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.
Hope they have a driver for him during his visits.
They’ll also probably supply a “recruiting staffer”.
A blonde one
I jut don’t think Poles will go there. This is his first 1st round pick and he can’t afford to take a pick based on character flaws, Perceived or not. I just think he’ll go with one of the OT’s and call it a day. I doubt he trades back again unless he can get bck into the early 2nd round and he would have to drop way back to do that.
I agree, stay at nine, and take the safe pick, either Paris Johnson or Skoronski, either will be long time starters.
I think in a perfect world, Poles is hoping he’s gone by 9 so he doesn’t even have to hear about what might have been. There are a lot of D Line prospects he can get later in the daft. I’m not even sure Broderick Jones isn’t the best OT of the 3.
I just don’t think Poles will go there. This is his 1st First round pick and he really needs to ace it after trading back. Carters character flaws real or not present a risk. This needs to be a solid selection and ten year starter. The OT’s present a more stable pick. I doubt he trades back again unless someone can get him back into the early second round. And he would have to trade way back to do that.
Thought my first comment got wiped out as it disappeared. Sorry.
Seems like a real P.O.S. tbh. I hope for your favorite team that they stay far, far away
Quite a few red flags…and he’s refusing to even meet with any team drafting after 10?! He’s certainly carrying that Rosenhaus level of attitude and entitlement. No thanks. Hard pass.
Gained 9 pounds between the combine and his pro day? He is certainly hoping some teams have reservations…..dinner reservations.
This would be a red flag for a team outside of the top 10 looking to trade up.
Exactly! Several players over the years have deployed this strategy and it’s just plain old dumb. He could slide past 10 if he turns off a few teams. Also, if for example I’m sitting at 21 and really wanted him, enough to swap a ton to grab him at 4 because the team at is a good trading partner/fit, then comments such as that could prevent him from going higher than he may have been.
Lazy, doesn’t want to sit in an interview and answer the same questions despite million$ on the line.
A plea deal doesn’t excuse leaving your dead friends at the scene of an accident – especially one that you had a hand in.
No way he gets past 10.
He just excluded visits from teams that potentially would have traded up for him, further lessening his value. Obviously, he lacks critical thinking skills…
You can’t put this all on him. He is most likely listening to his agent.
Yeah, I think if he’s there at #10 then Howie is sprinting to turn the card in. I think our Eagles would be better off trading back a few spots and then taking Branch or one of the other top 3 CB’s. Hell, I want Howie to draft Robinson just not with the 10th pick. Knowing how the eagles value DL & OL, I don’t see Carter getting past #10 unless Howie knows he can trade back a few picks and still land him . I’m really liking Tyree Wilson but he won’t fall to us, nor Howie isn’t trading up for him.
Preemptively thumbing his nose at some potential soft landings sure is a choice. I still think he goes top 10, but in the event that he doesn’t, are there teams 11-15ish who might just cross him off their board? Legal issues, out of shape, bad testing numbers, etc.–a good interview could alleviate some of those concerns for some teams. There is a downside risk here that foregoing those interviews could cost him millions. The difference between going 11th and going 20th is almost $6mil.
Agree. He is reinforcing the common perception that he lacks critical thinking skills and is developing a poor work ethic
Pure stupidity, imo. He has 17 days to say everything right, show up for every interview, heck, even drop 5 pounds or so.
Howie will steal him at 10 if he’s there. A stud.
On a top D, with talent all around him, his stats do not scream stud. That would worry me before I got to anything else. I prefer production with my 1st round pick.
He’s a stud.
To all the hot-takers commenting, let’s see how you sound if he’s lining up in your team’s jersey week 1. My guess, all this nonsense will be a distant memory at best.
He might be just looking bad on purpose just so he can drafted by philly. Showing up overweight and not finishing drills mightve been a tactic to scare certain teams away. No way Vegas picks him. Maybe Seattle or Detroit but I think he’s trying to control his destiny. He’s too good to be picked lower than 4 imo.