Barrett Carter Uninspiring

That about sums it up after watching Clemson linebacker (LB) Barrett Carter in five games on 2022 film.

Actually, I suffered through the five games.

There’s nothing worse than sitting down to watch the next prospect and discovering a few minutes into it that it’s going to be a chore to get through the next few hours of film.

It’s got to be that bad for me to be this hard on a prospect – – and it was.

What really gets me about Carter is he’s naturally fast and he flashed what he’s capable of against Boston College when he got four pressures.

In the other four games with the exception of the two plays he made against NC State…

It was crickets.

How are other draft platforms seeing Carter?

Alarmingly, there are a good number seeing him as an elite prospect. So far, Pro Football Network, CBS, SBNation, Draftwire, The Draft Network, Pro Football Focus, NBC Sports, Barstool Sports, Fox Sports, and Bleacher Report have all put first-round grades on Carter (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

He’s been a proficient player in run support, pass coverage and as a pass rusher in college, all in large part to the suddenness he brings.

Athlon Sports

Proficient is the last word I would ever pick to describe what I just got done watching.

Beware of the workout warrior

No question Carter can run. He’s fast as I’ve stated and he’s athletic.

That’s all fine and dandy, but those traits have to translate to production on game film and I’m sorry making six plays in five games doesn’t qualify as a playmaker. In fact, it translates to being a liability and a prospect an NFL team cannot win with.

More mistakes are made in the NFL from the time the season ends until draft day. This is when teams focus on the NFL Combine and the pro days when prospects run through drills wearing gym shorts.

He’ll do well at these events.

Football doesn’t seem that important to Carter

That’s the takeaway for me. I mean, I could sit here and break down what he looks like as a pass rusher, in coverage and against the run, but that’s a waste of time.

That’s because he clearly has it in him to rush the passer and to run like the wind in coverage, but he just doesn’t seem to want it. He doesn’t look hungry.

These types fill a roster space, but they don’t move the meter. They get paid but don’t win championships. They fill up a locker, but they don’t help build a championship environment.

Not even a sure tackler

One of the most important things with linebackers is the ability to tackle.

Carter is inconsistent (at best). He’s more of an assist guy who loves to jump in piles or end up near them, but even when he makes a tackle, it’s usually low and he sometimes misses.

That’s not going to get it done.

#0 Barrett Carter 6-foot-1, 230 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Fall 2023 Grade: Fourth-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Projected by 32.8% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of October 16, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Game film reviewed (2022): North Carolina, FSU, Wake Forest, NC State, and Boston College (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 73 tackles (41 solo), 5.5 sacks

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Speedy athletic cover linebacker who needs to be kept clean to have a chance. Hesitation and questionable instincts. Lacks motivation. When blitzing, obstacles are too much, whether that be an offensive lineman, tight end, wide receiver, or running back. Has enough juice to create pressure if he’s left unblocked. Can run all over the field in coverage, but is not a playmaker. Does some of his best work outside the numbers in pass coverage support. Against the run does a poor job taking on and disengaging from blockers. Not a lot of fight. Often waits to it reaches his level downfield. Classic underachiever.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. How does he look blitzing?

2. Breaking up passes?

3. Showing fight against the run?

4. Attacking the line of scrimmage on running plays?

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 is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.