Two rumors are dominating the Chicago Bears timeline with the NFL draft just over a week away. One is the belief GM Ryan Poles would like to trade down from #9. The other is that Jalen Carter is the only player that would prevent him from doing so. Poles seems to think the Georgia defensive tackle is the only blue-chip talent that might be available when the Bears pick. They’ve done loads of homework on him and seem comfortable with what they’ve heard, both from the man himself and his support structure.
That buzz got even more credibility via Dane Brugler of The Athletic. Many view him as one of the best draft analysts in the business. He’s also somebody that has lots of ties in the scouting community. So he had some interesting information to offer when talking on the Hoge & Jahns podcast. From what he’s heard, almost everybody thinks Carter will go in the top nine. In other words, he isn’t getting past the Bears.
The lingering question is whether he gets that far. Despite his obvious off-the-field concerns, there are multiple spots he could land before Chicago goes on the clock.
Three teams feel like Jalen Carter threats.
The first and most obvious is Seattle at #5. They had significant defensive line problems last year. Pete Carroll has a long track record of taking calculated risks on players with character concerns. Next would be Detroit at #6. They already have two emerging edge rushers in Aidan Hutchinson and James Houston. An interior presence like Carter could give them one of the fiercest defensive lines in the league. Lastly would be the Atlanta Falcons at #8. Grady Jarrett is getting older, and their pass rush was terrible last year. Plus, Carter made his name in Georgia. Keeping him in-state might be a nice way to please the fans.
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Lots of fans aren’t wild about the idea of Jalen Carter. It is still early in the Bears’ rebuild. This doesn’t feel like the right time to take big swings on risky players. While a fair assessment, it’s also essential to keep this in mind. You don’t win championships without great players. The fact is Carter is capable of reaching the Hall of Fame one day. He is that talented. While he is immature and has work ethic issues, most agree he plays hard and loves football. Poles may feel that’s enough to justify taking a swing.
