the top four quarterback prospects’ pro days, and the Titans are one of the teams who have scheduled a visit with Anthony Richardson, who played at Carthon’s alma mater (Florida). The Titans have become a team to watch regarding a trade-up into the Cardinals’ No. 3 slot, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah said during the latest Move the Sticks podcast (h/t Yardbarker.com).

The Titans hold the No. 11 overall pick. They could certainly be competing with the Raiders and potentially the Seahawks in what may become a bidding war for the Cards’ No. 3 choice. Both teams have been constants at quarterback pro days. Seattle holds the No. 5 overall selection; Las Vegas sits at 7.

It will, of course, cost Tennessee more than either of those teams to trade into that spot. But cost that did not stop Carolina from making an eight-slot vault for the No. 1 overall pick. With an 11-to-3 move will represent the same jump, the Cardinals will be looking for a similar package. The Panthers sent the Bears their 2023 and 2025 second-round picks, their 2024 first-rounder and D.J. Moore. The 49ers moved from 12 to 3 in 2021, the Trey Lance deal. San Francisco needed to send Miami its 2022 and ’23 first-rounders, along with a 2022 third.

The Cardinals appear to be sitting in an ideal spot, being positioned to either select the draft’s top non-quarterback or receive a big trade haul that would help Monti Ossenfort begin his rebuild. The Cards GM spent the past three years with the Titans, who have a quarterback going into an age-35 season. If a Tennessee trade package were to include a player, like Carolina’s did, Ossesnfort would have an advantage here.

Injuries nearly wrecked Tannehill’s career before his resurgence in Nashville. He missed 24 games from 2016-18, most of them due to knee trouble. The former top-10 pick, however, did not miss any time from the time he replaced Marcus Mariota (October 2019) through the end of the 2021 season, when an injury-riddled Titans team rallied to the AFC’s No. 1 seed. That came after a Titans trip to the AFC championship game — during a 2019 season in which Tannehill averaged 9.6 yards per attempt, a figure that remains in the top 10 all time — and won the AFC South in 2020. Tannehill missed five games last season and has undergone ankle surgery.

One season remains on Tannehill’s four-year, $118MM contract. He is on the Titans’ books at $36.6MM, which is actually $2MM lower than his 2022 cap number. The 12th-year veteran would make sense as a bridge player for the organization and, if the Titans follow through on a trade-up maneuver, could use this season as a launching pad for a free agency deal elsewhere in 2024.

While C.J. Stroud went to Vrabel’s alma mater, the Panthers are the odds-on favorites to draft the Ohio State alum. Carolina has also been linked to Bryce Young at No. 1, with the less proven Richardson on the radar as well. If Stroud and Young are off the board, teams who view Richardson (13 college starts) as a high-ceiling prospect worth developing will have to deal with the Cardinals to leapfrog the QB-needy Colts. Josh Dobbs has returned to the Browns, and Malik Willis did not look ready to take the reins as a rookie. Carthon has no ties to the 2022 third-rounder. A more coveted QB prospect looks to be on the new GM’s radar.

Latest On Raiders’ QB Plans

April 3rd, 2023 at 8:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

With draft visits set to take off over the next few days, plenty of eyes will remain on the Raiders as a potential wild-card in the rookie quarterback market. Vegas will be active in doing their homework on some of the top passers in this year’s class.

The Raiders have already been active in evaluating rookie QB options, including spending time with Kentucky’s Will Levis before his pro day. As expected, that has been followed up by an official pre-draft visit. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Levis met with Vegas at their facility today (Twitter link). That news comes amongst other interest showed by the team in a potential addition during the first round of this month’s draft.

The Raiders will be the first team to host Anthony Richardson on a top-30 visit this Friday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. The Florida product, Fowler adds, is slated to have six sit-downs with interested teams, Vegas having previously been reported to be one of them. Richardson has shot up draft boards since the end of the season, given his intriguing size and skillset, and his performances at the Combine and his pro day. After watching him at the latter, Raiders GM Dave Ziegler was among the contingent of executives which met with the dual-threat passer, and the team was “impressed” with Richardson, as noted (on Twitter) by Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The Raiders currently own the seventh overall pick in the draft, which could put them in play for either Levis or Richardson. The pair are seen as the more developmental signal-callers amongst the four presumed first-rounders compared to Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud. Levis has shown elements of high-end play as a passer and runner, but also lacks consistency and threw 23 interceptions in two years with the Wildcats. Richardson, meanwhile, had just one year as a starter and competed only 53.8% of his passes in 2022 while displaying a variance of success in the pocket along with enticing athleticism.

