(2023) Jalen Carter-DT/DL-Georgia
Jalen Carter
DT/DL
6’3, 310
Junior
2022 Statistics (Per PFF)
*(Ranking is out of the 330 Defensive Linemen with 300+ Snaps this season)
Write-Up:
Jalen Carter is an elite defensive line prospect out of Georgia. Carter played all 3 of his collegiate seasons with the Bulldogs, though he has yet to play more than 400 snaps in any season. In 2020 and 2021, he was platooned in a rotational role, largely due to the amount of talent on the Bulldogs defense. He finally became an official starter as a Junior, but suffered an injury and missed 2 games this season. Carter mainly lines up as a 3-tech defensive tackle, but has been shifted across the line, including playing 5-tech end, 1-tech nose, and 2i.
Carter has produced some incredible tape during his time at Georgia. The first thing that jumps off the screen is his natural athletic ability. His movement, especially laterally, is fluid and exceptionally quick. He possesses a great combination of speed and power that makes him one of the best interior pass rushers coming out of the Draft in a while. He excels at using his speed and burst on designed stunts or delayed rushes, but also has a dominant bull rush that he can unleash. Besides the bull rush, Carter also has a bevy of pass rush maneuvers he can use, including a dangerous swim move, all which make him very unpredictable as a rusher. He also has many counter moves, only making him more dangerous as a play continues. Carter excels at shedding blockers and can often blow up a play in the backfield with a quick shed. He has the size and length to provide an immediate impact at the next level.
Despite all of the great things Carter shows, he is not a perfect prospect. His play speed can be inconsistent at times. When he puts in full effort, it is very evident, and when he doesn’t, it is also very evident. Carter is a bit of an inexperienced player, and it shows at times when it comes to play recognition and diagnosis. He can get faked out by misdirection at times, and can make mistakes especially in run defense. He can often overextend himself and can get too concerned about making a play in the backfield rather than holding his run gap.
Overall, Jalen Carter is an exceptional defensive prospect that will be one of the top players off the board come late April. There are areas to improve upon, but many of them may just be due to inexperience and lack of reps rather than true holes in his game. His athleticism, pass rush moves and lateral quickness, however, make him a can’t miss prospect.
Draft Projection: Top 5 Pick
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