Jalen Carter

NFC East Notes: Giants, Eagles, Harris

October 13th, 2023 at 11:06am CST by Sam Robinson

After seeing their 2022 receiver plan implode, the Giants made a number of moves to address the position this offseason. They added outside free agents Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder (since cut) while re-signing Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard. Both Shepard and 2022 second-rounder Wan’Dale Robinson made their way back from ACL tears this year. Big Blue, which retained Isaiah Hodgins via ERFA tender, also drafted Jalin Hyatt in Round 3. But trade pickup Darren Waller stands as the team’s most proven pass catcher. As the Giants have looked like one of the NFL’s worst teams, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano notes they came into this season viewing their receiver situation as unsettled to the point they hoped Waller and Saquon Barkley could cover it up early in the campaign.

Injuries along the offensive line — after a woeful debut with a mostly healthy offense in Week 1 — have helped sink the Giants to 1-4. Daniel Jones is out for Week 6, and the starter has struggled, leaving any receiver upgrades as largely irrelevant to start the season. The Giants do not have notable cash committed to wideouts beyond this season, being able to escape Slayton’s two-year, $12MM deal fairly easily. The Giants, who rank 32nd in total offense, have only seen one of their wideouts — Slayton — eclipse 110 receiving yards this season. It appears clear rebuilding this group will end up a multiyear project for GM Joe Schoen.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

The Commanders‘ defense ranks 31st in points allowed through five games. Although it is early, that is a steep drop-off from its 2022 finish (seventh). The team allowed 40 points to the previously winless Bears, and its narrow wins over the struggling Cardinals and Broncos do not look especially good. That said, the team’s new ownership has not applied early-season pressure on Ron Rivera, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweets. Josh Harris is being patient with Rivera and Co., and while Anderson adds some of the others in Washington’s ownership group do not necessarily share this stance, Dan Snyder‘s successor is allowing this to play out for now. Rivera confirmed (via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala) no staff changes are taking place.
Nicholas Morrow has played well in relief of Nakobe Dean, grading as Pro Football Focus’ No. 5 overall linebacker. The former Raiders and Bears starter has tallied 33 tackles and three sacks. But a backup job may be in the cards once Dean is activated from IR. The Eagles should be considered likelier to reinstall Dean as a starter over returning the 2022 third-round pick to a backup role, AllPhly.com’s Zach Berman notes. Dean suffered a foot injury in Week 1, but the Eagles let Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards walk this offseason with the intent on bumping the 2021 Butkus award winner into the starting lineup. Zach Cunningham, who signed with the Eagles during training camp, resides as the team’s other ILB starter.
Dean’s former Georgia teammate, Jalen Carter is not yet a starter. But the No. 9 overall pick has validated the Eagles’ decision to stop his first-round slide, having totaled 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles through five games. PFF’s top-graded interior D-lineman, Carter slipped in the draft due to off-field matters. Most notably, the standout D-tackle’s arrest warrant for reckless driving and racing — at a scene in which two Georgia program members died in a car accident — led to a few teams passing in Round 1. The Eagles had Carter as the highest-rated player on their board, per ESPN’s Tim McManus, though the NFC champions were not certain he would fall far enough. The Seahawks were high on Carter’s talent but did not feel they had the leadership necessary to make the pick at No. 5, while McManus notes the Eagles felt their veterans and previous Georgia investments (Dean, Jordan Davis) would help keep Carter in line. We had heard about some Georgia coaches passing on endorsing Carter, citing effort and attitude, and McManus notes the DT punching then-teammate Quay Walker in 2020 contributed to this.

Rookie DT Jalen Carter Faces Further Civil Charges Stemming From Fatal Crash

July 15th, 2023 at 5:34pm CST by Ely Allen

Despite his criminal proceedings wrapping up in a plea agreement back in March, Eagles rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter still faced a civil lawsuit stemming from a car crash that resulted in the death of teammate Devin Willock and a Georgia recruiting analyst, Chandler LeCroy. That original lawsuit was filed by Devin Willock Sr., the father of one of the deceased, but he now faces further civil charges being filed by another former recruiting analyst, Victoria S. Bowles, who was injured in the accident.

