Insider: 'At least a couple' teams making bold decisions on divisive prospect

Heading into the upcoming NFL Draft, it appears some teams want it known they have made a decision about Georgia Bulldogs star defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

While answering reader questions for a piece published on Wednesday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported that he knows "at least a couple" of teams have taken Carter off of their draft boards, entirely. 

Breer called Carter as "the best talent in the draft class," but the 22-year-old has repeatedly been in headlines over the past several months for reasons that have nothing to do with his college gridiron accomplishments. 

Carter recently pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing in relation to his alleged role in a fatal car crash that occurred in January. He then struggled during positional drills at Georgia's pro day. Carter also weighed in nine pounds heavier than he was at the combine in Indianapolis. 

At the end of March, it was reported that Carter "is not an option for" the Las Vegas Raiders at pick No. 7, though head coach Josh McDaniels later insisted the defensive star was still on the team's draft board (at that time). As if all of this drama was not enough, eyebrows were raised when it was learned earlier this week that Carter is declining visits with teams that don't possess top-10 draft choices. 

As noted by Tim Kelly of FanNation's Eagles Today arm, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said during a Tuesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" he does not see Carter dropping past the Philadelphia Eagles at pick No. 10. Carter previously visited with the Eagles.

"Barring more revelations, or a series of bad interviews, he’s certainly not falling out of the first round, and he probably won’t fall out of the top 15," Breer added about Carter in his piece.

Breer also said that he liked "Jeremiah’s suggestion that Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, might have decided Carter wouldn’t meet with teams outside the top 10 because, well, the Eagles pick 10th" later this month. 

"Philly is a team with the infrastructure (not to mention a number of Carter’s former Bulldogs teammates) to handle him," Breer continued.