The New York Giants’ quarterback search has dominated headlines all offseason, but let’s not forget this team still has plenty of other holes to fill. Sure, trading for Matthew Stafford or drafting a quarterback at No. 3—maybe even trading up to No. 1—has been the main discussion, but what if New York’s best move is to build an absolute wrecking crew on defense instead?
Enter Abdul Carter, the Penn State edge rusher who might just be the best overall player in the 2025 draft. The Giants have been linked to him with their No. 3 pick, and pairing him with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux could create one of the most terrifying pass rushes in football. But there is one major concern: his foot injury.
Carter just got some pretty interesting news—he apparently won’t need surgery and should be a full go at his March 28 pro day. This could change everything. Not just for the Giants, but for the entire top of the draft.
Doctors told Penn St. DE and projected No. 1 pick Abdul Carter that, after further scans on his right foot, surgery is not advisable. Carter will work out at his March 28 pro day at Penn State.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2025
“I couldn’t be more confident that this will be a non-factor where he’s drafted,”… pic.twitter.com/pHTkIzDcWM
How does Abdul Carter's injury affect the Giants?
Carter’s injury status has been one of the bigger storylines at the combine. If there are lingering doubts about his health, the Titans (who hold the No. 1 pick) might pass on him in favor of a quarterback like Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, or trade back for more assets.
That, in turn, will have a massive impact on the Giants at No.3. Now? It's wait and see mode.
If the Titans still feel comfortable taking Carter No. 1, it could mean no QBs go off the board before the Giants pick. That would leave both Ward and Sanders available—a dream scenario for New York. But if Tennessee decides to trade the pick, the bidding war could intensify. The Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, or maybe even the New York Jets could make a move to go after the top pick.
And if the Titans pass on Carter? The Cleveland Browns, sitting at No. 2, could pivot to take him themselves, leaving the Giants to choose between Travis Hunter, a quarterback, or a trade-down option. There are a lot of moving pieces here, and this latest injury update just made the draft even more unpredictable.
Let’s say Carter does slip to No. 3. Would the Giants really pass on him? On one hand, a pass-rushing trio of Carter, Burns, and Thibodeaux is legitimately terrifying. This team wouldn't have had a pass rush this electric since the Super Bowl-winning NASCAR package of Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Michael Strahan.
On the other hand, the Giants still need a quarterback. If Ward or Sanders is on the board, can they really justify passing on a potential franchise signal-caller? And can they truly ignore the potential lingering effects of Carter's injury? Is Travis Hunter still available? So many questions to answer.
That’s the dilemma general manager Joe Schoen is going to face. Carter’s clean bill of health keeps him firmly in the mix for the No. 1 pick. However, if his pro day shows any hindrances, or if he misses it entirely, the Titans and several other teams might just go in another direction. The Giants will have to decide if they’re willing to gamble on Carter's health or take the plunge at quarterback.