Former NFL Scout Defends Jalen Carter With 11 Games

It’s been a rough off-season for Georgia’s superstar defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

As someone who looked Bill Belichick in the eyes and convinced him to hire me, it’s time I set the record straight.

Carter is a man amongst boys on game film, and he is the best player in the 2023 NFL Draft.

11 games

That’s how many games I’ve evaluated Carter in over the past two seasons (2021–2022), and this is my third article writing about him.

All 11 games studied are documented and embedded below, and links are provided for the world to see the evidence.

Each time I’ve studied him, he has shown he can take over.

It’s not on every play, but when he shows it, it’s awesome watching him overpower everyone.

Good luck to NFL guards.

Game film doesn’t lie

I’m not one for politics.

A lot happens from the end of the college football season to draft day – – and none of it trumps game film.

Carter shows Hall of Fame level ability. He pushes around 300+ pound offensive linemen the way a little kid throws stuffed animals around their room.

He created so much pressure in this most recent five game study (embedded below) that I could hardly find any more room in the positive column of my notes to write.

Carter has a lightning fast swim move, and he has other pass rush moves too. He can stunt into the pocket, or he can just plain blow through gaps to get into the quarterback’s face.

Point blank – – this Georgia defender is a menace and he’s a consistent source of disruption.

Game film says he’s going to be the best defensive tackle in the NFL.

Is there an agenda against Carter?

It all started this off-season when ESPN’s Todd McShay came out and questioned Carter’s character on December 29.

Then just minutes before Carter was scheduled to speak at the NFL Scouting Combine, a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Carter ended up pleading “no contest” to the misdemeanor changes against him and all of the details are outlined in this article from CBS.

My only question as an evaluator is this – – what’s with the timing of the arrest warrant?

I am not questioning anything to do with that incident, nor am I condoning it, what I am asking about is the timing of the arrest warrant.

Coincidence?

Everything is negative, negative, negative…

Everywhere I look since, everything is negative about Carter.

He’s shows up nine pounds heavier at his pro day March 15, and reportedly he struggled to finish his position drills…blah, blah, blah.

Everyone puts so much stock in every time a prospect sneezes wearing gym shorts running around little orange cones.

Now Michael Lombardi tells TMZ he’d have “a lot of concern” drafting Carter.

Game film.

I keep going back to the game film, and I’ll keep going back to the game film.

There are no concerns. None whatsoever.

Carter’s game film screams he’s about to take over the NFL, and it doesn’t matter what anyone else has to say about him.

Turn off the noise. Turn on the game film.

#88 Jalen Carter 6-foot-3, 300 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

First Round Mock Big Board: No. 1 overall

Bust Probability: Low

Projected by 98.4% (up from 98.2% on January 21) of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of March 22, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Previous game film evaluated in prior articles: (2021): Clemson, Arkansas, Alabama (2022): Tennessee, Florida, and LSU (Click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 game film reviewed: Oregon, Missouri, South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Ohio State

Level of competition: High

2021 stats: 37 tackles (17 solo, 20 assists), 1 pass defended, 3 sacks, and 33 pressures

2022 stats: 32 tackles (16 solo, 16 assists), 3 passes defended, 3 sacks, and 25 pressures

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Chiseled athletic frame with brute power, and long arms. Gets good initial push at the point of attack. Has the ability to quickly swim over the guard and penetrate the pocket. Knack for slipping into gaps and creating pressure. Can get stalemated when he doesn’t attack with the same level of intensity. Able to take over several plays a game. Inconsistent against the run, but showed the pure strength to manhandle blockers and make devastating wrapping tackles (including tackles for loss).

Final words

2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.