You can rule out one AFC team from selecting one of the top-graded prospects in next month’s 2023 NFL Draft.
Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ranked by many scouts and analysts as the No. 1 prospect in this year’s class. The 21-year-old helped Georgia win back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022.
But on Mar. 1, an arrest warrant was issued for Carter due to his involvement in a fatal car accident on Jan. 25. Teammate Devin Willock and Bulldogs staff member Chandler LeCroy were killed. An investigation determined that reckless driving and excessive speed were factors in the tragic accident.
Many scouts and pundits no longer expect Carter to be the first overall pick, and some wonder if he’ll even be a top-five selection. It sounds like at least one team with a top-10 selection is reportedly planning to stay away.
According to a report from Vic Tafur of The Athletic, the Las Vegas Raiders have already “crossed” Carter off of their draft board:
“(Head coach Josh) McDaniels said the Raiders will do their homework on Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, as one of the top two or three players in the draft will almost assuredly slide after he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges of racing and reckless driving.
But Carter is not an option for the Raiders at No. 7, having already been crossed off by the team, according to a league source.”
It’s widely believed that the Carolina Panthers will take a quarterback with the first overall pick, either Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. The Houston Texans hold the No. 2 pick and will most certainly take a quarterback as well.
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Things get interesting from there, though. The Arizona Cardinals hold the No. 3 pick but obviously won’t take a quarterback. The Indianapolis Colts (fourth overall) will likely want a quarterback, but it’s anybody’s guess where the Seattle Seahawks (fifth overall) and Detroit Lions (sixth overall) will go.
