When the New York Giants selected Abdul Carter with the number three overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the expectations for his career were already very high. It comes with the territory of being considered the top pass rusher coming out of college and into the pros, following the players who came from Penn State and dominated in the league.
While Carter still has to actually put on the pads and go out and prove he really is that dominant of a pass rusher in the league for the Giants, the buzz surrounding him is already there. Long-time Giants beat writer Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com and The Bergen Record feels like Carter may already be a special player before he ever plays his first game for the team in 2025.
Many view Carter as a potential clone of Micah Parsons, who dominated at Penn State before coming to the NFL to become one of the league’s top edge rushers. It also happens to be that Parsons wore No. 11 at Penn State just like Carter did, although Carter didn’t get the go-ahead from the Giants and Phill Simms to Don that number in East Rutherford.
Carter’s ability to get to the quarterback has already been shown off this spring and early summer during OTAs and minicamp, as we’ve gotten a glimpse of the speed and athleticism he possesses.
Abdul Carter is already proving to be everything and more that Giants fans could dream of
One particular video went viral of Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Brian Burns all getting to the quarterback in under a few seconds, with Carter being the one getting through the middle of the line.
The Giants might have the scariest front 7 in the league
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) June 12, 2025
Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Abdul Carter 😳
pic.twitter.com/U4HJD8cHWG
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Granted, players aren’t wearing pads, and it wasn’t the complete first string line of the Giants blocking, but that shows the potential of not only what the Giants pass rush can do, but also of Carter himself, who can really line up anywhere and make himself a force to be reckoned with.
Because of the addition of Carter to go along with Thibodeaux, Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Bobby Okereke, it’s given the Giants a bit of buzz heading into the 2025 season. Some even feel like the Giants may be a team to watch heading into the season. Carter has been a massive part of that feeling going around the league.
During his 2024 campaign at Penn State, Carter totaled 12 sacks with 68 total tackles and a nation-leading 24 tackles for a loss. These are the numbers that the Giants are hoping Carter will bring to his first professional season and add to a pass rush that led the league in sacks for the majority of last season before injuries dropped them down to ninth.
It remains to be seen if Carter follows in the footsteps of Parsons and LaVar Arrington as great Penn State linebackers who had success in the NFL. But if Carter is that much of a difference maker and can help reshape and transform the Giants' defense back into a feared unit like they once were when they were winning Super Bowls, then the Giants truly may have a special player on their hands.