There has been some level of optimism for the New York Giants this season after enduring a franchise-worst 2024 campaign.
While the biggest excitement might be New York drafting their potential next franchise quarterback, Jaxson Dart, Big Blue's defense is also gaining a lot of traction thanks to the team selecting, arguably, the best player in this past NFL Draft: Abdul Carter, with the third overall pick.
On paper, the Giants’ defense already looked like one of the league’s best before they even added Carter, with Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence up front. The addition of Carter to that group will only make them better in 2025. And if there was any doubt about how good they might be this year, Pro Football Focus remains very high on them heading into the 2025 campaign.
Pro Football Focus lists both Burns and Carter as top pass rushers
Having star pass rushers like Burns and Carter on defense could create serious problems for opposing offensive lines, and the Giants couldn’t be more thrilled to have them both. With Carter touted as a generational talent and Burns in the prime of his career, the two could form a scary duo. In an article for Pro Football Focus, Ryan Smith certainly believes they’re both in for a big year.
Smith, who ranked Burns as the 16th-best pass rusher heading into the season had this to say of the second-year Giant:
"Burns’ first season in New York was a success, as he posted a career-high 79.2 PFF grade, fueled by an 82.9 pass-rush grade and 61 total pressures — both the second-highest marks of his career," Smith wrote.
Burns’ first season in New York was a strong one. The 27-year-old posted 8.5 sacks, 42 tackles, and two forced fumbles. With Carter now joining that pass-rushing front, Ryan Smith ranked the former Nittany Lion as the 20th-best pass rusher before he’s even taken an NFL snap.
"Projecting rookie production is always tricky. However, Carter led the FBS in PFF pass-rush grade (92.4) and total pressures (66), and he also ranked in the top five in pass-rush win rate (22.6%). He has all the tools to make an immediate impact at the NFL level," Smith said about Carter.
"Carter has drawn comparisons to fellow Penn State alum Micah Parsons, who was elite as a rookie in 2021. Given his potential, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Carter crack the top 15 on this list next year."
As Smith alluded to, the comparisons between Carter and Micah Parsons shouldn’t come as a surprise, given how dominant Carter was throughout his college career. After recording 11 sacks over his first two years at Penn State, the 21-year-old broke out last season. In 16 games, he posted 68 total tackles, a career-high 12 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Simply put, he was the best defensive player in all of college football.
Even though expectations for the Giants this season may not be that high—especially after a brutal 3-14 finish and with three NFC East rivals only getting better—the pass-rushing duo of Brian Burns and Abdul Carter should at least give fans something to be excited about in 2025.