If there is one elephant in the room for the Chicago Bears regarding this 2023 NFL draft, it’s Jalen Carter. The Georgia defensive tackle is the most talented prospect in the class. Most experts agree on that much. He’s also a perfect fit for the Bears’ 4-3 defense as the coveted three-technique interior pass rusher. His size, power, explosion, and quickness fit every criterion they look for. Under normal circumstances, there is no way a player of that capability would ever make it to the 9th overall pick.
These are obviously not normal circumstances. Carter’s stock took a huge hit when he was arrested for misdemeanor street racing, resulting in two deaths. Then there were the whispers of him having work ethic issues in college. Those were further confirmed when he showed up at his pro day nine pounds overweight and wasn’t able to finish drills. Some have started to believe there’s a real possibility he falls in the 1st round, and the Bears could see him drop into their laps at #9. There are even rumors GM Ryan Poles is prepared to take him if that happens.
ESPN released a fascinating tool that reveals the percentages of where top prospects end up going. Carter seems to stand just shy of a 50% chance of slipping to that 9th spot.
Jalen Carter would be the ultimate dice roll.
The red flags are clear. While he plays hard on the field, his unwillingness to show the same urgency in practice will get him in trouble in the NFL. There are also maturity questions after the street racing incident. Teams usually aren’t willing to take gambles on such players, but Carter is a rare case. His talent is Hall of Fame-caliber. That is not overselling it. He wrecked offensive lines almost at will when he was on at Georgia. We’re talking Fletcher Cox and Warren Sapp-type ability. It is hard to pass on ability like that.
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Poles is no stranger to such risks. He was with the Kansas City Chiefs when they took a swing on Marcus Peters after he got kicked out of Washington. Many felt he was uncoachable. The cornerback soon became a Pro Bowler for them. Poles may feel a disciplined coaching structure led by Matt Eberflus may be what Jalen Carter needs to unlock his full potential. There is no denying this system would fully utilize his talents. Still, the Bears aren’t an organization prone to risks like this. It would be the first of its type in a long time.