Willock’s original lawsuit for $40MM, targeted Carter specifically for $10MM. The suit noted two other occasions during which Carter received citations or tickets. It had also been reported that Carter’s driver license was suspended at the time of the accident. Carter had received misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing, paid a $1,013 fine, and is currently serving 12 months of probation, a fairly light sentence that seemed to indicate a lack of responsibility.

Bowles’s lawsuit levies a more severe allegation. According to Alan Judd of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bowles alleges that “Carter illegally left the scene without rendering aid to those injured in the crash.” The lawsuit says that Carter “was jointly responsible for the crash and had a legal duty to remain on the scene.” It details that, “instead, in part obviously fearful of bad publicity and the effect on his NFL draft status, he hoped not to be questioned or take any responsibility for his actions.”

It’s unclear what specifically is being sought from Carter in this suit, but Bowles is reportedly seeking reimbursement for over $170K-worth of medical bills as well as unreported amounts for future expenses, wage loss, mental and physical pain and suffering, and punitive damages. The lawsuit detailed the injuries sustained by Bowles in the crash as “broken vertebrae and ribs, a fractured clavicle, and broken and cracked teeth; lacerations to her kidney and liver; a punctured and collapsed lung; abdominal bleeding; neurological damage from a head injury that causes severe eye pain; and a spinal-cord injury that could progress to permanent paralysis.”

Whatever isn’t being sought from Carter, Bowles is suing the university’s athletic association for. Bowles’s complaint includes screenshots of texts from program officials permitting Bowles and LeCroy to take the recruiting SUVs used in the accident to their personal residences overnight. She asserts that the athletic association overlooked LeCroy’s “deplorable driving history and habitual operation of motor vehicles at high and unsafe speeds.”

Specifically, the lawsuits points to an incident in which the staffer who granted the two permission to take the vehicles home was a passenger as LeCroy received a ticket for driving 77 mph in a 55-mph zone, her fourth such violation in six years and the second that qualified for enhanced penalties due to Georgia’s “super speeder” law. For the same incident, a separate Georgia staffer “asked a court clerk to reduce the speed on the ticket” to avoid those enhanced penalties, a precedent that Bowles claims “gave LeCroy an understanding that the association would continue to intervene on her behalf in relation to future speeding violations, thus encouraging and facilitating her high-speed driving and reckless conduct.”

Carter’s initial reported involvement in the incident, combined with a poor showing at the school’s pro day, led to a number of teams taking Carter off their draft boards entirely. Eventually, the Eagles decided to trade up for him after an evaluation process which did not include extensive vetting of the crash. He has since signed his four-year rookie contract with the Eagles, which has a total value of $21.81MM.

Unlike the Willock-suit, the athletic association isn’t calling the claims “baseless,” but they are choosing to “strongly defend (their) position” by claiming that neither LeCroy nor Bowles “were on duty or acting within the scope of their employment in the hours leading up to the accident.” The initial response does not address the overlooking of LeCroy’s driving history.

Similar to the Willock-suit, Carter’s representation “did not immediately respond” to the lawsuit. It’s unclear whether Carter and his team will deploy the defensive tactics that the university has chosen to adopt or if he will be more cooperative. Regardless, the resolution of both lawsuits is something to keep an eye on as Carter begins his professional career.

Eagles’ Jalen Carter Named In Civil Lawsuit Related To Fatal Crash

May 13th, 2023 at 10:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jalen Carter‘s involvement in a fatal car crash in January has been put to rest with respect to criminal proceedings via his plea agreement. The Eagles defensive tackle is now facing a new legal hurdle, however.

Carter has been named as a defendant in a $40MM civil suit filed by Devin Willock Sr., as detailed by Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports. Willock’s son, along with staffer Chandler LeCroy, were killed in an accident resulting from a racing incident following Georgia’s national championship victory. The lawsuit also names the school’s athletic association and LeCroy’s estate as defendants.

Of the $40MM total, Carter is individually being sued for $10MM, per Callie Lawson-Freeman of Yahoo! Sports. The latter figure, the suit states, represents what Willock believes his son would have earned in the NFL. Carter recently signed his four-year rookie contract with the Eagles, which has a total value of $21.8MM and includes the potential for a fifth-year option being exercised.

