The Pittsburgh Steelers may have a very difficult decision to make in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft. There are several great players that they are going to have to decide between, but there's one that sticks out. University of Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter continues to see his stock fall ahead of the draft. He was once viewed as the best non-QB prospect in this class just a few months ago.
If you haven't been paying attention, things have changed quickly. ESPN's Todd McShay was the first to disclose any concern on the uber-talented interior lineman. While McShay didn't clarify what "character concerns" he was talking about, many scoffed at the idea. Carter didn't even have a scratch on his record, and by all means, was a standout student-athlete in college. Well, then came the news that he was charged with reckless driving in regards to a fatal crash.
Is Carter worth the risk for Steelers?
It's unclear if McShay had actual facts behind his statements, but it has aged well lately. That initial charge was enough to warrant some concern for teams. Then, his Pro Day came just over two weeks ago. Carter showed up a bit heavier, and was ultimately unable to complete his workout. Now, teams and executives are in full panic mode in regards to possibly selecting him to their franchise with a top-15 pick.
You know it's getting serious when the Las Vegas Raiders reportedly took him off their draft board. Again, that's reportedly, but it's clear that teams are cautious now. All of this begs the question: if Carter falls to 17, what should the Steelers do? Well, it'd be silly to not even entertain the idea. None of us are in the organization or even know the complete details of Carter's situation.
It'll come down to a judgement call, many teams of which have already decided that it's not worth the risk. That may be a telling sign, as no matter how talented he is, teams are already disinterested in him less than a month away from the draft. We're not talking about picking him in the fifth round or scooping him up as an undrafted free agent. Picking him in the first round will be seen as a major gamble, no matter where it is.
Carter is regarded as one of the most talented defensive linemen in years, perhaps since Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald was picked in the first round by the Los Angeles Rams. At this point, it's a realistic possibility that he falls to the Steelers at 17. In CBS Sports' recent mock draft, writer Chris Trapasso had Carter falling to the Seattle Seahawks with the 20th pick.
There's no denying his talent, and it would be a huge slam dunk for the Steelers if it worked out. Despite the re-signing of Larry Ogunjobi and Thursday's addition of Breiden Fehoko, defensive line is still a need for the black and gold. That holds particularly true for the long-term, as Cam Heyward will eventually decline. Carter would form quite the trio along the defensive line, but at what cost? It's a decision that the Steelers may have to deal with, and one that we should be happy we don't have to make the call on.
If you were in GM Omar Khan's seat, would you pick the Georgia lineman at 17? In your prediction, where do you think he ultimately falls and lands? How lethal of a trio would Carter, Ogunjobi, and Heyward be?
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