2023 NFL Draft: Is Jalen Carter Worth a Top-10 Pick?

Have you heard that NFL first-round draft picks are possibly franchise-changing? (Manning, Mahomes, and on and on).

Now those are quarterbacks, but you can make great selections on the defensive side of the ball as well.

I was stunned to recall that future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald was taken with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 Draft. Sheesh!

This brings us to talented-as-all-get-out Jalen Carter.

The former Georgia standout is, according to ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr., among other analysts, the top prospect in this year’s class.

Here’s the problem, though.

He made a major mistake on the night following the Bulldogs’ championship victory over TCU.

How bad? This bad.

Is that enough for a player to tumble out of the top 10?

Doubt it.

In fact, Carter’s agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN's Adam Schefter: “I'm confident Jalen will go in the top 10," Rosenhaus told Schefter. "He's a good person, a family man, loves football and is a generational talent."

That may be and bookmakers believe it’s true.

After all, agents do know things.

So let’s take a look at where DraftKings Sportsbook, one of our favorite sites, along with many other great gambling companies available in the U.S., including BetMGM and more, has its current odds on Carter.

Which Team Will Draft Jalen Carter?

Detroit Lions +300

Seattle Seahawks +330

Chicago Bears +450

Philadelphia Eagles +600

Atlanta Falcons +900

I’m only listing the top five betting options because there’s no way Carter doesn’t wind up with one of these teams.

The Seahawks pick fifth, the Lions sixth (that’s where Kiper Jr. has him going), the Falcons eighth, the Bears ninth and the Eagles 10th.

So, do you trust a kid who did what he did?

And let’s be clear here, per ESPN’s report:

“Carter's draft status is clouded after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing last month in connection with a fatal crash in January. He was sentenced to 12 months of probation, a $1,000 fine and 80 hours of community service and will attend a state-approved defensive driving course. His attorney, Kim Stephens, said that, by resolving the matter, the state of Georgia is forever barred from bringing additional charges against Carter.”

Bad judgment on that night, no question.

But maybe it was just a one-off. He is a special player. It’s a roll of the dice for NFL franchises when they select a kid to hopefully be part of a rebuild or to spark a team to Super-Bowl-bound greatness.

I wish Carter the best of luck and hope he’s learned a valuable lesson.