NFL rumors: Jalen Carter is already off one Top 10 team’s board

Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter’s draft stock has fallen, and there is one team in the Top 10 that won’t even consider selecting him.

Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter was once considered to be the top overall prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft class. But at the NFL Scouting Combine, news broke that a warrant had been issued for his arrest in Athens-Clark County, Ga. on reckless driving charges in relation to the deadly accident that killed offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy. Then, at Georgia’s Pro Day, Carter didn’t impress teams with his workout.

Even with what has transpired in the past couple of weeks, there is still a chance Carter’s selected in the Top 10. But there’s one team who reportedly won’t even consider selecting him.

According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic (subscription required), Carter is “not an option” for the Las Vegas Raiders, as he has “already been crossed off by the team.”

Raiders reportedly take Jalen Carter off draft board

Tafur writes that “the comparison is too close to home for the Raiders” in regards to Carter’s situation and what happened with former 2020 first-round pick Henry Ruggs III.

Ruggs was involved in a car accident that took the life of 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog. Prosecutors said he drove 156 mph before striking Tintor’s car and had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit in Las Vegas. Ruggs was charged with DUI resulting in death, DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm, two counts of reckless driving, and a misdemeanor possession of a firearm while under the influence.

Carter turned himself into Athens-Clark County police and received misdemeanor charges for reckless driving and racing. Police determined that Carter was racing LeCroy on Jan. 15 in Athens, where they “switched between lanes, drove in the center turn lane, drove in opposite lanes of travel, overtook other motorists, and drove at high rates of speed, in an apparent attempt to outdistance each other.” LeCroy was determined to have been driving 104 mph and had a blood alcohol level of .197, which is two times the legal limit in Georgia.

LeCroy’s Ford Expedition crashed into two power poles and several trees. Willock was declared dead at the scene, while LeCroy was pronounced dead at the hospital due to injuries from the crash. There were two other passengers in the vehicle who dealt with injuries.

On March 16, Carter was sentenced to 12-months probation, 50 hours of community service, and “completion of a state-approved defensive driving course,” and fined $1,000. Carter had plead no contest.

At his Pro Day, two weeks after the Scouting Combine, Carter weighed nine pounds heavier, and he couldn’t finish his drills.

The Raiders picked seventh in the first-round of this year’s NFL Draft. Even if Carter were to fall to them, it sounds as though the team won’t consider selecting him.