Four drafts ago, the New York Giants passed on a potential future Defensive Player of the Year. On Thursday night, they made sure not to make the same mistake again.
Back in 2021, New York held the 11th overall pick and was staring directly at Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons. Instead of pulling the trigger, Dave Gettleman traded back with the Chicago Bears and selected Kadarius Toney. The Dallas Cowboys pounced on Parsons at No. 12, and the rest is history. Toney was gone after 12 games. Parsons became a two-time All-Pro and a Giants killer in the NFC East. Fans haven’t forgotten.
Now, Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll finally delivered redemption. With the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Giants selected Penn State’s Abdul Carter—another athletic dude off the edge, and one often compared to Parsons himself.
Giants finally get their Micah Parsons do-over in Abdul Carter
At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Carter brings a near-identical profile to Parsons—same school, same jersey number, and that same twitchy explosiveness that ruins game plans. He racked up 12 sacks, 61 pressures, and a nation-leading 24 tackles for loss last season, while also playing through a shoulder injury in the College Football Playoff. Like Parsons, Carter transitioned from off-ball linebacker to a full-time edge rusher—and didn't skip a beat.
NFL evaluators have drawn the parallels for months. ESPN’s Matt Miller called Carter his favorite prospect in the entire class and said he “has the makings of a perennial NFL double-digit sack performer.” The comp? Micah Parsons.
Schoen could have gone with a quarterback. He could have traded down. He could have opted for more “need” than “best player.” But he didn’t. And in doing so, he sent a clear message: this regime is done passing on elite talent for the sake of positional fit or patience.
With Brian Burns already in the fold and Kayvon Thibodeaux still in Giants blue (for now), this defense is now Carter’s to disrupt. He won’t have to be the savior, but he has every trait to become one.
Will he become Parsons 2.0? That’s impossible to say. But this time, the Giants didn’t overthink it. They took the swing. They chose the star. After years of watching Parsons wreak havoc, the Giants may have finally drafted a force of their own to turn the tide.