One of the most popular first-round draft projections for the Detroit Lions is now officially a possibility. Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter has formally entered the 2023 NFL draft.
Carter is the consensus top interior defensive lineman amongst draft analysts. The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Carter helped spearhead the national champion Bulldogs and their suffocating defense. He didn’t post boffo stats (16 tackles, 3 sacks) in 2022 due to a knee injury that cost him two games and an ongoing ankle issue that limited his burst early in the season.
Carter has been a frequent projection for the Lions with their top draft pick, which is now set at No. 6 overall. Based on his outstanding physical talent and potential impact, Carter might not last that long in April’s draft. It’s still early in the draft evaluation process, but Carter will almost certainly be the No. 1 overall prospect on my own big board.