The fatal accident – which included Carter fleeing the scene and later being booked on misdemeanor charges – was a key talking point during the pre-draft process. An underwhelming pro day performance added to character concerns for the All-American, leading a number of teams to take him off their draft boards. Philadelphia (a team which has added several ex-Bulldogs in recent drafts) traded up one spot to select him, though, after an evaluation process which did not include extensive vetting of the crash.

Carter was driving with a suspended license at the time of the accident, ESPN’s Tim McManus notes. That did not factor into the charges (reckless driving and racing) which he faced, however, and his plea agreement prevents any further proceedings taking place stemming from the crash. The Willock suit notes two other occasions which Carter received citations or tickets for. In addition to facing 12 months of probation, paying a $1,000 fine and serving 80 hours of community service, the latter is required to complete a driving course.

A statement from Georgia’s athletic association calls the allegations “baseless,” and makes clear its intention of fighting them in court. Whether or not Carter looks to match that approach will be a key storyline to follow as this process unfolds.

NFC West Notes: Carter, Cards, Rams, 49ers

May 10th, 2023 at 11:47am CST by Sam Robinson

Closely connected to Jalen Carter ahead of the draft, the Seahawks decided to select Devon Witherspoon at No. 5. The Lions were believed to be targeting the Illinois cornerback at No. 6, and Tyler Dunne of GoLongTD.com notes the Seahawks were pleased rumors circulated they were eyeing Carter at 5. That said, some among the Seahawks did make a late push for the Georgia defensive tackle, per Dunne, who adds some teams viewed the polarizing prospect as “unapologetic” regarding the off-field incident that docked his draft stock. Carter faced misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing — in connection with a fatal crash that killed two members of Georgia’s football program in January — but said he did not encounter extensive questioning from teams about the January scene. The Eagles are not believed to have inquired deeply about the event.

Pete Carroll was believed to be onboard with the Seahawks drafting Carter, but the team passed on one of this draft’s top talents. They were not alone in doing so. The Lions were prepared to draft Jahmyr Gibbs over Carter, before the Cardinals sent them a trade offer for 6, and the Raiders and Falcons passed as well. The Bears, who were eyeing D-line additions in the draft, traded out of No. 9 to allow the Eagles to land this class’ top D-tackle. Here is the latest from the NFC West:

The Cardinals‘ trade-up to No. 6 completed their Paris Johnson acquisition effort. After being tied to the Ohio State prospect in the days leading up to the draft, Arizona will likely move him into its starting lineup immediately. Johnson earned his high prospect ranking as a tackle, but Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic notes the Cardinals have not determined if the ex-Buckeyes blocker will start his pro career at tackle or guard. Johnson played guard in both 2020 and ’21, being a full-time starter at that position as a sophomore, before sliding to left tackle last season. The Cards have both their top tackles — D.J. Humphries and Kelvin Beachum — under contract and re-signed Will Hernandez this offseason. Josh Jones, a guard who slid to tackle to replace an injured Humphries, remains rostered as well. Regardless of where Johnson starts his career, he is expected to become the Cards’ long-term left tackle, McManaman adds.
Staying on the topic of Cardinals positional uncertainty, Zaven Collins began working as an edge rusher when the team convened for its offseason work, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com notes. The 2021 first-round pick spent his first two NFL seasons as an off-ball linebacker, but the Cardinals have Isaiah Simmons and the recently added Kyzir White — who followed HC Jonathan Gannon from Philadelphia — at the ILB spots. While Collins played 785 snaps at linebacker last season, he did line up as a D-lineman on 182 plays.
With Gannon and Cards DC Nick Rallis departing Philly, the Eagles hired Matt Patricia. Prior to that relocation, Patricia spoke with the Rams about a role on Sean McVay‘s staff, Albert Breer of SI.com writes. Patricia, who interviewed for the Broncos’ DC job and was on the radar for another role on Sean Payton‘s staff, has only previously coached for two teams (the Patriots and Lions) throughout a 19-year NFL career.
The 49ers added Brandon Allen as their fourth quarterback. While Allen would not be part of San Francisco’s active roster if every other QB on the team was fully healthy, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco notes the team gave the ex-Bengals QB2 $200K guaranteed. Allen spent most of the past three seasons as Joe Burrow‘s backup. While the 49ers have Brock Purdy, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold on their roster, Purdy is not expected to be cleared until potentially September and Lance has been involved in trade rumors to the point John Lynch felt compelled to address those with the former No. 3 overall pick.

