Georgia's Carter declares for 2023 NFL Draft

Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter declared for the 2023 NFL Draft hours after his team earned a second straight national championship with a blowout win over TCU on Monday.

Carter is widely projected to be a top-five pick in April and is a contender to go first overall to the Chicago Bears. If he does, it will be back-to-back No. 1 picks for Georgia after the Jacksonville Jaguars took pass-rusher Travon Walker in 2022.

Carter's production isn't as eye-popping as some other top-tier defensive line prospects, with 32 total tackles and three sacks in 2022.

But the 6-foot-3, 310-pounder has been the key to the Bulldogs' suffocating defense for the past two seasons, earning unanimous All-American honors as well as being named first-team All-SEC in 2022.

Georgia ranked fifth in points allowed per game (15.3), first in rushing yards allowed per game (81.2), and third in third-down conversion rate (27.96%) this season.

Carter, Alabama pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr., and Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy are expected to be the top defenders available in the draft.