Rumors are always hit-or-miss this time of year. That is why judging them by where they come from is important. The more reputable the person, the better the odds are that the rumor is true. Several prominent people have stated the objective of Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles in the upcoming NFL draft is to trade down again. The man himself has even dropped some hints at the idea. His goal is to stack more picks and hopefully land one somewhere in the 20-45 range. However, there is another persistent rumor that runs counter to this. It involves Jalen Carter.
Most Bears fans know the story by now. The Georgia defensive tackle was widely considered the best overall prospect in the 2023 draft class. His talent is on par with some of the best to play that position in the past 30 years. However, he’s also proven to have work ethic problems and got arrested for misdemeanor street racing that got two people killed. He is the poster child of a boom-or-bust prospect. Yet Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron reported that the belief is strong that if Carter falls to #9, Poles will still take him.
Now Matt Miller of ESPN has confirmed that report.
“The best intel I have on the Bears? I’ve heard defensive tackle Jalen Carter (Georgia) won’t fall past their pick at No. 9. They are said to value him highly. One AFC college scouting director said the Seahawks (who pick at No. 5) and Lions (No. 6) also could take Carter in the top 10. Outside of the value, Carter would be a great fit in the middle of the Chicago defensive line. He’d be a true building block for Matt Eberflus’ 4-3 defense.”
Some can’t understand why Jalen Carter is even an option.
That is understandable. Players with work ethic and maturity questions have a bad habit of flopping in the NFL. The Bears are at an important junction in their rebuilding efforts. Wouldn’t it be wise to go with a safer option? Perhaps, but Poles also understands one fundamental truth of football. Players like Carter don’t go on trees. His talent is ridiculous. He’s big, strong, quick, and explosive. When his motor runs hot, there isn’t anybody on the planet that can block him one-on-one. He is a big reason Georgia won back-to-back national championships.
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Chicago has done tons of homework on Jalen Carter. They spoke to him at his pro day, met with him privately, and have reportedly spoken to everybody within his sphere of influence. It’s not like they’re going into this completely blind. Based on what they’ve heard, they’re confident he can get things straightened out. Head coach Matt Eberflus has a strong track record of getting players motivated and helping to embrace hard work. If they succeed, they’ll have added a player that can change the entire landscape of their defense.