Vegas replaced Derek Carr with Jimmy Garoppolo in free agency, but the team has made it known they are willing to draft a long-term prospect as early as 2023. That could be possible if one of Levis or Richardson fall to No. 7 on the board, but a trade-up scenario may also be in play. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah named the Raiders – just like the Titans – a team to watch on the subject of moving up to secure a signal-caller (h/t Yardbarker.com).

The Raiders have a number of positions of need after last year’s 6-11 season. Adding to the league’s 28th-ranked total defense from 2022 would be achieved if the team preferred a prospect on that side of the ball with their top selection, but an aggressive move aimed at securing a long-term Carr successor can’t be ruled out.

WR Jordan Addison To Visit Vikings, Ravens, Giants, Patriots, Chargers

April 3rd, 2023 at 2:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2023 draft offers a number of high-end receivers available in the first round, one of whom is Jordan Addison. The former Pitt and USC product is continuing a busy schedule of visits with interested teams.

That process will include meetings with the Vikings, Ravens, Giants and Patriots, as detailed by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Each of those sit-downs will constitute one of the 30 allotted to all teams for out-of-town prospects. Wilson adds, however, that Addison also has a local visit scheduled with the Chargers.

Addison flashed plenty of potential in his first season at Pitt, totaling 666 yards on 60 catches. The following year, he and quarterback Kenny Pickett put together a massively productive campaign, one which saw Addison establish himself as one of the top wideouts in the country. In 2021, he finished second in the ACC with 100 receptions, leading the conference in yards (1,593) and touchdowns (17).

Those totals earned him All-American honors and the Biletnikoff Award, along with substantial expectations upon his transfer to USC. In his lone season with the Trojans, the 6-0, 170-pounder recorded 59 catches for 875 and eight touchdowns. While those totals came up well short of his production the year before, they helped cement his status as one of the most effective receivers in the 2023 class, particularly with respect to route running and catch radius.

Of the teams listed, the Vikings, with Justin Jefferson and the Chargers, with Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, already have established high-end wideouts. The latter (who has been listed as an NFL comp for Addison) emerged in trade rumors this offseason, though, and could be a candidate to be replaced in the near future. New England inked JuJu Smith-Schuster as a Jakobi Meyers replacement in free agency, but their pass-catching corps is likely to receive further additions in the coming weeks, including the draft.

Both the Giants and Ravens have been connected to WR moves beyond the relatively minor ones they have already made this offseason. That could, of course, include using Day 1 draft capital at the position as both teams look to take a step forward in the passing game. While Addison’s size and college experience points to him primarily operating in the slot, he represents one of the top options available around the middle of the opening round for any team eyeing an offensive boost.

Saints To Meet With QB Hendon Hooker

April 3rd, 2023 at 11:34am CST by Sam Robinson

This year’s draft class is widely expected to produce four first-round quarterback draftees, and it could follow 2021 in seeing three taken in the event’s first three picks. Beyond the Bryce Young–C.J. Stroud–Anthony Richardson–Will Levis contingent, however, this draft class could produce another early-round QB pick.

Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker could be a candidate to either land in the second round or sneak into the first. The Saints will look into Hooker during a Tuesday visit, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. In sending the Broncos Sean Payton‘s rights, the Saints hold the No. 29 overall pick in this year’s draft. They traded their own — No. 10 — to the Eagles before last year’s draft.

Transferring from Virginia Tech in 2021, Hooker put up big numbers in both his Tennessee seasons. Over the past two years, he posted a 58-to-5 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio. The 6-foot-3 passer also topped 1,000 rushing yards over his two Volunteers campaigns. However, an ACL tear halted Hooker’s senior season after 11 games.

