VDT: Georgia DT Jalen Carter Has Generational Talent, but Off-the-Field Issues Linger
Josh Frey
|
Georgia DT Jalen Carter has been widely considered one of the best defensive tackle prospects we’ve seen since Aaron Donald, and following this college football season, he was considered one of the top choices to be the first non-QB off the board in April. However, that is now in doubt with his recent off-the-field issues, and there is concern that he could fall down the draft boards.
That brings us to another edition of Vikings Draft Thermometer, PurplePTSD‘s one-stop shop for all your 2023 NFL Draft needs. Throughout this series, we have examined a number of prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, what exactly their role could be at the NFL level, and most importantly, whether or not they could end up playing their first NFL snaps in a Vikings uniform.
Background
- Height: 6′ 3″
- Weight: 314 pounds
- Arm Length: 33 1/2″
- Hand Size: 10 1/4″
- School: Georgia
- Games Watched: Tennessee (2022), LSU (2022), Ohio State (2022), TCU (2022)
Statistics
- 2020: 14 tackles, 3 TFLs (8 games)
- 2021: 37 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 pass defended (14 games)
- 2022: 32 tackles, 7 TFLs, 3 sacks, 3 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles (13 games)
Strengths
Carter is a wrecking ball in the middle of the defensive line. He uses elite power and speed to completely overwhelm interior offensive linemen, especially as a pass rusher. He didn’t rack up the sack numbers like some others, but over his two years as a starter, PFF credited him with a total of 66 pressures in 27 games.
Carter is an efficient rusher due to the multiple ways he can beat blockers. He delivers a strong bull rush, but he can also explode off the line and beat offensive lines with his athleticism.
This versatility allows him to line up all over on the line as well. He can play on the interior even as a nose tackle, or he can kick outside an be an EDGE.
Weaknesses
Obviously, the main reason that Carter would fall down draft boards is due to the car accident back in January that led to the death of a Georgia teammate and staffer. That being said, there are also concerns with his endurance and motor, particularly stemming from the Ohio State CFP game.
Carter didn’t quell these concerns when he had to exit his pro day due to cramping and exhaustion. Of course, part of this was likely due to the stress built up from his legal issues, but it’s worth noting.
NFL Projection
- Draft Round: Top 10 pick
- Immediate Role: Starting DT
- Best-Case Scenario: Fletcher Cox
- Vikings Draft Temperature: 10
Ultimately, while Carter may fall outside of the top 5 now, it’d be a shock to see him fall out of the top 10. He is an awesome talent that will jump into an NFL franchise and immediately provide a boost both as a pass rusher and run stopper. This also makes it nearly impossible for the Vikings to pick him up.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.