Army Black Knights edge rusher/outside linebacker Andre Carter II fell from draft grace this weekend and did not make West Point draft history, as all 32 teams passed on the defensive talent with legitimate potential and a high ceiling.
Carter had been projected as a first-round pick in the college pre-season. Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. ranked him as the second-best outside linebacker behind Will Anderson Jr., who was selected third overall by the Houston Texans.
The 6-7, 256-pound Carter was a pre-season All-American, presumably due to an eye-opening productive season in 2021.
Carter collected 15.5 sacks, five quarterback hits, 18.5 tackles-for-loss (TFL) and 44 tackles in 2021, elevating his draft stock.
But his play stalled in the 2022 campaign. Carter registered 3.5 sacks, seven TFLs and 19 tackles. His declining trajectory took additional fire with substandard test results at the NFL scouting combine — perhaps the rigors of academy life impacted his combine performance.
Only two Army players have been chosen in the Super Bowl era, both in the seventh round. Carter seemed a lock to become a first through third-round pick.
However, Carter’s NFL opportunity isn’t over. USA Today had Carter slated as one of the top undrafted free agents (UDFA), and the Minnesota Vikings signed him as a UDFA after the draft’s conclusion on Saturday.
And Carter will get to spend a portion of his offseason with highly-regarded Viking pass-rushing specialists Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith. Perhaps, falling from grace is now falling into place.
