Todd McShay on character concerns with Jalen Carter: ‘He's been a lot to handle’

Jalen Carter is arguably the best overall player in the 2023 NFL Draft, but it’s being theorized he could potentially fall out of the top ten.

It’s not just smoke surrounding the former Georgia star either. ESPN’s Todd McShay joined Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take this week, where he highlighted the information that many of his sources, ranging from the Bulldogs coaching staff to NFL personnel, have serious concerns regarding Carter’s maturity and motivation.

“I have seven different, I’ve got one page of seven different sources I’ve talked to, and I started, I had about five — shoot, in December. It includes quotes from the coaching staff, yes. Let’s just put it this way, as good as Jalen Carter was, and as important he was in the last two years, winning national championships, I don’t think there’s a lot of people in Athens that are crying that Jalen Carter’s leaving town,” explained McShay. “I think he’s been a lot to handle, and I’m not saying anything that anyone in the league isn’t saying, like it hasn’t been reported. I’m just giving the information as to why. I’m not here to bash a young man and I pull for all of these guys. As long as it’s not like domestic abuse or something horrible, but there’s some — you’ve got to have a strong veteran presence in that defensive line room, and you’ve got to have a lot of leadership on the defensive side if you’re going to be comfortable bringing in Jalen Carter.

“He’s got to be motivated from teammates I think, in order to get him to play at the level he needs to play at, and you would expect him to play at as a top ten pick.”

Continuing, McShay believes Carter could be in for a surprisingly long ride if he’s not selected by the Seattle Seahawks at No. 5 or the Detroit Lions at No. 6, but the Chicago Bears, who traded back from No. 1 to No. 9 earlier this offseason, could be the beneficiaries.

“Jalen Carter, arguably the best player in this draft, I would say from a talent standpoint, my tape study, he’s the best player in the draft. But you’re dealing with a lot of immaturity. A guy who’s not a self-starter, and doesn’t handle hard coaching well. If you’re not going to start yourself, and you’re going to push back on hard coaching, then where’s the motivation coming from, to get better and be consistent,” added McShay. “So I think Jalen Carter, if he doesn’t go No. 5, No. 6, and I’m being told there’s a real likelihood he doesn’t, I don’t think he goes No. 7 to the Raiders, he’s not going No. 8 to Atlanta, Jalen Carter, the best player in this draft, could go No. 9 to Chicago.

“Chicago remember had the first overall pick, they got DJ Moore, a No. 1 wide receiver, they got additional picks from Carolina and could still get the best player in this draft in Jalen Carter if he slips to No. 9.”

Regardless, one NFL franchise will be elated to have Jalen Carter when it’s all said and done, regardless of the many concerns on and off the field. Time will tell if the former Georgia star car get it together, but the talent level is too good to pass up.