The New York Giants used the third overall pick on Abdul Carter with a clear goal in mind. He’s meant to be the centerpiece of their new-look defense. That’s what happens when you take a pass rusher third overall and surround him with comparisons to Von Miller and Micah Parsons before he even throws on a blue jersey.
And after a brutal 2024 season that saw the team torn apart at the seams, it’s understandable why fans are pinning so much hope on one guy. But we might want to slow down just a little.
Carter is every bit the explosive athlete he was hyped to be coming out of Penn State. He flies off the snap, he bends the edge with rare fluidity, and he’s the kind of defender that pops on tape. Still, even the best athletes need time. The G-Men don’t need him to be an every-down game-wrecker by Week 1 — and that’s probably a good thing.
Abdul Carter’s path to full-time role goes through Kayvon Thibodeaux
Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder recently named Abdul Carter vs. Kayvon Thibodeaux one of the 11 most important rookie vs. veteran position battles this offseason. That headline alone is enough to stir up intrigue, but it's Thibodeaux winning the battle that will have Giants fans in flux.
Holder explains, “While the rookie offers more athletic upside and potential as a pass-rusher, Thibodeaux’s run defense could give him an upper hand. That was one of the few concerns about Carter heading into the draft.”
And it’s true. Carter’s burst and pass-rush twitch give him a genuine chance to be special. But if there’s one thing coaches preach this time of year, it’s that flashing in May doesn’t mean you’re ready to anchor a defense in September. Carter still needs to bulk up and improve his ability to disengage from NFL-sized tackles in the run game, something Thibodeaux is already good at.
Good news is these are teachable skills, but they matter — especially when he’s competing with a former top-five pick who has logged 21 career sacks and is fighting for a contract extension after Big Blue picked up his fifth-year option.
“If Thibodeaux is still on the roster to begin this season, Carter will undoubtedly still have a role on passing downs,” Holder added. “However, the latter could afford to bulk up and be more consistent as a run defender before becoming an every-down player, which the Giants don’t need him to be with the veteran still on the roster.”
There’s no shame in that. Not every top-three pick needs to be thrown into the fire immediately. Sometimes the smaller, twitchier guys just need to bulk up a bit more while contributing solely on passing downs. And with Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and KT already anchoring the front, that's the perfect opportunity for Carter to make his impact felt without having to carry the full load right away.
If everything goes according to plan, this position battle won’t be a one-winner-takes-all situation. It’ll be about forming a rotation that keeps the pressure on and the production steady — and letting Carter develop into the every-down force he’s projected to be. The upside is there. The excitement is justified. But for now, letting him grow into the role might be the smartest play New York can make.