ESPN draft expert reveals NFL comparison for Jalen Carter

Matt Miller, an NFL Draft expert for ESPN has broken down Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jalen Carter, one of the best players in this year’s draft, including giving him an NFL comparison. Carter is the only defensive tackle who Miller thinks has a true first-round grade in this season’s NFL Draft and is arguably the best defensive player in the draft.

“The 2021 Georgia defense had five players selected in the first round of the 2022 draft, and Carter (not eligible in that draft) might have actually been the best defender on the team,” Miller wrote.

“At 6-3 and 310 pounds, he has great first-step quickness and a powerful frame that can split double teams. Carter battled ankle and knee injuries this season and platooned on a deep Georgia defense last year, but he still accumulated six sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons.”

Miller also compared Carter to Fletcher Cox. Cox, who has spent his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles, has made six Pro Bowl teams. As of now, ESPN’s Mel Kiper believes that Jalen Carter is going to be the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.

Mel Kiper on why he chose Jalen Carter over Will Anderson

There are two defensive players widely seen as the best in this year’s NFL Draft, Jalen Carter and Will Anderson. For now, Mel Kiper has Carter going ahead of Anderson. He explained that it makes sense when you look at what the Bears need.

“The o-line, keep developing that, get a d-lineman to help that defense, that could help the quarterback as well. Their defensive line’s a big problem, Jalen Carter is a disruptor along the interior, that’s what quarterbacks hate. Will Anderson Jr., Alabama, was not as dominant this year as he was in 2021, he doesn’t have the bend off the edge of a Myles Garrett or a Vonn Miller, that’s why I went with Jalen Carter number one,” Kiper explained.

“The quarterbacks, Greeny, are all mysteries, we don’t know. I think Will Levis is QB1 that’s me others disagree, but I think at the end of the day you take the quarterback you know, you’ve seen at the pro level develop, why would you go away from Justin Fields to take quarterbacks who are all coming into the NFL without a consensus as to who the number one quarterback really is?”