Seahawks HC Pete Carroll On LB Jordyn Brooks, CB Devon Witherspoon

May 7th, 2023 at 9:17am CST by Rory Parks

The Seahawks recently declined the fifth-year option on linebacker Jordyn Brooks, which would have locked in a fully-guaranteed salary of $12.7MM for 2024. Brooks will therefore be eligible for unrestricted free agency at the end of the upcoming season.

Seattle’s decision was not a surprising one, as Brooks suffered an ACL tear in January and is therefore a candidate to begin the 2023 campaign on the PUP list. And even if he did not sustain that injury, it’s difficult to know whether the ‘Hawks would have exercised his fifth-year option. After all, $12.7MM is a steep price to pay for an inside linebacker who, despite gaudy tackle numbers, generally struggles in coverage and does not offer much by way of pass rush production.

Head coach Pete Carroll, though, still sees Brooks as a core piece of the club’s defense for the foreseeable future.

“He’s got a long, long future for us,” Carroll said during a recent appearance on 93.3 KJR (via Brady Henderson of ESPN.com). “We love the way he plays and what he brings and all of that. We’ve got to orchestrate the way we move forward. The decision we made now (with respect to the fifth-year option), this is not an indication of our future. We expect Jordyn to be with us for a long time.”

In 2021, his first year as a full-time starter, Brooks set the Seahawks’ single-season tackle record with 181, and he became the team’s defensive signal-caller in 2022 after the departure of franchise icon Bobby Wagner. In the wake of Brooks’ injury and Cody Barton‘s decision to join the Commanders in free agency, Seattle reunited with Wagner and signed former Steelers first-rounder Devin Bush. Both of those contracts, however, are for one-year terms, and the ‘Hawks did not select any inside linebackers in the draft.

So, despite the ACL tear and Brooks’ shortcomings, it is very possible that Carroll’s remarks were more than lip service, and that he truly does envision a new contract for Brooks at some point. If nothing else, the Texas Tech product offers high-end tackling ability and familiarity with the club’s defensive scheme, and there is value in that.

In addition to Brooks, Carroll also spoke about the Seahawks’ selection of cornerback Devon Witherspoon with their first pick (No. 5 overall) in last month’s draft. That choice registered as something of a surprise, as Witherspoon does not have the length that Seattle typically looks for in its CBs, and the team had a more pressing need for a front-seven defender.

One of this year’s top non-QB prospects was Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, who would have seemingly represented a good marriage of need and value for the Seahawks. The club’s decision to bypass Carter in favor of Witherspoon suggested to many that Seattle was scared off by Carter’s character concerns and/or his underwhelming Pro Day performance, but Carroll said that was not the case.

“We spent a lot of time (with Carter) and felt comfortable that we knew what we were dealing with,” Carroll said (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). “There was just a special aspect of Devon and the way that he fit in. Was going to be a rare opportunity, so we jumped at it.”

Predraft reports indicated that Carroll was more inclined to select Carter than other members of the team’s power structure, but even if Carter was the head coach’s preference, it’s difficult to argue with the Witherspoon selection. Witherspoon was widely-regarded as the best corner in the draft, he plays a premium position, and he and second-year pro Tariq Woolen should form a young, dynamic starting tandem on the boundaries of the Seattle defense.

Eagles, DT Jalen Carter Agree To Deal

May 4th, 2023 at 11:22am CST by Sam Robinson

The next few months will feature teams finalizing their rosters and preventing any complications with rookie contracts. The Eagles became this year’s first team to sign a first-round pick. Jalen Carter agreed to terms with the Eagles on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

The 2011 CBA made rookie-deal negotiating far less complicated, introducing a slot system that carried over to the 2020 bargaining agreement. First-rounders’ contracts can still produce hiccups, but they generally involve minor issues. Less than a week after drafting Carter, the Eagles navigated those and agreed on the defensive tackle’s slot deal. The No. 9 overall pick will be tied to a four-year contract worth $21.8MM, Schefter adds. The Eagles begin their rookie minicamp Friday.

