Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter hasn’t played an NFL snap yet, but his name keeps surfacing as a potential top-three pick in the 2025 NFL Draft—and for good reason.
Carter recently completed a Top 30 visit with the New York Giants, a meeting that included a well-circulated social media post of the team’s Lawrence Taylor tribute wall just outside the outside linebackers room. The message was subtle, but clear. Carter sees himself as a potential fit in blue, and the Giants appear to be taking that possibility seriously.
With the Giants holding the No. 3 overall pick and the draft just days away, several names have been linked to the team. Quarterbacks remain in the conversation, and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter has frequently been mocked to New York. But Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes Carter is the ideal target for Big Blue.
Abdul Carter could anchor the future of the Giants’ defense
In a recent piece highlighting ideal draft targets for every team in the first round, Moton pointed to Carter’s skill set, positional fit, and immediate impact potential as reasons why he makes sense for New York:
“The Giants could field one of the best pass-rushing defenses with two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns, 2022 first-rounder Kayvon Thibodeaux and Carter on the edge.
Remember, in their division, the Giants must chase down Jalen Hurts, Jayden Daniels and perhaps a healthy Dak Prescott, all Pro Bowl-caliber quarterbacks.
Big Blue can help its quarterback, Russell Wilson, and the offense with a dominant defense that limits opponent scoring opportunities.”
The Giants already feature several talented pieces on the front seven—namely Burns, Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence—but there’s reason to believe they’re not done building up front. Carter, who had 12 sacks and 24 tackles for loss in 2024, was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in his first full season playing on the edge.
His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, recently confirmed Carter is recovering from a stress fracture in his foot but will not require surgery. That hasn’t slowed his momentum as a projected top-five pick.
With Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in the building, the Giants aren’t forced to take a quarterback at No. 3. That flexibility allows general manager Joe Schoen to simply take the best player available—and Carter’s name continues to surface as a top candidate.
Carter is an ideal fit for what the Giants are building defensively. His explosiveness off the edge, combined with his size and versatility, would give New York another dynamic pass-rushing threat to pair with Burns and Thibodeaux. In defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s system, Carter could immediately contribute as a disruptive force in both pass-rush and run support, while giving the Giants long-term security at one of the most valuable positions in football.
If the Giants pass on a quarterback and Travis Hunter goes to Cleveland at No. 2, Abdul Carter could very well be the pick. And fortunately for the G-Men, he might be the best fit on the board anyway.
