Report: Raiders expected to meet with top Georgia defender

Georgia DT Jalen Carter continues to meet with groups which have top-10 picks within the draft, together with the Raiders.

According to Peter King of NBC Sports, Las Vegas (No. 7 overall) and Seattle (No. 5 overall) are expected to host Carter on pre-draft visits.

In March, Carter pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges — reckless driving and racing — in connection to a Jan. 15 car crash that killed Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported Carter was sentenced to 12 months probation, a $1,000 fine, 80 hours of community service and would attend a defensive-driving course approved by the state of Georgia. 

When The Athletic’s Vic Tafur reported Carter was off the Raiders’ board, he wrote, “While the cases are not the same, the comparison is too close to home for the Raiders and their fans in the Las Vegas community following the 2021 arrest of former WR Henry Ruggs.” 

Ruggs is still awaiting a trial on charges of DUI, resulting in death, per Tafur.

However, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels refuted that Carter was no longer on their board. He recently told Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Las Vegas is doing its “due diligence on Carter.”

At one level, Carter — a 2022 First-Team All-American — was a possible No. 1 general decide, so some groups may very well be keen to threat a excessive draft decide on him.

“Clearly, Carter is a complicated prospect,” wrote ESPN draft professional Mel Kiper Jr. “The reality is Carter’s stock hasn’t dropped in the eyes of NFL teams.”

At Georgia’s professional day, Carter was 9 kilos heavier than his weight on the mix (314 kilos) and failed to end place drills, per Kiper Jr.

It is sensible for the Raiders to chorus from being invested in utilizing their first-round decide on Carter, however they’re doing their due diligence regardless.