NFL Draft star Jalen Carter has a safety net should he tumble down the board in Thursday’s first-round, with the Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle being given assurances by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, Carter was regarded by many as the best college player declared, and he was expected to be drafted close to No1 come the end of April.
The 22-year-old established himself as the most disruptive player on college football’s best defense, helping fire the Bulldogs to a second straight national championship. However, off-field issues including concerns over his maturity, as well as his involvement in a fatal car crash which killed a Bulldogs teammate and staffer, has seen his stocks dramatically fall.
What also didn’t help Carter’s case following the fatal incident was that he was unable to complete his pro day workout during the Combine and returned weighing nine pounds heavier.
Despite the setback, Carter has been hellbent on joining a team picking inside the top ten, refusing to visit teams picking lower. And should he start to drop down the board, the Eagles could rescue him with their No10 pick, he has been assured.
The NFC champions and Super Bowl 2023 finalists acquired the tenth pick off the New Orleans Saints. "I believe so, it might have been something like that," when asked if the Eagles said they were drafting him at the No10 should he still be in play.
And when pressed further for a solid answer on whether the Eagles would take him at No10, Carter said: “Yes sir.”
Whether Carter will still be in play by the time the Eagles pick is unknown. An ESPN projection has the Bulldogs star man going at No5 to the Seattle Seahawks, who are in desperate need of a player with Carter’s skillset.
Football analyst Mel Kiper Jr has Carter at the top of his ESPN NFL Draft rankings. “The reality is Carter's stock hasn't dropped in the eyes of NFL teams, and so I'm not dropping him in my rankings,” Kiper Jr wrote. “On the field, he is a fantastic prospect. I moved him to No. 1 in my December Big Board update, and he finished the season playing the best ball of his career.”
