Seahawks Drafting 'Red Flags' Jalen Carter? Why Seattle is Right Fit
Jalen Carter’s draft stock - especially as it relates to the Seattle Seahawks - remains in flux. Many teams believe the Seahawks will take a chance on Carter with the fifth overall pick, according to Peter King. Carter's agent Drew Rosenhaus believes the talented Georgia defensive lineman's problems are behind him, saying, “We definitely would have skipped (attending Thursday night's NFL Draft in person) if I thought there was the potential of him falling out of the top 10. I’m not concerned in the slightest about that.''
But there is another sentiment - and a strong one - that Seattle management has too many scars from past dealings with similar situations to want to risk rolling the dice again.
Carter's pre-Draft visits were all with teams selecting in the top 10, including the Seahawks, who own the No. 5 overall pick. So GM John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll have certainly gotten to know the player ... and concern about his baggage is understandable.
A warrant for his arrest was issued in March, Carter pleading no contest to charges of racing and reckless driving, stemming from a tragedy in which a Georgia football staff member and one of Carter’s college teammates both died in a car crash with Carter driving a separate vehicle. He has dealt with "psychological issues'' since that time, say people in his circle, and as a result, showed poorly at Georgia's Pro Day. Additionally - even separate from the accident, one scout tells AllSeahawks.com that "immaturity'' is at the root of some teams' concerns about a player who otherwise would've been a top-five pick all along. ... and according to his agent, still will be.
“It hasn’t been an easy process, but I do think it’s been good for Jalen to get out and see the teams. I think there’s a very good chance he’ll go in the top five,” Rosenhaus said.
"Top five'' of course brings to mind Seattle, which owns that very pick. "Immaturity'' and "red flags'' bring to mind Malik McDowell, and we have indications that Seahawks management is mindful of how poorly that worked out as they eyeball Carter. But here's why the Seahawks remain a team to watch, not in spite of Carter's issues, but rather because of them ...
The Dallas Cowboys have developed a reputation for being "Second-Chance Valley Ranch,'' Valley Ranch being their former headquarters before a recent move to The Star in Frisco. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is proud of, and makes a lot of noise about, his desire to provide opportunities to players in need of guidance; Dallas has certain had some success in that department.
But very quietly, ask people around the NFL and guess which team gets the most credit for successfully "providing opportunities to players in need of guidance''? That would be the team run by GM John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll, who do such a good job of "rehabbing'' players (or, at least, rehabbing their images) that not much is made of it.
Maybe the Seahawks have discovered in their research that Jalen Carter is positioned too far across their boundaries;Seattle management has earned trust in making that call. Or maybe Carter would be lucky to find a franchise with the infrastructure to help him. And to their credit, the Seattle Seahawks are as good at doing that as any team in the NFL.
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Seahawks? Click Here to subscribe to AllSeahawks.com's Newsletter.
Follow All Seahawks.com on Twitter and Facebook
Make sure to subscribe to our daily podcast @lockedonseahawks today! Click here To Listen.
Want even more Seattle Seahawks news? Check out the SI.com team page here.