This represents a $400K bump from the No. 9 slot last year, Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross, who is tied to a four-year deal worth $21.4MM. Carter’s contract will be fully guaranteed and come with the customary fifth-year option that has existed in first-rounders’ contracts since the rookie scale came to be 11 years ago. The option could tie Carter to the Eagles through 2027.

Carter began another run on Eagles defenders from Georgia. After they used first- and third-round picks on ex-Bulldogs defenders (Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean) last year, the defending NFC champions drafted Carter, edge rusher Nolan Smith and cornerback Kelee Ringo last week. Carter represents the highest-profile player the Eagles drafted over the past two years, for on- and off-field reasons.

Philly obtained the Carter pick through a one-spot trade-up with Chicago, after initially landing in the top 10 via an April 2022 trade with New Orleans. While the Saints used that draft real estate to climb up for Chris Olave last year, the Eagles became the rare Super Bowl participant to pick in the top 10 the following year. In Carter, the Eagles have a clear Javon Hargrave replacement. Although the Eagles re-signed Fletcher Cox on another one-year deal, a Carter-Davis D-tackle duo seems likely to be the Birds’ long-term setup in the middle.

Carter fell to No. 9 because of myriad factors. The two-time national champion did not fare well at his pro day and received shaky reviews from some Georgia staffers. This came after he was at the scene of a fatal car accident in January, one that involved Carter in a separate vehicle as two Georgia program members — offensive lineman Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy — were killed in a crash. Carter was arrested on two misdemeanor charges — reckless driving and racing — in February, causing him to leave the Combine, but later reached a plea agreement that prevented any jail time. Carter said the Eagles did not ask him too many questions about the incident, though this collection of issues likely led to a few teams passing on him.

The Seahawks, Lions, Raiders, Falcons and Bears joined the Eagles in hosting Carter on pre-draft visits. Seattle (Devon Witherspoon) and Las Vegas (Tyree Wilson) chose other defenders over Carter, while Atlanta took Bijan Robinson and both Detroit and Chicago traded down. Multiple teams took Carter off their draft board, and the Seahawks were believed to be split on drafting the higher-risk talent. Carter was viewed as a lock top-five pick coming into the Combine. He will undoubtedly aim to prove the teams who passed on him made a mistake.

Latest On Eagles’ Jalen Carter Selection

April 28th, 2023 at 2:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

One of the key questions heading into last night’s first round was how far down the board Jalen Carter would fall. In the end, the Eagles traded up one spot (to No. 9) to draft the controversial defensive tackle.

Carter’s pre-draft process included two potential red flags for NFL teams: the fatal accident he was involved in following the Bulldogs’ national championship, and an underwhelming Pro Day performance. The former resulted in a plea agreement being reached which ensures he will not face jail time. The latter was representative of his standing amongst his coaches.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes that members of the Georgia staff “are not [Carter] fans,” adding “they weren’t bashful about saying so” in the lead-in to the draft. The All-American’s character has come into question in the wake of his troublesome offseason, and whispers emerged around draft night that Carter overcame those poor evaluations to remain a target for the Eagles – a team which has added four Bulldogs defenders in the past two drafts, including three first-rounders. To no surprise, the team’s decision was a key talking point after the opening round concluded.

“We spent a lot of time investigating the incident around it,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said, via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We talked to Jalen about a variety of things. We’re not going to get into what we talk to our players about… But at the end of the day, nobody’s hiding from the fact that a tragic event happened.”

Carter himself said the Eagles “really didn’t ask much about the accident” in their evaluation of him. Philadelphia was often named as a logical landing spot for a number of reasons, including their positioning in the top-10 of the draft order. Carter only visited with teams set to pick in that range, though some reportedly took him off their draft boards altogether. The Eagles’ need to add to their defensive front (as they did in 2022 with Jordan Davis, one of several former Georgia teammates Carer is set to re-join) made it little surprise when they traded up to select him.

