As the 2023 NFL Draft gets closer and closer, there have been rumors about the Pittsburgh Steelers trading their 17th overall pick to the Chicago Bears for their 9th overall pick. On Monday morning, this rumor got even more interesting.
Sportswriter Peter King wrote that the Steelers would consider moving up in the draft with the Bears if Georgia DT Jalen Carter is still on the board.
Rumor: #Steelers are looking to trade up from the 17th overall pick to 9 overall (#Bears) if Georgia DT Jalen Carter remains on the board, per @peter_king
"Best rumor of the week." he added.https://t.co/pF9OI3Y6rr pic.twitter.com/RV9kPHCqso
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 17, 2023
I should note that this is merely a rumor at the moment so take this with a grain of salt. But it is very intriguing to say the least.
Jalen Carter is considered to be one of the best talents coming into the NFL Draft. Carter has an unlimited amount of potential and upside as he is a projected top-10 selection.
But over the past month, he has been a big topic of discussion and it hasn’t been regarding his play on the field. It’s been about what he’s been involved in off of it.
On March 1, 2023, an arrest warrant was issued for Carter for being involved in an accident that happened on January 15, 2023, that claimed the lives of a Georgia staff member and teammate of Carter’s.
The accident was believed by police to have been the result of speed racing, where Carter was charged with reckless driving and speed racing. Carter turned himself in later that night and was released on a $4,000 bond.
This wouldn’t be the first time he was caught speeding, as Carter has previously been cited for traffic violations three times, all during his fall semester where one included him traveling at 89-mph in a 45-mph zone.
His involvement hasn’t done him good for his chances in the draft, but his decision to not take visits with teams selecting outside the top-10 also doesn’t help. This has raised the question on where Carter is at with his legal troubles, as well as his mentality.
All of this over the past month has reportedly caused multiple teams to take the Georgia Bulldog standout off of their draft boards.
𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Multiple NFL teams have now taken Georgia DL Jalen Carter off their Draft board.https://t.co/yWbDbwZPnl
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 5, 2023
There is no denying that Jalen Carter is a phenomenal football player and could have a big impact for any team’s defense. But he brings many red flags that teams may not want to deal with, despite his talents.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are no stranger to dealing with such drama off the field, but over the past few years, it has been rather quiet for the team.
Is this a risk that the team is willing to take? Or is this a smokescreen of a rumor and could the Steelers trade up for a different prospect?
Let us know what you think in the comments and stay tuned for more Pittsburgh Steelers draft rumors!