Is Jalen Carter Sliding Down Cardinals' Draft Board?
The Arizona Cardinals lost DE J.J. Watt to retirement and DE Zach Allen to free agency, along with CB Byron Murphy.
Losses were projected on the defensive side of the ball, yet Arizona now feels more pressure than ever to plug those holes heading into the 2023 season. While they could still make a splash in free agency (though that looks unlikely), the 2023 NFL Draft looks like the more probable place for the Cardinals to do their work.
Possessing the No. 3 pick gives them the opportunity to either nab a potential cornerstone player moving forward or trade down to acquire more draft capital.
One of those players - Georgia Bulldogs DL Jalen Carter - has the potential to wreck games along the defensive front. He did so at a high level in college football's best conference (SEC) and has plenty of room to grow - a scary sight for NFL offensive linemen.
However, Carter garnered some strong negative press at the NFL Combine concerning his involvement in a fatal car accident that featured a Georgia teammate and recruiting analyst. Carter had to leave Indianapolis to face a warrant for his arrest before returning soon after.
Carter - who didn't perform on-field drills at Lucas Oil Stadium - would have the opportunity to prove himself at Georgia's Pro Day.
He did the opposite.
Carter weighed in nine pounds heavier then he did at the combine (just two weeks prior) and wasn't able to finish drills.
"I can speak to the competitive character of the young man," Georgia head coach Kirby Smart told ESPN. "I got to see it every day in practice and every day in games. It shows tremendous committed character to have two injuries that you could have quit playing [but came back]. He could have sat out the rest of the year.
"He wanted to come back. He wanted to win football games. One of the greatest traits Jalen has is his teammates, his brothers. He endears himself to his teammates and wanted to come back for those guys."
The Athletic's Seth Emerson said Carter won't see jail time for his two misdemeanors and alleged lying on his whereabouts during the fatal car accident.
All of the above - mixed with prior character concerns and lack of effort in practice/preparation - has many believing Carter could slide down draft boards.
Would that include the Cardinals?
There were whispers at the NFL Combine that a team picking in the top ten had completely dropped Carter off their draft board.
Arizona was linked heavily to taking Carter or Alabama's Will Anderson to improve the front seven. With plenty of holes on the roster, Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort has been fairly open on answering phone calls and potentially moving down.
Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon said Arizona met with Carter at the NFL Combine and called the conversation a "really good interview" while also saying they were monitoring the situation.
One anonymous NFL assistant GM told The Athletic the Cardinals would be wise to take Anderson over Carter.
“Monti comes from New England, and they are not going to gamble on character at the top of the draft,” he said. “You can’t do it for you first pick. They have to go with the Alabama kid, Anderson. Best rusher in the draft. Can’t-miss character.”
Should Arizona move down in the draft order and find themselves still in position to take Carter (after grabbing extra draft picks) perhaps the Cardinals will be comfortable taking that risk.
Yet as long as Arizona sits with the third overall pick, it's hard to imagine Carter landing in the desert - especially if Anderson is still on the board.
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