Prior to the start of the 2023 NFL Combine, Georgia Bulldogs' defensive lineman Jalen Carter was one of the top candidates to be selected first in the upcoming NFL draft. Along with being in the running for the No. 1 overall pick, Carter entered the combine as a sure-fire top-five selection, but after getting charged with misdemeanors of "Reckless Driving and Racing," the interior lineman's draft stock is starting to plummet -- and his corresponding draft odds are beginning to spike.
It's unfortunate to see a player with untapped potential see his life's trajectory essentially change on a dime, but that's the consequence one faces for making that type of decision. Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Carter was the odds-on favorite to be the first defensive player selected at -105, but since the news broke this morning, the market isn't currently available on DraftKings.
How much has Carter's No. 1 overall pick odds moved, and how much will they continue to move?
Jalen Carter 2023 NFL Draft No. 1 Overall Pick Odds
Back on Jan. 26, we looked at the odds for the No. 1 overall pick, and Carter sat behind QBs Bryce Young (Alabama) and C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) with the third-best odds at +550. Carter entered the combine around the same price but now has much higher odds to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook on Jan. 26
| Player | No. 1 Overall Pick Odds |
| Bryce Young | -135 |
| C.J. Stroud | +250 |
| Jalen Carter | +550 |
Fast forward to today and Carter currently has the sixth-lowest odds to be selected first overall at +1600 behind Kentucky QB Will Levis (+600), Alabama LB Will Anderson (+650), and Florida QB Anthony Richardson (+1600).
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook on Mar. 1
| Player | No. 1 Overall Pick Odds |
| Bryce Young | -160 |
| C.J. Stroud | +380 |
| Will Levis | +600 |
| Will Anderson | +650 |
| Anthony Richardson | +650 |
| Jalen Carter | +1600 |
Carter's move from +550 to +1600 is a 9.5-percent decline, and there's a real chance his odds continue to increase with franchises not wanting to expend high draft capital to select him No. 1 overall. It wouldn't be surprising to see Carter reach the 20-1 mark in the coming days, a complete 180 for the two-time National Champion.
We profiled Carter as a potential fit for the Bears at No. 1 overall in our initial NFL Draft odds piece, but with Chicago trending toward trading out of the top spot, Carter's unlikely to end up as the No. 1 overall selection, as the team trading for the first overall pick would likely select a quarterback. We recommend staying away from this market for the time being, letting more details emerge, and evaluating this market again after the NFL Combine concludes.
