Is Abdul Carter the Secret Weapon Who Could Ignite the Giants’ Defense in 2025?

When the New York Giants invested a second-round pick in Abdul Carter back in 2022, many saw him as a developmental project. Fast forward to today, and the former Temple standout is on the verge of breaking out in a major way. With Brian Burns commanding double-digit sacks and Kayvon Thibodeaux drawing double teams, Carter’s quietly refined his game, blending explosive first steps with relentless motor to become the versatile edge rusher Daboll and Martindale rave about behind closed doors.

Throughout training camp, Carter has stood out in one-on-one drills, routinely winning with swim moves and bull rushes that leave veteran linemen grasping at air. His film study is equally impressive: Carter anticipates plays, flashes in underneath zones, and even flashes surprise snaps on stunt blitzes. While many expected him to be a rotational piece in 2025, whispers around the facility suggest a larger role could be coming sooner than anyone imagined.

What makes Carter especially intriguing is his knack for making big plays when the lights are brightest. Recall his Week 16 strip-sack of Justin Fields last year, a game-changing moment that helped snap the Giants’ skid against Chicago. If Carter can parlay those flashes into consistent production alongside Burns and Thibodeaux, New York’s defense might suddenly become one of the league’s most feared units.

So, could Abdul Carter be the X-factor who finally turns the G-Men’s defense from average to dominant? If his training camp blitzes are any indication, opposing quarterbacks should be very worried.