Las Vegas Raiders 2023 7-round NFL Mock Draft: Combine Week edition
7. Jalen Carter DT Georgia
Considered by many as the top prospect in this year’s draft class, defensive tackle Jalen Carter out of Georgia looks to be an incredibly dominant player that can be a foundation piece for a defense for the next 10 years. Many have predicted that he will go in the top two or three but perhaps his recent legal trouble has affected his draft stock just enough to drop to 7th overall.
The Raiders would of course be concerned about any of their potential players committing crimes in a vehicle after the Henry Ruggs tragedy but this is the NFL and the reality is a few misdemeanors are not enough to completely tank his stock.
Carter spoke after the charges and said that he believes he will be exonerated and we will have to see the legal process play out over the next few months.
If Carter is available with the 7th overall pick, the Raiders will have almost no choice but to select him unless one of their top quarterback prospects are available as well. Carter looks to be a potential All-Pro defensive lineman that can do it all from the interior and plugging him in would unleash Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones on the outside.
The last dominant defensive tackle to wear Silver and Black was Richard Seymour and that seems like a very long time ago, so a player of Carter’s caliber would be a welcome addition. If Carter is anywhere near his comp of Chris Jones from Kansas City, then he can take this defense from the bottom of the basement to the middle of the pack at the very least with his presence.