Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft with the third overall pick, the New York Giants were locked in to land a franchise-altering talent. Sure, missing out on the Cam Ward sweepstakes stung a bit, but the hype surrounding the next two names on the board was undeniable. Both Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter would be available once the G-Men were on the clock, and either one promised to bring real excitement back to East Rutherford.
When the Jacksonville Jaguars boldly traded up to No. 2, it all but confirmed the Giants’ path: Carter, the pass-rushing phenom out of Penn State, was the pick. Missing out on Ward and Hunter might’ve hurt at first, but Carter as the “consolation prize” was more than enough to get fans back on board. Factor in a strong supporting cast, and Joe Schoen might just be clawing his way out of the doghouse.
Yes, there were other needs. No, the Giants didn’t necessarily have to take another edge rusher. But if there’s one thing to take from the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s that a dominant pass rush can change everything.
Much of the pre-draft conversation was dominated by Hunter and his rare two-way skillset. Would he be a wide receiver? A cornerback? Both? Few prospects in recent memory sparked this much intrigue. But now, with training camp around the corner and the dust settling, that early Hunter buzz might finally be fading—not because of anything he’s done, but because others are starting to steal the spotlight.
And Carter is right at the top of that list.
Abdul Carter has the potential to be the most exciting rookie from the 2025 draft class
Let's just get this out of the way: There is no better pass rusher in the '25 class than the 21-year-old former Nittany Lion. His bend and freakish athleticism are rivaled by the likes of Von Miller and Micah Parsons. No one's suggesting he's going to pan out like they have, but the potential is there.
Which is exactly why he's such an exciting prospect. He has the potential to transform this Giants' defense into something Big Blue Nation hasn't seen since the Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora days. It's also why Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report believes he has the chops to edge (pun intended) Hunter out for the most exciting rookie of the 2025 season.
In their latest article, Sobleski listed Carter as one of six likely candidates who could be more exciting than Hunter in Year 1:
"A special pass-rusher wreaking havoc on a weekly basis, while also being deployed in a variety of manners, will always draw significant interest," Sobleski wrote.
"Carter has the chance to make a similar impact to the one Micah Parsons did when he became the 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year."
The Giants didn’t enter the draft needing another edge rusher. But when the best pure defensive prospect in the class fell into their lap, they didn’t overthink it—and they might’ve (probably... hopefully) landed a cornerstone because of it.
Carter’s early offseason work has gone about as well as anyone could’ve hoped. He’s flashing the first-step quickness and flexibility that made him a top draft target, and coaches are already praising how naturally he wins at the top of the rush. Head coach Brian Daboll noted his ability to disrupt the backfield, and the staff has started moving him around the front to see how much he can handle. The athleticism, instincts, and confidence are all showing up early, and if this continues, the G-Men might’ve landed more than just an instant contributor.
Travis Hunter might still be the flashiest name from the class. But if Carter keeps building on this start, it won’t be long before he’s the one dominating the conversation.
