Ex-Giant exec bullish on what No. 3 overall pick will bring to New York
New York Giants’ rookie Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, will have a big impact this season if former Giants executive Marc Ross is right.
Ross, in an annual post for NFL.com selecting the 10 rookies in the best positions to succeed, has Carter No. 1 on his list. He writes:
The defensive line was one of the few bright spots for the Giants in 2024, with a front led by Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns helping Big Blue tie for the eighth-most sacks (45) in the league. The addition of the uber-dynamic Carter should make the unit even better, with defensive coordinator Shane Bowen able to deploy the Giants’ three top edge rushers — Carter, Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux — in multiple ways. Carter was the consensus top edge rusher in this year’s draft, boasting the skill set and tenacity to relentlessly wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
The trick for Bowen, of course, will be getting Carter, Burns and Thibodeaux on the field enough.
Carter is currently working as an outside linebacker in a room coached by Charlie Bullen. He isn’t worried about eventually being asked to move around.
“I pretty much did the same thing since I got to Penn State,” Carter said. “They moved me around since I was a freshman. Played linebacker, edge, lined up inside on the guard, so I’ve pretty much been doing this since my freshman year.
“I was talking to coach, line me up at fullback, tight end, and I can block and catch so wherever they need me, I’m going to line up.”
Head coach Brian Daboll admitted during rookie minicamp that he isn’t sure how things will play out in terms of how Carter will ultimately be used.
“It’s so early right now he’s just learning the beginning stages of the playbook,” Daboll said. “We’ll do whatever we think is best for the team.”
