Defensive tackle Jalen Carter is one of the most high-risk, high-reward players in the 2023 NFL Draft, but the latest rumors across the league make it sound as though the Georgia product will go off the board within the first 10 picks. In other NFL news, New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees spoke highly of Derek Carr, while the Arizona Cardinals appear to be holding their cards close to their chest with DeAndre Hopkins.
NFL Rumors: Jalen Carter, Derek Carr, DeAndre Hopkins
Raiders “Feel Comfortable” With Jalen Carter
Based on talent alone, there is a case to be made that Jalen Carter is the best player in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, Carter has major off-field issues, primarily stemming recent misdemeanor driving offense which led to the death of teammate Devin Wilock and staffer Chandler LeCroy.
While there are obviously a lot of real-life ramifications associated with such a tragedy, speaking purely from a football sense, this incident has made several teams wary about the idea of investing a high pick in the defensive tackle. According to the latest rumors, the Raiders are not one of those teams, as general manager Dave Ziegler recently stated that he believed his staff has done the necessary research on Jalen Carter.
“We looked at Jalen like every other player that’s in the draft. I don’t think we want to cheat the process with any prospect in that regard. We want to hit those bases for each individual prospect…Jalen, in that regard, was similar to a lot of players in the draft, and we feel very comfortable with the work that we’ve done on him.”
For what it’s worth, Tashan Reed of The Athletic also reported that Jalen Carter was on the Raiders board. Las Vegas currently holds the seventh pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and could easily use the selection on Carter if they don’t target a quarterback.
Drew Brees Expects the Best From Derek Carr
After shuffling through five quarterbacks in the past two seasons, the Saints finally have a true starter in Derek Carr. Carr is obviously no Drew Brees, but the former Saints legend and future Hall of Famer believes that the longtime Raider will be successful with a new organization.
Speaking to the Advocate, Brees said that Carr’s lack of team success largely stems from the dysfunctional Raiders organization. “I think he caught the brunt of that unfairly, and I think you shoulder a lot of that burden as the quarterback anyway…He’s shown the ability to execute complicated offenses where a lot is put on the quarterback position to be able to make checks and make reads very quickly. He’s proven that.”
Brees also believes that the Saints have a talented roster that can do some serious damage now that they have a franchise quarterback. “We’ve seen just what a difference one position can make on a team. Look at what Brady did for the Bucs.”
Needless to say, Derek Carr is not Tom Brady, but he is the best quarterback the team has had since Brees himself. Playing in a weak division, this team should be the favorite to win their division and could make it deep in the playoffs if Brees is right about Carr’s ability.
Cardinals Mum on DeAndre Hopkins Trade
One of the worst-kept secrets in football is that the Arizona Cardinals are trying to trade DeAndre Hopkins. With Kyler Murray injured and the roster lacking talent, most expect this team to embrace the rebuild, which means that the 30-year-old Hopkins doesn’t necessarily fit with the team’s vision. However, if a trade is imminent, General Manager Monti Ossenfort isn’t showing his cards.
Speaking to Bo Brack of PHNX_Cardinals, Ossenfort said that he’s “had a lot of interaction with [DeAndre Hopkins]. He’s been great. Good discussions back and forth. As it pertains to his situation, I’m going to keep those discussions [in-house] as well. Hop’s proven to be a good player in this league, and he’s obviously a very talented player.”
Whether Ossenfort wants to admit it or not, it’s hard to imagine a world where Hopkins is on the Cardinals in 2023. Whether it’s by trade or release, DeAndre Hopkins will have a new home by Week 1. Chances are, he’ll sign with a contender like the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, or Baltimore Ravens.
Main Photo: Joshua Jones – USA Today Sports
