Get ready for the 2025 NFL Draft with our spotlight on Abdul Carter. Get the breakdown on their strengths and weaknesses in our scouting report, understand their potential with our draft profile, and see where experts predict they’ll land.
Abdul Carter’s NFL Draft Scouting Report
Abdul Carter is the top-ranked prospect on PFN’s board and a blue-chip EDGE talent in the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s an impressive feat, considering that 2024 was his first season playing EDGE full-time. As one might expect, being a young EDGE at just 6’3″, 250 pounds, Carter still has room to improve his run defense, and he’s never going to be immovable against combos and duo blocks.
But as a pass-rusher and pursuit threat, Carter has a kind of instant explosiveness and closing speed that’s near-impossible to replicate, and he builds upon that generational burst with speed-to-power, wicked bend capacity, and strong, intentional hand usage. Additionally, his off-ball background gives him the versatility to rush gaps, disguise blitzes, and drop in coverage. At his peak, he can be an absolute game-wrecker.
Looking for more analysis on prospects? Here’s our EDGE scouting reports for the 2025 NFL Draft and all other positions.
Abdul Carter’s Latest NFL Draft Projection
PFSN’s Ian Cummings projected Carter to be drafted third overall in his most recent 7-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft.
Cummings said, “The New York Giants have a lot of needs, and EDGE isn’t the highest one, but Kayvon Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option decision is looming, and one could argue that Abdul Carter on a rookie deal is preferable value long-term.
“New York has done its homework on Carter with multiple visits, and Carter’s generational explosive element would be deadly on a line with Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence II. He’s still just one year into his full-time EDGE career. The sky might not even be the limit.”
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Abdul Carter’s NFL Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’3″
- Weight: 250 pounds
- Position: EDGE
- School: Penn State
Note: Carter did not participate in any of the official NFL combine tests.
Where Does Abdul Carter Rank Among 2025’s EDGE Prospects?
Here are the top 10 EDGE rankings for the 2025 NFL Draft, according to PFSN Draft Analyst Ian Cummings.
10. James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
9. Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
8. Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss
7. Bradyn Swinson, LSU
6. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
5. Mykel Williams, Georgia
4. Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
3. Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
2. Mike Green, Marshall
1. Abdul Carter, Penn State
There’s Abdul Carter, and then there’s everyone else. It’s that simple. Carter isn’t just EDGE1 in the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s also PFSN’s top-ranked prospect in the class, a blue-chip talent, and an impact starter right out of the gate at the NFL level.
Carter transitioned from off-ball linebacker to EDGE in 2024 and didn’t waste any time becoming a nightmarish force for opposing tackles. He led the nation with 24 TFLs in an All-American campaign and also registered 12 sacks on the rush.
At 6’3″, 250 pounds, Carter’s first step is truly an anomaly. He has teleporting explosiveness that can’t be matched, he can bend while keeping speed, he can engulf runners in pursuit, and he can erode extensions with his ferocious compact power.
Abdul Carter’s College Stats and Accolades
Career:
- Tackles For Loss: 41
- Solo Tackles: 104
- Interceptions: 1
- Forced Fumbles: 5
2024:
- Tackles For Loss: 24
- Solo Tackles: 43
- Interceptions: 0
- Forced Fumbles: 2