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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Barrett Carter (LB – Clemson)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Clemson Linebacker Barret Carter. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Barret Carter

Barrett Carter (LB – Clemson)

6’1” – 230 lbs.

Background:

A four-star recruit who rotated into the defense for 183 snaps as a freshman, recording 16 tackles, then took over a starting job the following year and posted 73-10.5-5.5. Went 62-10.0-3.5 in a less efficient junior season, then decided to return to school and went 82-11.0-3.5 this season.

Positives:

A productive three-year starter for a major program. Can line up as the Mike or Will; was shaded over the slot a lot during the 2022 games reviewed, then became more of a traditional linebacker for 2023 and 2024. Brings a tough, physical temperament. Plays with effective knee bend and square shoulders when defending the inside run game. Has solid recognition skills, as you’d expect, given his extensive experience. Doesn’t shy away from contact; he will step into the hole and take on a blocker to maintain run fits, showing good balance and lower-body strength for his size. Active with his hands to sift through trash and get to the ball. Has some thudding power to help set the tone defensively and cleaned up his tackling this season after a 2023 campaign where he slipped. Has pretty good range to pursue out to the sidelines; not purely a phone-booth run-stuffer. Coverage experience is very extensive (over 1,200 career snaps per PFF.) Able to make spot-drops into zone, with sound technique. Sniffs out some underneath routes developing and can plant/drive on the spot effectively. Closes pretty quickly when he has a lane, which can also allow him to serve as an effective spy in the passing game. Occasionally used as an edge rusher.

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Negatives:

Can be a bit overly aggressive at times, and would benefit from more consistent patience in run support; commits a bit too early and takes himself out of position. Takes some circuitous routes to the ball as he tries to avoid taking on blockers. Could do a better job of locking out opposing blockers with his arms. Not the lengthiest player, and had significant issues with tackling as a junior. Athletic enough to work effectively in zone, but awareness of the players in his area could be a bit better; occasionally too reliant on reading the quarterback’s eyes. Was exposed a bit in coverage this year (five touchdowns allowed), so the trajectory there isn’t the most encouraging.

Summary:

A pretty well-rounded, tough linebacker prospect with some positional/schematic versatility, above-average recognition skills, technique, contact balance, and range in the run game, and who moves well in zone coverage. Has shown starting-caliber traits, which will probably allow him to come off the board sometime on the second day. However, year-to-year consistency has been a bit of an issue, and his sophomore season is generally considered to have been his best, so there’s some risk involved.

Projection: Round 3

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