NFL hopeful Jalen Carter has ‘a lot of questions to answer’ after pleading guilty plea, says ex-GM

NFL teams interested in taking Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter at next month’s draft should think twice, says former Cleveland Browns general manager Michael Lombardi.

Carter was once projected to be a high first-round pick, but has stumbled in recent weeks after an underwhelming pro day and his guilty plea to reckless driving charges. The 21-year-old will not serve any jail time after pleading guilty to the misdemeanor related to the fatal January 15 car crash that killed his former Georgia teammate Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy. Instead he received 12 months’ probation, a $1,000 fine, 80 hours community service and a mandatory driving course.

Referencing another Georgia defensive tackle, New England Patriots Hall of Famer Richard Seymour, Lombardi explained that Carter represents a risk for any team considering taking him in the top 10 picks.

‘A lot of concern,’ Lombardi told TMZ. ‘You want this guy to become your team captain. When you pick a player like this in the top 10, you want him to become Richard Seymour. You want him to become a Hall of Fame player. You want to hit.

‘He’s got a lot of questions to answer.’

Jalen Carter was once projected to be a high first-round pick, but has stumbled in recent weeks after an underwhelming pro day and his guilty plea to reckless driving charges

A trainer works with former Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter after he runs football drills during Georgia’s Pro Day, Wednesday, March 15

Carter will not serve any jail time after pleading guilty to the misdemeanor related to the fatal January 15 car crash that killed his former Georgia teammate Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy. Instead he received 12 months’ probation, a $1,000 fine, 80 hours community service and a mandatory driving course

Georgia footballer Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy were killed in the January crash

Mike Lombardi (pictured) explained that Carter represents a risk for any team considering taking him in the top 10 picks

Carter missed a portion of the scouting combine in Indianapolis while turning himself in to Athens police on the reckless driving charge, and only hurt himself further at last week’s Georgia Pro Day.

Not only had he gained nine pounds since the scouting combine, but he failed to finish several drills and refused to participate in other events.

But the biggest issue remains Carter’s link to the fatal crash, which police say, involved him racing through the streets of Athens ‘at a high rate of speed’ before LeCroy crashed a school vehicle, killing herself and Willock and injuring two others.

It has since been revealed that Carter was previously pulled over and cited for speeding on September 22, 2022.

Carter was a member of Georgia’s back-to-back title-winning teams. He and teammates celebrated their most recent championship with a parade in Athens on January 14 before the fatal crash in the earl hours of January 15.

Carter was pulled over for going 89mph in a 45mph speed zone but not arrested in September