Plenty of attention will be on Carter given the questions surrounding his ability to translate his college production to the NFL level and grow from the events of the recent past. Scrutiny will no doubt follow the Eagles if he is unable to do so, though the team is clearly confident he will become a long-term contributor on one of the league’s best rosters.

Eagles Move Up One Spot For Jalen Carter

April 27th, 2023 at 8:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles are moving up one spot. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), Philly has acquired pick No. 9 from the Bears. In exchange, Chicago has acquired pick No. 10 and a 2024 fourth-round pick. With their pick, the Eagles have selected Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

Carter entered the offseason as a probable top-three pick and potential No. 1 pick. He was subsequently hit with two misdemeanor chargers stemming from a fatal car accident that killed Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy. Carter, who was driving a separate vehicle on that January night, was charged with misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing. He avoided jail time via a plea agreement.

Later, Carter’s pro day left scouts less than impressed. The 6-foot-3, 314-pounder reportedly put on weight leading up to Georgia’s pro day and displayed a “less than stellar” performance. Carolina’s trade for the first overall pick ended Carter’s hopes of going No. 1, but it remained to be seen how far down the board he would actually fall.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus ensured Carter only took pre-draft visits with teams set to pick in the top 10, a sign of their view his stock wouldn’t take a considerable hit. Many analysts connected him to Seattle (which picked fifth), but the Seahawks were reportedly torn on assuming the risk associated with such a premium selection. Their decision to go with cornerback Devon Witherspoon allowed the Eagles to move up and acquire Carter.

Carter was a consensus All-American in 2022, once again playing a key role in a Bulldogs national championship. His performance the year before led many to believe he was the most talented member of the team’s vaunted defense (a unit which saw five of its players selected in the first round last year). He followed up on those expectations with three sacks and seven tackles for loss last year.

The Eagles were among the teams to invest in Georgia defenders on Day 1 last draft, adding fellow DT Jordan Davis. He and Carter will now be reunited on a team which won the NFC in 2022 in no small part due to the strength of their front seven. Off-the-field questions will justifiably surround him, but Carter could prove to be an impact player for years to come in Philadelphia.

Draft Rumors: Carter, Wilson, Bills, Dolphins

April 27th, 2023 at 5:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jalen Carter visited all six teams holding a pick between Nos. 5 and 10. That sextet continues to be connected to the higher-risk prospect ahead of the draft. The Bears and Eagles are believed to be on board with the former Georgia dynamo, but the Seahawks (No. 5) and Falcons (No. 8) — barring another team’s trade-up maneuver or Carter going in the top four — would have first dibs.

Seattle is believed to be split on Carter, per ProFootballNetwork.com’s Tony Pauline. Although a report earlier this week indicated Pete Carroll is ready to pull the trigger, the Seahawks are not certain to do so. The prospect of Carter playing in Atlanta, which is near Athens, has emerged as a Falcons red flag, per Pauline, who adds Carter having left the scene of the accident that killed two members of Georgia’s program has injected more doubt from teams. Carter reached a plea deal and will not serve any jail time in connection with the two misdemeanor charges he faced. While some teams are believed to have taken the top-flight talent off their draft boards, Carter said some of his visits did not include questioning about the January night in which he was at the scene of the aforementioned fatal car accident.

Here is the latest from the draft:

