In a different year, under different circumstances, the Lions would have no shot at Jalen Carter with the No. 6 pick in the draft. But it looks like the Year of the Quarterback, with as many as four of them projected to go in the first five picks. And the circumstances surrounding Carter, the indomitable defensive tackle from Georgia, have cast doubt on his status as a can't-miss player.
He remains a can't-miss talent.
ESPN draft expert Todd McShay said last week that "by skill," Carter is the best player on the board, "ahead of all the quarterbacks, ahead of (Alabama defensive end) Will Anderson." He would also happen to fill a major need for the Lions, who consider themselves contenders in the NFC starting next season.
"If you promised me there was not going to be an off-the-field issue and he was going to be a model citizen for his career, I would take him No. 1," McShay told the Ryen Russillo Podcast. "If I were Chicago, I wouldn’t have even traded out. I would have just taken him No. 1. He’s that good.
"You watch him, he’s so disruptive. On run plays he has the strength, he gets off blocks in a flash, he chases you, he has a great motor, he gets guys from behind. As a pass-rusher, I know the sack production wasn’t there but the pressures were there. And as an interior guy, it’s so important to get that quarterback off his spot and to create chaos and he does that on almost every play."
In rebuilding the Lions, Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes have prioritized character. Character concerns abound for Carter, from his involvement in a reckless driving accident that killed a Georgia teammate and staff member in January to his out-of-shape performance at his pro day last week, where he showed up nine pounds heavier than he was at the combine and failed to finish his position drills. And according to McShay, "there were questions about his character" at Georgia before any of the more publicized events, from "work ethic, practice habits, being late for meetings, things like that."
That didn't stop McShay's colleague Mel Kiper Jr. from sending Carter to the Lions with the sixth overall pick in his post-free agency mock draft published Tuesday. With the top four quarterbacks and Anderson off the board, Kiper says drafting Carter is "the easiest way" for the Lions to fix their NFL-worst defense from last season. They already overhauled their secondary in free agency; adding Carter would, theoretically, add a thoroughbred to a growing stable of horses up front. You get the appeal.
"He's no longer in the mix to be the No. 1 pick," Kiper writes, citing the off-field concerns. "Everything I've heard from people in the league, however, is he won't drop too far -- he likely still will be a top-10 selection. Carter's talent is undeniable, and I could see a team such as the Lions taking him here, filling a position of need."
Carter played last season at Georgia, when he was a unanimous All-American, at a listed weight of 300 pounds. He came in at 314 pounds at the combine earlier this month, and had ballooned to 323 pounds a week later at his pro day. This raises an obvious red flag, in conjunction with concerns about his work ethic. But McShay also points out that when Carter could have shut it down to protect his draft stock after suffering an ankle injury midway through last season, he chose to return and help Georgia capture its second straight national championship. So say this for Carter: he's a winner.
"Yeah, you might not get in practice what you want to get in practice, but that dude will play his ass off for you, and he does every down that he’s on the field," said McShay. "From the football character perceptive, when it comes to wanting to be there for his team and all that, he chose not to shut it down. He came back. And in fact, he played his best football the last four or five games of the season."
Do the Lions take a chance? If they feel it's a big one, no. They have come too far to risk a major step back. There is too much to lose with such a high pick. But if they do their digging and decide Carter is a person who won't disrupt their culture, there may be too much to gain to pass on the player.
"Again, you have potentially the No. 1 player in this draft, but you have a guy that, do you trust him? Is he going to give it all for you? Is he going to be able to play his whole rookie year?" said McShay. "There's a lot to unpack there."
In what Holmes calls the "talent acquisition phase" of their rebuild, the Lions may have a chance to acquire the top talent in the draft. They have another five weeks to determine if Jalen Carter is worth the risk.
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