Report: Multiple Teams Have Now Taken Georgia DL Jalen Carter Off Their NFL Draft Board

Jalen Carter

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Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter was once expected to be the top talent of the 2023 Draft. However, recent reports have revealed that Carter’s prospects have taken a significant hit.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, while questions regarding Carter’s football character had always been there. The caveat was that there was nothing criminal in his past. However, that changed during the combine week when warrants for his arrest were issued in connection to an incident that left one of his teammates and a Georgia recruiting staffer dead.

Now Breer is reporting that at least two NFL teams have taken Jalen Carter off their Draft board and won’t select him in the 2023 Draft. The Raiders are reportedly one team that has crossed Carter off.

Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has recently announced that Carter would not be meeting or visiting with teams outside the top 10 picks in the 2023 Draft. This move has raised further questions about the extent of Carter’s legal troubles and the impact they will have on his draft position.

Carter’s legal troubles stem from an incident on the morning of January 15th, when he was racing a car driven by Georgia recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy. The car crashed, resulting in the death of LeCroy and Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock, who was a passenger in the car. Carter was charged with two misdemeanors – racing and reckless driving – on March 1st.

Carter’s talent as a football player has never been in question, with many analysts seeing him as one of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, the legal concerns surrounding him have cast a shadow over his potential career in the NFL.

The Raiders’ decision to cross Carter off their board is likely influenced by the recent legal troubles of former 1st round pick wide receiver Henry Ruggs, who was arrested in 2021 on charges of DUI resulting in death, DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm, and two counts of reckless driving.

Ruggs is accused of driving 156 mph with a blood-alcohol content of 0.16 before crashing into another car, resulting in the death of 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog. The comparison between the two cases is too close for comfort for the Raiders and their fans in the Las Vegas community.

As teams continue to evaluate their draft boards, it remains to be seen how much of an impact this news will have on Carter’s draft position. What is clear is that this situation is a reminder of the importance of character evaluation when it comes to drafting prospects. Teams must consider not just the talent of a player, but also their character and off-field conduct when making draft decisions.