One of the few players who may be drafted ahead of Carter, Tyree Wilson has generated some concern regarding his injury past. The former Texas Tech edge rusher is coming off a Lisfranc fracture, and Pauline adds he underwent a second surgery this offseason. Some teams, including the Cardinals and Texans, have passed Wilson on a physical. Not all did, and Pauline adds teams have looked into the back trouble he experienced last season as well. Wilson remains on track to be a top-10 pick, but his health will be worth monitoring as he begins his NFL career.
Staying on the topic of edge defenders, Pauline adds the Bills have done some late work on Iowa State prospect Will McDonald. Scouts Inc.’s No. 25 overall prospect, McDonald may be in range for the Bills, who hold the No. 27 pick. The Bills have been calling coaches on Iowa State’s staff to gather more intel leading up to the draft. McDonald finished as the Cyclones’ all-time sack leader (34). The Bills have taken defensive ends in two of the past three first rounds, choosing Gregory Rousseau and Boogie Basham. Von Miller is also coming off an ACL tear and not a lock to be ready for Week 1. Buffalo’s pass rush also struggled without the future Hall of Famer last season.
Closely tied to this year’s top wide receivers, the Giants may have a receiver-cornerback hierarchy going into the draft. Mentioned as preferring Jordan Addison and Zay Flowers, the Giants could pivot to corner if both are off the board at No. 25. But a corner is likely the Giants’ Plan B in Round 1, per Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano (on Twitter). The Giants have Adoree’ Jackson going into a contract year, and the team is unlikely to extend him before next year, and Aaron Robinson is coming off a season-ending injury. Big Blue did sign ex-Lion Amani Oruwariye to a low-cost deal, but this is one of the team’s neediest areas. The Giants are fans of Michigan corner DJ Turner, per Pauline, but he would not appear to represent Round 1 value. Scouts Inc. grades Turner 56th overall.
The Dolphins have looked into Dalvin Cook and may still be in the mix for a player not certain to be with the Vikings much longer, but the team is in on this rookie running back crop. The Dolphins have spent a lot of time with Texas A&M’s Devon Achane — he of a 4.32-second 40-yard dash — over the past two weeks, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes. The Dolphins do not have a pick until No. 51; Scouts Inc. grades Achane 78th overall and fifth among this class’ backs. The consensus second-best back in the draft — Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs — also interests the Dolphins, per NBC Sports’ Peter King, but a major trade-up would likely be necessary for Gibbs.

Latest On Jalen Carter, Seahawks

April 26th, 2023 at 5:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jalen Carter met with every team holding a pick from Nos. 5-10. Despite the turmoil the Georgia-developed prospect encountered this offseason, he may still end up being a top-five draftee.

The Seahawks hold the highest pick of the teams to have met with Carter. While another team could leapfrog the NFC West franchise — or the Texans or Cardinals could provide a surprise, based on what we have heard thus far, green light on the talented defensive tackle — the Seahawks’ No. 5 slot may well be the ceiling for Carter, given the quarterbacks who could go off the board from Nos. 1-4.

Pete Carroll looks to be on board with a Carter selection, with SI.com’s Albert Breer reporting the 14th-year Seattle HC “really likes” the idea of adding the ex-Georgia game-wrecker to his team’s defensive line. Carroll believes he could make Carter a fit, despite the higher-risk profile his recent arrest created, Breer adds.

It would not be a stretch to see the Seahawks gambling on Carter’s upside. Seattle both drafted Frank Clark in the 2015 second round, despite a domestic violence arrest leading to his dismissal from the Michigan program, and acquired Sheldon Richardson via trade in 2017 — two years after the defensive tackle was pulled over for driving 143mph with a firearm in his vehicle. While the Seahawks did not extend either player, they felt confident enough each could avoid off-field trouble. Both did while in Seattle. Malik McDowell also carried off-field questions coming into the 2017 draft, when the Seahawks selected the D-lineman in Round 2. The team also signed Aldon Smith in 2021 but released him before he played a game with the team; Smith was arrested for felony DUI causing injury that offseason. Those two investments burned the Hawks. This Carter call, due to the draft capital required, brings higher stakes.

Other Seahawks power brokers may not be as convinced as Carroll, but Breer adds the Super Bowl-winning HC — after Carter’s visit — is comfortable here. The Bears and Eagles are believed to be OK with a Carter add as well, but they hold the Nos. 9 and 10 picks. The Seahawks could have first dibs on a player viewed as a top talent in this draft. Carroll has final say on Seattle’s 53-man roster, though it is unlikely Seattle would pull the trigger without GM John Schneider signing off on Carter.

The Seahawks have already added multiple interior defensive linemen — Dre’Mont Jones, Jarran Reed — and gave the former a $17MM-per-year deal. But Seattle ranked 30th in run defense last season. Adding Carter to that group would make for one of the most significant D-tackle offseasons a team has put together in some time. Carter reached a plea deal and will not serve jail time in connection with the two misdemeanor charges that emerged this winter.

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