NFL scouts, GMs predict which team will draft Jalen Carter

Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Jalen Carter may not have to wait long to hear the commissioner call his name during the first round of the NFL Draft. 

For a piece published on Wednesday, ESPN's Matt Miller said that "a poll of a half-dozen scouts and general managers" predicted that the Chicago Bears will select Carter via the ninth-overall pick. 

"It's widely expected Carter will be drafted in the top 10 after meeting with every team holding picks five through 10 in pre-draft visits," Miller explained. 

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN added that "most teams I've talked to have Carter going in that same range" and that "many teams believe the talent outweighs the drawbacks" as it pertains to selecting the polarizing player. 

On Tuesday, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Carter his top prospect in this draft class. However, the Georgia star pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing earlier this offseason regarding his alleged role in a fatal car crash in January. He was also accused of being out of shape at Georgia's pro day, and questions about his practice habits and motor hover over his status heading into Thursday evening. 

While ESPN's Todd McShay reported Monday that "multiple sources" told him that "Carter isn't expected to be the pick" for the Seattle Seahawks at No. 5, league executives told Fowler they see "Seattle as a perfect landing spot for Carter, with (head coach) Pete Carroll's ability to manage strong personalities and maximize talent." 

As of Wednesday afternoon, OddsChecker listed Carter as the betting favorite at -125 odds to go to Seattle at the fifth pick. 

And what happens if Carter slides down to Chicago at No. 9? 

"I think Jalen Carter, when you watch him on the field, he’s active, he works hard, he’s physical," Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham said during a predraft news conference, per Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. "I think when you turn on the tape, he shows a number of plays where he shows physicality and toughness, those sorts of things." 

Of the six CBS Sports analysts who have updated mock drafts this week, only Will Brinson had Carter falling to the draft's ninth choice as of Wednesday.