Going into the 2025 NFL Draft with the third overall pick, the Giants had a plethora of options to revamp their improving team on either side of the football. Rumors suggested they were interested in a few players in particular, with Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter leading the charge.
Either would have been the kind of addition the team needed, and fortunately, they were able to snag their next superstar in the making with Carter falling right into their laps. Although Hunter was off the table due to a blockbuster trade to move up by the Browns, it's hard to argue that Carter wasn't the right choice, even more so after the latest impression he's made during spring practices.
From being considered their next franchise star to being compared to some all-time New York greats, Carter has received a lot of hype in the months since he joined the team. It's a lot to live up to, but he has a wide-open door to walk through, and he's already accomplishing that. According to one Giants reporter, he's actually going above and beyond expectations, and it's only June.
Abdul Carter might become and even bigger star for the Giants than anyone anticipated
In a reaction post from a final minicamp practice last week, Giants and NFL reporter for USAToday, Art Stapleton, expressed some of the most excitement about Carter's potential that we've seen all offseason.
Hey you, get closer to your phone or laptop because I have a secret to share ...
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) June 19, 2025
You reading?
Ready?
Abdul Carter might be better than any of us thought. It's scary to admit for a team that has embodied Murphy's Law for a decade, but lean into it. He's different. #NYGiants
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If this doesn't make Giants fans want to run through a wall, it's hard to say what would.
The potential surrounding Carter has been widely emphasized over the past several months, as he was considered the best pass rusher of the 2025 class. That inevitably led many analysts to believe he could have been the first one off the board, making the Giants lucky that he was still available at pick No. 3.
Expectations are now through the roof for the rookie, and the hope is that he can deliver, especially after comments like Stapleton's will be plastered everywhere throughout the preseason. It's a lot to live up to, and whether Carter can handle the pressure will be a big test for such a young player.
Fortunately, he has some great teammates to learn from and work with who can mentor him to be the superstar player he's already being made out to be.