Will Jalen Carter go undrafted by the NFL? If he avoids the Cardinals and Seahawks, there are four potential landing locations.

>> Will Jalen Carter go undrafted by the NFL?…

Jalen Carter, a defensive lineman from Georgia, has had the most projected fall in selection position of any prospect in the 2023 NFL selection.

For a long time, Carter was thought to be a contender to be the first defensive player selected in the draft, if not the first player overall. As the first overall pick, a generational talent, and the greatest player on a Georgia defense that produced five first-round picks in 2022, he held that distinction going into the collegiate football season of that year.

However, a March revelation revealing his complicity in the January killings of Georgia teammate Devin Willock and recruitment expert Chandler LeCroy caused him to fall down draft boards for some clubs. He later entered a plea of not guilty to misdemeanor counts of racing and careless driving, despite the fact that police bodycam evidence reveals he first rejected the accusations while speaking with officers on the day of the collision.

Carter also didn’t help himself when he showed up nine pounds heavier at his mid-March pro day than he had at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis two weeks earlier. In front of representatives from all 32 NFL teams, he was clearly out of shape, growing tired, and ultimately failing to finish his positional drills.

However, because of Carter’s potential to be a defensive line player of a generation, a number of clubs are still debating whether to choose him early in the draft. He allegedly even declined to speak with a few clubs who selected below the top 10, most likely because he thought he wouldn’t be available by then.

Carter might still end up with multiple teams inside the top 10 if he eventually slips past the Cardinals or Seahawks, clubs who don’t have a pressing need to choose a quarterback. In fact, Vinnie Iyer, who works for The Sporting News, still believes Seattle will choose him fifth overall.

Even if he drops out of the top five, there are still a number of teams who would welcome his availability. If Carter were to fall so low, The Sporting News examines some potential landing locations for him:

NFL Draft picks for Jalen Carter

6. Lions
With the addition of new free agents and the retention of important players, Detroit has addressed numerous defensive concerns this summer. Interior defensive line is a crucial position that is still open.

The Lions’ defense, which allowed 5.2 yards per run, was 30th in the NFL. Adding Carter as a powerful 3-technique would be a huge boost. In Isaiah Buggs and Benito Jones, they have returnable starters, but Aidan Hutchinson would benefit greatly from the addition of Carter to give a strong inside push.

Coach Dan Campbell will make sure that any player selected by Detroit will be prepared to work, which will greatly mitigate Carter’s character worries, such as those raised by draft expert Todd McShay.

8. Falcons
The Falcons are another club that has a lot of needs, particularly in the defensive line. Even after signing free agent David Onyemata from the Saints, they still need quality players and greater depth at the position besides Grady Jarrett: Due to the departures of Derek Carr to the Saints and Bryce Young most likely moving to Carolina, Atlanta’s defense, which was lowest in the league in the percentage of opposing passing plays that resulted in a sack (3.7), will need to improve.

Tyree Wilson of Texas Tech may be selected by Atlanta with the eighth overall pick, or the Falcons could try pairing Christian Gonzalez of Oregon with A.J. Terrell in the secondary. The Falcons could also use Carter, who would just need to relocate a short distance from Athens, as their dominant inside force.

9. Bears

In addition to trading down for a wealth of draft money when Chicago still owned the first overall selection, another option was to simply choose the best player in a position of need. And Carter was the player who was most likely to be selected.

Ryan Poles, the general manager of the Bears, has made the finest move of the offseason by surrendering the first overall selection to the Panthers. If Carter were to be acquired after moving back to No. 9 with the Panthers, it would be nothing short of an A+ steal.

Yes, Chicago kept Justin Jones, and besides needing a defensive lineman, they also have big needs at cornerback and on the offensive line. Gonzalez and Peter Skoronski of Northwestern would be appealing picks at No. 9, if they were still available, but do any of those guys compare to Carter?

In the past, Matt Eberflus’ defenses have depended on the dominance of 3-technique lineman, and Carter is the best candidate in this draft at that position. In the event that Carter is still available at No. 9, it would be astonishing to see Chicago pass on him.

10. Eagles

A strong interior pass rush is very important to the Eagles in their current incarnation. Even after re-signing Fletcher Cox and anticipating more contributions from Milton Williams and Jordan Davis, losing Javon Hargrave’s 712 snaps and 11 sacks from the previous season was a big blow to their defense and created a need at that position.

If Carter is still available at No. 10 overall in the draft, Philadelphia would have no choice but to choose him. Imagine partnering him with Davis, a former teammate from Georgia, or just switching one out for the other. From 2022 forward, it would considerably improve what was already a top defensive front.