Giants snag Penn State's Carter 3rd overall

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The New York Giants selected Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, No. 3 overall.

Carter led the nation with 24 tackles for loss in 2024. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound edge rusher also posted 68 total tackles, 12 sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles.

Carter was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American after leading the Nittany Lions to the FBS's seventh-ranked defense in yards (294.8) and eighth-ranked unit in points allowed (16.5) per game.

The Giants were tied for eighth in team sacks with 45 quarterback takedowns last season. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence led the team with nine, followed by Brian Burns (8.5), Azeez Ojulari (six), and Kayvon Thibodeaux (5.5).

Pre-draft profile

Carter's explosiveness off the edge is rare. The Penn State product is an exceptional athlete who gets upfield in a flash. His speed is nearly impossible for most offensive tackles to match on the outside, and he uses his hands well while seamlessly bending the edge and flattening to the quarterback. Carter has also shown the skill to work inside counters, including a spin, off that lethal speed rush. The rush repertoire should continue to expand, as this was somehow only the former linebacker's first season as a full-time edge defender. He doesn't have great size, which will raise questions about his early fit as a run defender. But his instincts and ability to slip blocks with lateral quickness should help him make an impact in that regard. Carter is a top-two talent in this draft who provides legitimate Pro Bowl upside at one of the most valuable positions on the field.