The Chicago Bears look like they are willing to take a chance on Jalen Carter if he falls to them.
It would be one of the biggest gambles in recent memory, but it looks like the Chicago Bears are willing to take a chance on Georgia’s Jalen Carter.
If anyone hasn’t been aware of what’s happened, off-the-field issues, including a racing incident that left two individuals dead, combined with a lackadaisical Pro Day at Georgia, have resulted in teams being weary of Carter and removing him from their draft boards.
That may be a sign that despite his physical gifts, the red flags are enough to hint that Carter’s NFL career won’t measure up and that he will fall in the draft.
In the event that he does, the Bears are reportedly doing due diligence on Carter.
“1) Jalen was in Chicago for 2 days earlier this week, per sources. 2) The Bears have been doing a lot of homework on Jalen including talking with people from his hometown, per sources,” Daniel Greenberg tweeted.
The Pro Day issue could be due to Carter mentally not being ready due to the trauma of the accident. Keep in mind that Carter did not drive the car that crashed, nor did he commit murder. For those looking to crucify Carter, take note of that before jumping to a conclusion.
Yet, what has been forgotten, is that on the field, Jalen Carter has been a nightmare for the opposition. The stats aren’t gaudy and wowing, but the tape alone has shown that Carter can be a game-wrecker. The physical tools speak for themselves, even when he was getting double and triple-teamed. Additionally, he still has the makings of a top-ten pick.
Bears would be taking a massive gamble on Jalen Carter if he falls to them
The only way you could see this working out is if head coach Matt Eberflus and defensive coordinator Alan Williams are able to get to Carter and help him not only take off a few pounds but provide him the help he needs to make sure his career in the NFL is as strong enough as it was in college.
The stats in college on the field warrant the top overall pick, but the off-the-field flags are a massive concern.
If Chicago is able to get the best out of Carter, discussions of Warren Sapp or Tommie Harris are not far off. However, Albert Haynesworth comparisons are also not far off if Carter goes down the wrong path and challenges for a place among the Bears’ biggest draft busts in history.
There is the chance Carter goes well before the Bears have an opportunity to take him, but given the current situation, there is a chance he may slip to Chicago, and the same could go for Will Anderson, as crazy as that sounds.
Strange things happen on draft night, and it will be interesting to see what transpires at the end of this month and whether or not Jalen Carter is a Bear or he ends up on another team’s roster.
