Chicago Bears NFL Draft: 3 first round mistakes to avoid
By Ryan Heckman
First round mistakes the Chicago Bears should avoid in 2023 NFL Draft: Passing on Jalen Carter in an unimaginable scenario
No one is sure just how far Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter might fall in the first round, but if there is some miracle that happens leaving him there for the Bears at no. 9, then Ryan Poles would be making the biggest mistake of his professional career in not drafting him.
I’ll even go so far as to say that, if Carter happens to be there at no. 6 or 7, then Poles should actually trade up to land the former Bulldog. He is that much of a game-changing talent which teams are going to foolishly pass on.
From NFL Now: Teams are meeting to make their decisions on when they would take #Georgia DT Jalen Carter, with no question on talent but plenty of questions otherwise. pic.twitter.com/5LMsGKYjeo
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 19, 2023
Carter plays on the interior, but he moves like an edge rusher with tremendous power. He’s a lot like Aaron Donald in that way, where he’s able to get into the back field so quickly but all while standing in such a massive frame.
His off-field question marks are concerning, yes, but by all accounts, Carter was cooperative and not under the influence of any chemical at the time of the car accident. So, giving him the benefit of the doubt as a young player would be in the Bears’ best interest.
This is a player that could alter the state of the franchise by himself.