Jalen Carter was considered a prime option for the Chicago Bears at the #1 overall pick. Most experts felt the Georgia defensive tackle was the best overall talent in the 2023 draft. We’re talking Hall of Fame potential. He was a game-wrecking presence on two Georgia national championship teams. Once the Bears traded down to #9 with Carolina, the dream of landing Carter appeared over. Then a January arrest came to light, followed by a poor showing at his pro day. Suddenly there are legitimate rumblings he could fall.
Things took another twist when multiple insiders said if Carter somehow gets to the 9th spot on Thursday night, GM Ryan Poles is fully prepared to take him. The Bears have done exhaustive work on him over the past two months. They’ve met with him multiple times and spoken to coaches, teammates, friends, and family. They’ve also watched and rewatched his film. It appears they think the talent is worth the risk despite concerns about his maturity and work ethic. Even so, many experts don’t believe Carter will fall that far.
Don’t count Mike Greenberg among them.
The ESPN analyst is already down in Kansas City for the action. He appeared on Waddle & Silvy to relay what he’s been hearing since he arrived. With unexpected confidence, he made one thing crystal clear.
“I can tell you who the Bears are gonna take by the way. I assume you guys already know this. But I can tell you who they’re gonna take.
“They’re gonna take Jalen Carter.”
“I do. I think he’s going to be there. I’m telling you what the buzz is everywhere here. All of the buzz is that Jalen Carter is going nine to Chicago.”
Jalen Carter to Chicago seemed like an impossibility a month ago.
Greenberg made it clear that he is not an insider. This isn’t something he usually does. He relayed everything circulating around the city with the draft less than 24 hours away. Several teams think the Georgia defensive tackle will end up with the Bears when the dust finally settles. It’s crazy to think things have gotten to this point. Then again, it’s far from the first time a player with supposed character concerns slipped down boards. Warren Sapp did so in 1995 because of unconfirmed drug issues. Randy Moss did in 1998 due to run-ins with the law. Most recently, Laremy Tunsil fell out of the top five when a video surfaced of him doing marijuana with a gas mask.
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Those players turned out all right. It’s not always like that, but there are enough instances to help understand why the Bears are willing to gamble on Jalen Carter. He’s drawing comparisons to guys like Jeffery Simmons and Fletcher Cox. When his motor was hot, nobody on the field could block him. He is the exact type of player that could take Matt Eberflus’ defense to the next level. Maybe the risk would’ve been too great at #1, but the Bears are at #9 after trading down. They already have D.J. Moore and a future 1st round pick in their back pocket.
If you’re going to take a big swing, this is the right scenario to do so.