Teams will understandably be leery about Hooker’s health and his age; he turned 25 in January. But the experienced prospect could be a sleeper addition for a team willing to use a high pick here. He led Tennessee to a win over Alabama, accounting for 441 yards in that shootout and sporting a 5-0 TD-INT ratio against the SEC power. The Vols beat five ranked teams with Hooker at the controls last season.

Hooker could also appeal to teams that do not have an early pick. The Buccaneers, Commanders and Titans come to mind here. The Saints certainly profiled as a team that could have used a quarterback prospect in 2021 or 2022, but this offseason moved that need to the back burner.

The Saints will meet with Hooker despite having two veteran quarterbacks — Derek Carr and Jameis Winston — on their roster. The team should not be expected to deviate from its Carr plan for a bit; the ex-Raiders starter is locked into $70MM and can up that total to $100MM if he is on New Orleans’ roster next March. Winston, however, accepted a pay cut and is only signed through 2023.

The Saints taking a quarterback in the first round would surprise, given their Carr investment, but the team holds the No. 40 overall pick as well. The team has a longstanding history of addressing other needs early in drafts. New Orleans has not taken a quarterback in the first or second round since selecting Archie Manning second overall in 1971.

DT Jalen Carter Visits Eagles, To Meet With Bears

April 3rd, 2023 at 9:59am CST by Sam Robinson

Jalen Carter remains confident he will be a top-10 pick in this draft. Despite multiple stock-dropping developments in the leadup to the draft, Carter will not meet with teams who hold first-round picks outside the top 10, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he will decline meeting requests for teams picking beyond 10. Teams that do hold early choices are doing their homework on the talented defensive tackle. The Eagles have met with Carter, per Schefter, who adds the Bears are planning a visit Monday. Carter, whom NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah lists as the fifth-best prospect in this year’s draft, is also planning to meet with the Raiders, who hold the No. 7 overall pick.

By virtue of their pre-draft trade with the Saints last year, the Eagles hold the No. 10 overall pick. After collecting a pre-free agency haul from the Panthers for the top draft choice, the Bears are set to pick at No. 9. Chicago was not particularly active at the pass-rushing spots in free agency, despite finishing last season with the league’s fewest sacks (20). But the rebuilding team is planning to add on its defensive line. The draft, where the Bears hold three picks before Round 2 concludes, represents the most likely avenue for such augmentation.

The Eagles are fond of big-ticket line investments, as their 2022 depth chart reinforced, and the defending NFC champions lost Javon Hargrave to the 49ers in free agency. The Eagles drafted ex-Carter Georgia D-tackle mate Jordan Davis in last year’s first round. Philadelphia also re-signed Fletcher Cox, but the Eagles mainstay is going into his age-33 season.

One of the best players available in this year’s prospect pool, Carter has seen his offseason defined by negative headlines. He faced two misdemeanor charges in connection with a fatal car accident, having been at the scene when Georgia recruiting analyst Chandler Lecroy and offensive lineman Devin Willock died from injuries sustained in a January wreck. Carter was driving a separate vehicle that night, but authorities indicated he and Lecroy were “operating in a manner consistent with racing.” Lecroy’s blood-alcohol level was at .197 at the time of the crash, which was initially deemed a single-car accident. Carter, who did not face a charge connected with drunk driving, left the Combine following the arrest warrant and will not face any jail time in connection with the charges.

Carter reached a plea agreement with Athens-Clarke County solicitors last month, agreeing to a deal that mandated a $1K fine, community service and a driving course. Shortly before that deal came to pass, Carter struggled at Georgia’s pro day. Weighing 314 pounds at the Combine, the interior pass rusher came in nine pounds heavier at his pro day and did not finish his position drills. These hurdles notwithstanding, multiple scouts told ESPN.com’s Matt Miller they do not see Carter falling out of the top 10 (Twitter link).

The Bears are believed to have expressed some reservations about Carter, so this upcoming visit will be one of the more interesting intel-gathering efforts of this pre-draft process. Chicago added DeMarcus Walker in free agency but should still be considered likely to add at both defensive end and D-tackle before training camp.

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