When the Georgia Bulldogs won their second CFP National Championship in a row on January 9th, Jalen Carter was positioned as the nation’s top defensive tackle entering the 2023 NFL Draft.
Just six days after winning the title, Jalen Carter was behind the wheel of a car that was involved in a fatal crash that took the lives of two men – a teammate and a member of the Bulldogs’ recruiting team.
That news was squashed by all in the know until an arrest warrant was issued for Carter yesterday. Details are sketchy as of this writing, but it appears that Carter was racing against the other car, with at least one more car involved during the time of the accident.
Carter left the scene for over an hour before returning and answering questions issued by police officers. To make matters worse, he lied about the details and blew over twice the legal alcohol limit during a breathalyzer test.
Carter responded to the arrest warrant on Twitter.
— Jalen Carter (@breadmanjalen) March 1, 2023
In anticipation of this information getting out to NFL teams, Carter met with franchises to try and get ahead of the situation. Jalen’s odds for betting on the 2023 NFL Draft still place him among the top picks for next month despite his current legal troubles.
The following prop sets his over/under at being selected at between 16th and 17th overall in the first round.
NFL Draft Odds For When Jalen Carter Will Be Selected
- Over 16.5 +250
- Under 16.5 -400
However, current NFL moneyline odds suggest a very strong likelihood that Jalen will be selected at pick number 16 or earlier. His -400 odds convert into an 80% chance of being drafted in the top half of the first round.
He is 6’3″, 300 pounds – a rare combination of size and athleticism that sets him apart from the rest of the interior defensive linemen entering the draft. He’s a guy that can start immediately and clog up the middle of opposing offensive lines for years to come.
Carter is still listed in the NFL futures for the player that will be selected first overall. His +600 money line places him in a tie for fifth, and he’s 560 points behind leader Bryce Young in the odds.
2023 NFL Draft Odds For The First Overall Pick
- Bryce Young -160
- CJ Stroud +375
- Will Anderson +500
- Will Levis +500
- Anthony Richardson +600
- Jalen Carter +1600
- Tyree Wilson +2500
- Bryan Bresee +15000
- Myles Murphy +17500
- Paris Johnson +17500
- Peter Skoronski +17500
There have been a number of setbacks for players just prior to the draft in the past. The charges against Carter are not likely to remove him from all 32 team’s draft boards, but his potential crimes are some of the worst we’ve seen from a player that will definitively be selected.
While the charges are severe, they are misdemeanors and have no real chance of resulting in significant jail time or penalties.
The Chicago Bears currently hold the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. With so many top-flight quarterbacks becoming NFL-eligible this year, it is expected that the Bears will trade out of the number one spot as they are happy with the play of Justin Fields.
Things will get interesting once the Seattle Seahawks are on the clock at pick number five, as they were originally the projected suitors for Carter’s services.
Coverage of the NFL Draft begins on ESPN, and the NFL Network on Thursday, April 27th at 8 PM.
Sources: CBS Sports, ESPN
