Seahawks Have 2 Advantages in Jalen Carter Draft Pursuit

The Seattle Seahawks' interest in Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter can best be described as a coin flip - but there are two key factors that increase the odds of Seattle selecting Carter at No. 5 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The 2023 NFL Draft is primed to have no shortage of drama - or uncertainty - in the first several picks ... with the Seattle Seahawks, owners of the No. 5 overall selection, right in the middle of it all.

From quarterbacks like Florida's Anthony Richardson and Ohio State's C.J. Stroud to defensive ends such as Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. and Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson and even Illinois corner Devon Witherspoon, Seattle could go a number of different avenues.

There's also the question - will the Seahawks have Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter on their draft board?

Amidst reported concerns over character and the presence of recent misdemeanor charges, Carter's slid down boards to the point where he's not seen as a lock to go in the top eight selections.

Seattle's involvement with Carter is one of the more back-and-forth situations in the draft; depending on who's talking, the answer surrounding the Seahawks' interest could be completely different.

Some around the league believe Seattle is likely to select Carter at No. 5, while others cite a similar situation with Malik McDowell in 2017 as reason for general manager John Schneider to pass on the former Bulldogs star.

However, as NBC Sports points out, there are a few key points working in the Seahawks' favor to best maximize Carter's talent.

"As a person with a team that’s done a lot of work on Carter told me: Seattle defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt will be firm and demanding with Carter; he’s an old-school coach who won’t take passive effort," NBC Sports writes.

"And Seattle is the franchise that gets Carter furthest away from his comfort zones—Athens, Ga., and his hometown of Apopka, Fla. Apopka to Seattle: 3,073 miles."

As such, there's certainly reason to believe the Seahawks could be a fine landing spot for Carter - though, once more, the team's true interest remains anyone's best guess.

The moment of truth will come Thursday night, with the draft set to kick off in Kansas City, Mo., at 5 p.m. Pacific.

---

You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Seahawks? Click Here to subscribe to AllSeahawks.com's Newsletter.

Follow All Seahawks.com on Twitter and Facebook

Make sure to subscribe to our daily podcast @lockedonseahawks today! Click here To Listen.

Want even more Seattle Seahawks news? Check out the SI.com team page here.