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5 NFL teams that should take the risk on Jalen Carter in the 2023 NFL Draft

By Brendan Danaher

Chicago Bears: Jalen Carter #88 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after a defensive stop against the LSU Tigers during the second quarter in the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears: Jalen Carter #88 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after a defensive stop against the LSU Tigers during the second quarter in the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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Jalen Carter
Chicago Bears, Jalen Carter – Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images /

Team no. 1 for Jalen Carter: Chicago Bears

The Arizona Cardinals took the #2 position as a team that needs to take the risk on drafting the dominant defensive tackle Jalen Carter. The Chicago Bears land the #1 spot as they also fell as the last ranked defensive in 2022 at #32 overall.

The Bears played the 2022 NFL season without their former defensive star Khalil Mack who went to LA and traded away Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith mid-season. The Bears hit free agency with a fury of signings after trading away their first pick overall to drop to the ninth pick overall. The Bears beefed up the defense while also adding some offensive pieces. The Bears need to get stronger on both sides of the ball and armed with 9 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft they have a chance to do so.

While the Bears signed DT Andrew Billings, an above-average run-stopping defensive tackle, more powerful playmakers are needed. Jalen Carter would be the critical piece to help rejuvenate the Bears’ defense. The Bears were last in the league in sacks with 20 and 31st in rushing defense in 2022.

Head coach Matt Eberflus is a defensive-minded coach who hasn’t had the opportunity to work with a fully capable defensive unit yet. This is his first chance to create a defense that can hopefully complement what many expect should be an explosive offense in 2023. Jalen Carter would be a valuable addition in Chicago undoubtedly creating explosive plays and making things easier on the backend for the linebackers and secondary.

The Bears have a significant offseason ahead of them but the off-field risks aside, not drafting Carter would be a mistake the Bears cannot afford to make.

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