The New York Giants have assembled what looks like a top-tier defensive line—at least on paper. The group was already formidable heading into the 2025 offseason, but the addition of Abdul Carter in the first round of the NFL Draft elevated it to a whole new level.
Carter is expected to make an immediate impact and could become a game-changing presence on defense right from his rookie year.
Giants Land a Premier Pass Rusher with the No. 3 Pick
When the Giants selected Carter third overall, they knew they were getting a special talent. The former Penn State standout led the country in 2024 with 24 tackles for loss and added 12 sacks to his impressive season. He also earned a stellar 92.3 pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF), marking his second consecutive year scoring above 90.
PFF’s analytics show Carter ranking in the 99th percentile across several key and stable pass-rushing metrics over the past two seasons, including success against true pass sets and overall pass-rush win rate.
In 2024, his 22.6% pass-rush win rate was among the highest in college football, and his 66 pressures were the second most among 512 NCAA edge rushers.
Could Carter Earn All-Pro Honors as a Rookie?
Carter drew frequent comparisons in the pre-draft process to another former Penn State star, Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys. Like Parsons—who burst onto the scene in 2021 with 13 sacks, a Pro Bowl nod, a Defensive Rookie of the Year award, and first-team All-Pro honors—Carter could have a similar breakout.
While it’s ambitious to expect such a meteoric rise, Carter’s potential is clearly sky-high. If he lives up to the hype, he could make a major splash in his debut season.
The Giants’ unofficial rookie sack record is 9.5, set by Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. If Carter becomes the first Giants rookie to reach double-digit sacks, he’d be placing himself in truly elite company.
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