Jalen Carter Sliding: Would Atlanta Falcons Draft Georgia 'Risk' at No. 8?

Georgia QB Stetson Bennett is defending Jalen Carter, calling him “special” and “a rock.” The Atlanta Falcons, with the NFL Draft approaching, need to figure out if that's true.

Do the Atlanta Falcons know more about troubled Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter than the other teams readying to make their decisions in the April NFL Draft? And can that be used as a "home-town advantage?

Carter is now apparently sliding down teams' boards.

There are conflicting reports as to whether the Las Vegas Raiders (picking at No. 7), have him sliding all the way off their board. (Note: The Raiders are now saying he's not been removed from their board.) There is ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum, who has him slipping down to Detroit at No. 18, reinforcing the notion that at some point, baggage aside, Carter will be drafted.

Maybe he even gets drafted by Atlanta, as still goes high, by "staying home'' with the Falcons at No. 8. ... as projected by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Carter's legal issues are the result in part of a January incident when a car-racing incident resulted in the death of Georgia staffer Chandler LeCroy and Carter teammate Devin Willock. Maybe as a psychological result of that, Carter's work for NFL teams has been a mess. He appears out of shape ... contributing to him maybe falling out of the top 10 slots, a status that once seemed like a lock.

These three plays in a row vs. TCU lastnight provide a snapshot of the positives with Jalen Carter as a prospect: pic.twitter.com/W7eTjk7WY5

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) January 10, 2023

Georgia QB Stetson Bennett is defending his teammate Carter, calling him “special” and “a rock.” And anybody who has watched Georgia football - including all of the "anybodies'' who run the Falcons, who have seen plenty of Georgia football - acknowledges that.

Can the Falcons leadership help Jalen Carter realize his potential? That's the suggestion of the AJC ... and it's a "risky'' concept that figures to offer great rewards.

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