Jalen Carter remains confident he will be a top-10 pick in this draft. Despite multiple stock-dropping developments in the leadup to the draft, Carter will not meet with teams who hold first-round picks outside the top 10, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Carter’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he will decline meeting requests for teams picking beyond 10. Teams that do hold early choices are doing their homework on the talented defensive tackle. The Eagles have met with Carter, per Schefter, who adds the Bears are planning a visit Monday. Carter, whom NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah lists as the fifth-best prospect in this year’s draft, is also planning to meet with the Raiders, who hold the No. 7 overall pick.
By virtue of their pre-draft trade with the Saints last year, the Eagles hold the No. 10 overall pick. After collecting a pre-free agency haul from the Panthers for the top draft choice, the Bears are set to pick at No. 9. Chicago was not particularly active at the pass-rushing spots in free agency, despite finishing last season with the league’s fewest sacks (20). But the rebuilding team is planning to add on its defensive line. The draft, where the Bears hold three picks before Round 2 concludes, represents the most likely avenue for such augmentation.
The Eagles are fond of big-ticket line investments, as their 2022 depth chart reinforced, and the defending NFC champions lost Javon Hargrave to the 49ers in free agency. The Eagles drafted ex-Carter Georgia D-tackle mate Jordan Davis in last year’s first round. Philadelphia also re-signed Fletcher Cox, but the Eagles mainstay is going into his age-33 season.
One of the best players available in this year’s prospect pool, Carter has seen his offseason defined by negative headlines. He faced two misdemeanor charges in connection with a fatal car accident, having been at the scene when Georgia recruiting analyst Chandler Lecroy and offensive lineman Devin Willock died from injuries sustained in a January wreck. Carter was driving a separate vehicle that night, but authorities indicated he and Lecroy were “operating in a manner consistent with racing.” Lecroy’s blood-alcohol level was at .197 at the time of the crash, which was initially deemed a single-car accident. Carter, who did not face a charge connected with drunk driving, left the Combine following the arrest warrant and will not face any jail time in connection with the charges.
Carter reached a plea agreement with…