Report: NFL Team Removes Jalen Carter From Draft Board
With his unique blend of elite explosiveness and power former Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter was once perceived as a lock to be a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL draft. However, a tumultuous offseason marred by legal troubles, tragedy, and a poor showing at Georgia’s pro-day have combined to steadily deflate his once sky-high draft stock. What was once whispers and rumors surrounding Carter’s declining draft status has now been elevated to official reporting as Vic Tafur of The Athletic recently reported that league sources have indicated that Carter has been crossed off of the Las Vegas Raiders’ draft board with the team no longer considering using the No.7 pick in April’s NFL draft on the former Georgia star. Additionally, without naming specific teams, Randy Mueller - former general manager of the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints - recently reported that multiple teams have taken Carter off of their boards
Questions regarding Carter’s draft stock began to grow in intensity after his alleged involvement in a tragic car crash that claimed the lives of Georgia recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy and offensive lineman Devin Willock began to come to light. On March 1st Carter was charged with two misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and racing in connection with the crash that killed LeCroy and Willock. After investigating the incident, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department concluded that Carter was racing the Ford Expedition driven by LeCroy in his 2021 Jeep Trackhawk which ultimately led to the crash. Carter ultimately pleaded no contest to the charges and was sentenced to 12 months of probation, a $1,000 fine, and 80 hours of community service. Subsequent reporting based on police body-cam footage also revealed that several months prior to the fatal crash Carter was ticketed by Athens-Clarke County Police for driving nearly 90 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone; revealing a pattern of speeding and poor decision making behind the wheel.
While Carter’s legal issues have been the driving force behind much of the growing concern among NFL teams about utilizing precious draft capital on Carter, his uninspiring performance at Georgia’s pro day only served to exacerbate the concerns of NFL scouts and front office personnel. Carter’s decision to not participate in drills at the NFL combine in Indianapolis placed added importance on his pro day workout; a workout he was unable to finish due to injury after weighing in at 323 pounds - over 20 pounds heavier than his listed playing weight during Georgia's 2022 national championship season.
Jalen Carter Lifts Jayden Daniels / Credit UGAA/Tony Walsh
Legal issues and poor workouts have contributed to a turbulent draft process for Carter and, as a result, his once soaring NFL draft stock has plummeted with multiple teams reportedly taking themselves out of the running for his services.
