Former Super Bowl Defensive Guru: Eagles 'Better Fit' For Jalen Carter
Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, together again.
Even better, Davis and Carter together again in Philadelphia, where the young defensive linemen can be mentored by none other than All-Pro Fletcher Cox.
Makes too much sense for the Eagles not to reunite the former Georgia stars. But is actually going to happen? According to former NFL defensive guru Dave Wannstedt, it should.
At this point it would be a surprise if Philly passed on Carter with their 10th overall pick in the April 27 NFL Draft. One former Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator and NFL head coach is offering his opinion on whether Carter, however, will get past the Chicago Bears at No. 9.
Wannstedt was the Cowboys' defensive leader for Super Bowl XXVII before ascending to head-coaching gigs with the Bears and Miami Dolphins. To him, Carter is a better fit in Philly than Chicago.
“A team like the Bears is different than the Eagles," Wannstedt said in a radio interview this week. "If the Eagles take him, like Fletcher Cox is going to keep him in line, right? The Bears don’t have anybody like that. I’m not so sure that Philadelphia might not be a better fit for the kid.”
Carter might also be more comfortable playing on a team - and a defense - alongside another former Bulldog in Eagles' linebacker Nakobe Dean.
Carter's immense talent is undeniable, but questions about his character arose when he was forced to leave February's NFL Scouting Combine to face charges of reckless driving and racing stemming from a Jan. 15 crash which killed Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and one of the school's recruiters, and injured two others.
In ESPN's latest mock draft, Todd McShay has the Seattle Seahawks taking Carter as high as No. 5. Says McShay:
“Here’s the bottom line: there is football character and there is personal character issues, and I was told a long time ago, and it rings true, that when you get to the NFL you have more free time, more money, and more fame than you’ve ever had before and so past behavior is an indicator of the future. And you get all those things wrapped up in the NFL. I worry about his future. I worry about him and how he’s going to carry himself. But talent always trumps the character issues as long as they know you’re going to be on the field.”
Carter has already decided to forego any visits to franchises with selections outside of the Top 10. Sure sounds like Carter is confident that the Eagles are his backstop.
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