Abdul
Carter

Abdul's first career sack and blocked punt in his NFL debut were a sign of things to come for the talented 2025 first-round pick. He finished the year with 66 quarterback pressures – 21 more than any other rookie – and a 14.7% pass-rush win rate. Carter tied for the sixth-most quarterback hits in the league and had five or more pressures in six games.

Carter absolutely stifled the Washington offense on Nov. 9, 2024. Almost every snap featured the linebacker beating an offensive lineman, getting into the backfield and pushing his foe backward. Powering Penn State to a 35-6 rout, he tallied six tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in the win.

Abdul Man's defense like he has a shot out of a cannon. He can bend the edge, chase sideline to sideline and blow up plays on contact. Carter isn't just fast, he's also relentless, forcing offenses to rush everything they do.

Back to know Baton, Giants fans, the page now a team sank. An exciting player a fast demons get my best pass rush, make that big explosive play.

When Carter took the stage in Detroit to hug it out with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and show off his new Giants jersey, he kept his shades on. His future was just that bright. The third overall pick in 2025 has every tool he needs to become one of the league's greatest pass-rushers and one of its biggest stars.

Carter drew a lofty comparison from teammate Jermaine Eluemunor at training camp. "I love going against Abdul because that first step he has is [explosive] … to go against him every day is a blessing for me," the tackle said. "I said the same thing when I was in Las Vegas going against Maxx [Crosby]."

Dominant defenses start in the trenches. An unstoppable pass-rush makes life miserable for the quarterback and allows the secondary to feast on errant passes. That's the role Carter fills for the Giants. Overwhelming offensive linemen, the rookie linebacker wreaks havoc on every snap.

Hard worker. Twitchy. Dawg. Take your pick of modern or old-school slang — it all works to describe Carter. Coaches and teammates see everything in the No. 3 overall pick. "I tell him every day I think he's going to be great," right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said. "The characteristics he has, you can't teach." We dig it.

Carter had a path to make a quick difference in his rookie year as part of a deep Giants linebacking corps, noted The Athletic. The site foresaw the highly touted 2025 draftee "lining up inside on passing downs to maximize the talents of [Brian] Burns and [Kayvon] Thibodeaux this year."

Carter shot further up draft boards with eleven sacks and highlight-reel hit he produced at Penn State. The linebacker pumped out those plays at a superstar rate and ended up as one of the best pass-rush prospects in years. He should live up to the hype with New York.

Right down to wearing the No. 11 jersey at Penn State, Carter has modeled his career after Cowboys star Micah Parsons at every step. The Giants, who have had a front-row seat to the perennial All-Pro's career, leapt at the chance to add an equally ferocious linebacker to their own lineup in the 2025 NFL Draft.

When Carter joined the Giants in 2025, he asked whether he could wear Lawrence Taylor's iconic No. 56 jersey. The legendary edge-rusher declined, instead offering a piece of sage advice. "He has to be the player that he is," Taylor told ESPN. "He has to make his mark. It's up to him." Mission accepted.

Carter was ESPN's Matt Bowen's early pick for DROY. "With Carter's explosive traits, he will consistently attack the edges of offensive tackles," he said. "The Giants can also scheme for him out of loaded fronts to the pass-rush matchups they want. Sack numbers count with this award, which shouldn't be a problem."

Adding Carter to the Giants' group of stud pass-rushers will break the minds of offensive coordinators around the league. The No. 3 pick has the ability to cause issues from multiple alignments, meaning he'll always have to be accounted for unless teams decide to focus on someone else, leaving him free to roam.

As he prepared for his first Giants training camp in 2025, Carter wanted to make one thing clear to the fans: He believes he is a rookie in name only. "Year 1," the lights-out linebacker posted on social media. "I ain't no rookie. Been playing this game a long time. Ball is ball. I love this."

Chris Hogan sees Carter making a huge impact in New York. "He's a big body — he's not enormous, doesn't have a huge frame — but those guys that have that engine where they're going and they're not gonna stop, they can be problems on defense," the former Patriots WR said on Talkin' Ball with Pat Leonard.

A dynamic force as a pass rusher and run-stopper, Abdul has a knack for getting to the quarterback in a hurry. He had the country in a tizzy for most of the 2024 and in his first season as a member of the New York Giants, the unanimous All-American did not disappoint. In a Week 9 victory over the Washington Commanders, Carter forced a fumble and forced another on a Week 14 victory over the New Orleans Saints. The unanimous All-American did not disappoint in his first season as a member of the New York Giants. The unanimous All-American did not disappoint in his first season as a member of the New York Giants. The unanimous All-American did not disappoint in his first season as a member of the New York Giants.

Abdul plays defense like he's shot out of a cannon. His explosive first step, active hands and in nonstop motion lead to incessant pressure on even the most experienced quarterbacks. He can bend the edge, chase sideline to sideline and blow up plays on contact. Carter isn't just fast, he's also relentless, forcing offenses to rush everything they do.

Carter shot further up draft boards with every crushing sack and highlight-reel hit he produced at Penn State. The linebacker pumped out those plays at a superstar rate and ended up as one of the best pass-rush prospects in years. He should live up to the hype with New York.

Carter added another nasty presence on the Giants' defensive front with his arrival in 2025. He's a major disruptor who can smother runners in the gap or dart around the edge and pressure the passer. He can overpower blockers or put them on their heels with a sudden burst of speed off the snap.

A dynamic force as a pass rusher and run-stopper, Abdul files around the edge and blasts through gaps to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. He led the country in tackles for loss in 2024, and finished eighth nationally in sacks. The unanimous All-American and Lott Trophy winner was a dominant force for the Nittany Lions.

Carter entered his debut season in 2025 ready to transform the Giants defense. An undeniable force coming off the edge, the hard-hitting linebacker does not stop until he drags his foe to the turf. Neither quarterbacks nor ball-carriers are safe from the thud of one of his bone-rattling tackles.