Much has been made about Jalen Carter‘s “off-the-field issues” in light of a recent arrest for charges that stem from the night a car accident took the lives of a Georgia player and staffer.
It was compounded when Carter showed up to the Bulldogs’ Pro Day nearly 10 pounds overweight. By all accounts, it was a terrible workout for one of the top talents in the 2023 draft class.
Granted, going through the traumatic events that Jalen Carter has experienced would be difficult on anyone, so the Pro Day issues didn’t bother me that much. Moreover, for a guy that weighs 300+ pounds, a fluctuation like that isn’t crazy.
However, those concerns are growing. NFL insider Jesse Palmer told local radio hosts on 92.9 The Game that the worry goes beyond the original instances. Instead, they relate to his dedication to football.
Now, that is a more than fair reason to pass on the player, but when he’s on the field, he’s arguably the most talented player in the draft class. There are no questions about Carter’s production.
These NFL teams are billion-dollar corporations; they can dig a hell of a lot deeper than Jesse Palmer or any other insider. Recently, Jalen Carter’s agent told every team outside of the first 10 selections that he wouldn’t be taking pre-draft visits. There will be at least one club within the top 10 that feel comfortable with their findings.
I must say these aren’t substantiated reports by any means, but my radar is up. I’m not completely buying Palmer’s reports; it is notable nonetheless. We must remember Carter fought back from a serious injury to contribute to Georgia’s second National Championship run instead of healing up in preparation for the NFL Draft. There is a lot to this, but Todd McShay’s initial report is being backed up now.
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