2023 NFL Draft: Raiders should think about trading up for Jalen Carter
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders have a gaping hole in the middle of their defensive line, so trading up for Jalen Carter could be in the cards this April.
The NFL Playoffs are slated to kick off on Saturday, and for the Las Vegas Raiders, it is another year of sitting and watching it on the television. Las Vegas had made the playoffs only twice since the 2002 NFL season, so there is a lot of pressure on the front office to get it right during the 2023 offseason.
While the big stories will come out of the quarterback position, as Las Vegas makes the move from Derek Carr as the starter, the truth is, the defense needs a lot of work. Thanks to their 6-11 record in 2022, Las Vegas will pick at No. 7 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and could be in a position to possibly move up to get a real difference-maker.
Most teams will trade up to get the quarterback they want, but in the Raiders’ case, it makes sense to trade up for a generational talent at defensive tackle. That DT is Georgia’s, Jalen Carter.
Raiders defense needs a lot of work this offseason
Carter would fill an immediate need on this Raiders defense, and give the likes of Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones the kind of support they need in the interior to do their business on the outside. In 2022, Las Vegas ran through a bunch of different options at defensive tackle, and while some played well, Carter is a guy who could man the position for the next ten seasons.
Sitting at No. 7, moving up to get Bryce Young, the clear top quarterback in this class with quarterback-needy teams in front of them seems a bit impossible. Sure, Las Vegas could try and get CJ Stroud or Will Levis, but quarterback is not going to be a need if they land a veteran like Tom Brady this offseason.
Bolstering both sides of the line has to be a top priority for David Ziegler and Josh McDaniels in this year’s draft, and Carter is well worth the investment if the Raiders have to get into the top 5 to get him. Some mock drafts have him going as high as No. 3 overall, so there will be work to be done to get him, but based on what I have seen, he could be the best overall player in this draft class.