Jalen Carter, the mammoth, offensive lineman tossing defensive tackle out of Georgia may just be the best player in the NFL Draft.
The Steelers, two years removed from having the NFL’s worst rush defense, could still use more improvement in the area, and acquiring a player as talented as Carter seems like a no-brainer.
But Pittsburgh trading up into the top ten picks of this coming NFL Draft — a rumor reported by Peter King Monday morning — screams of a mistake in the making. And a bit of déjà vu.
Carter is a freak athlete, without a doubt. He’s 6-foot-3, 314 pounds and yet remarkably explosive. But his tumultuous offseason and limited production should give some teams a bit of pause when it comes to his future in the NFL.
Let’s start off the field. In January, Carter was indirectly involved in an early morning car crash that killed Georgia football staffer Chandler LeCroy and football player Devin Willock. LeCroy’s blood alcohol concentration was over twice the legal limit.
Carter was in another car at the time, and police determined that the two vehicles had been street racing, resulting in the accident. According to reports, Carter is believed to have initially lied to prosecutors about his involvement, claiming that he was not near the scene of the accident before later admitting that he was.
In March, he pled no contest to two misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing, avoiding jail time, but being required to pay a fine and serve 80 hours of community service.
This news initially broke just as the NFL Combine was getting underway. Carter did not participate in drills, but did get his measurements taken.
A couple of weeks later, Carter showed up in Athens for the Bulldogs’ pro day. He weighed nine pounds heavier, was unable to finish his position drills and was seen cramping and breathing heavily by those in attendance. He opted out of other aspects of the pro day, including the 40-yard dash and, just like the combine, declined to speak with the media afterwards.
In the most important time of his life, with millions of dollars at stake and when professionalism and readiness are of the utmost importance, Carter appeared anything but professional and ready. And that has to open the door for questions about his character and ability to be a pro player.
All that said, Mike Tomlin was one of three NFL head coaches who watched Carter work out in Athens. And it’s clear now that, in some way, the Steelers have interest.
The likelihood of Carter slipping to the Steelers at their 17th overall pick seems, well, pretty low. NFL teams will see the body, see the power, and snatch him up — most likely in the top ten picks.
And though it's splashy and buzz worthy when a team makes a big move up in a draft, the Steelers don't need to jump into that pool.
Carter, in Georgia’s dominant defense, posted 32 tackles — seven for loss — and three sacks during the 2022 season. The NFL’s premier defensive tackle, Aaron Donald, racked up 59 tackles — 28.5 for loss — and 11 sacks during his final season at Pitt.
Yes, they were different players in different schemes, and comparing statistics from one player to another can get a bit convoluted. But can Carter produce at a high level in the NFL? Maybe. Is trading up for him a slam dunk and worth the risk? Probably not.
In order to move into the top ten for Carter, the Steelers would likely either have to part with their 32nd overall pick — which they acquired for Chase Claypool — or their 49th pick. And more.
They shouldn’t do that.
Pittsburgh has too many needs to be parting with early picks. Defensive line is one of them, for sure. But so are offensive tackle, cornerback, inside linebacker and wide receiver. There’s also need for added depth in just about every position on the team.
The Steelers don’t own a fifth or a sixth-round pick in this draft. They’ll go from the 120th selection (in the fourth round) to their next pick, at 234th.
So maximizing the top picks this year, on a team that desperately needs at least a couple of impact, young players, is key.
Carter’s upside is undeniably tremendous. His talent is through the roof. And moving up for a player like that could make sense under normal circumstances.
But it also made sense, at the time, for the Steelers and former general manager Kevin Colbert to move up into the top ten for Devin Bush — an intriguing athlete in a strong defense, but one who lacked professionalism, appeared disinterested in the necessary preparation and passion to be a top tier NFL player, and who appeared out of shape during his final season in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers haven't won a playoff game since 2017, so It’s understandable why Omar Khan may be looking to find a player that could make a massive impact right away, and why he would want to make a bold impression in his first NFL Draft as the Steelers’ GM.
But now isn't the time for the organization to be risky. It's time to be smart. And Khan would be best served to learn from his predecessor’s mistake and avoid trading up for Carter.