Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Lions selected cornerback Alex Carter in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft with pick No. 80 overall. The Lions traded up eight spots to select the corner out of Stanford. After missing the first few sessions of OTAs to finish up classes for the semester, Carter joined the Lions on the field this week.
Carter could not participate in team activities until his exams were complete, but was able to read the playbook, watch videos of OTAs and speak with coaches while he was in California. Also, he did get to participate in rookie minicamp last month. As a rookie, missing valuable time at OTAs puts you somewhat behind, but Carter possesses all of the physical attributes (6-foot, 202 pounds) and intelligence to learn the position quickly.
He primarily played cornerback in college and will compete for the starting nickel cornerback slot with several other hopefuls – including fellow rookie Quandre Diggs and several veterans. Carter does have the size and ability to play safety as well.
In college, Carter was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention three times from 2012 through 2014. He was a three-year starter and recorded 106 tackles, five tackles for a loss and two interceptions during his career. He is also tough – Carter allegedly played through a torn labrum in 2014.
Besides his size, Carter also has good speed (4.5 40-yard dash), is good in zone coverage schemes and is a physical tackler willing to throw his body around. He showed good instincts and solid awareness during his college playing days. He needs to work on mirroring receivers in man coverage, and his hip fluidity and footwork could also use some work.
Detroit’s roster currently consists of 10 cornerbacks vying for a roster spot and playing time. When the roster is cut down to 53 players late this summer, expect four or five of them to be cut. Currently, the nickel cornerback position is wide open. Carter, Diggs, Bill Bentley, Nevin Lawson and several others are all battling for it. The starting outside cornerbacks are currently Darius Slay and Rashean Mathis.
Another thing Carter has working for him is his NFL pedigree. His father, Tom, played nine seasons in the league with the Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals. His father could be a big reason why Carter was drafted by the Lions – Lions general manager Martin Mayhew and his dad, Tom Carter, are good friends and apparently go back about 20 years.
It will be interesting to see what Carter’s role will be with the team in 2015, and it will be interesting to see how the depth chart shakes out in the secondary. Nonetheless, he has a good chance of seeing the field and becoming a playmaker for Detroit as a rookie. With an aging Mathis likely heading toward retirement, Carter could become a longtime starter for the organization in the future.
