Penn State’s Abdul Carter is arguably the best player available in the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s considered a generational talent who will provide an immediate defensive spark once he steps on the field this fall.
He’s been on the pre-draft visit circuit since the NFL Combine and recently revealed an interesting nugget from his time with the Cleveland Browns.
Abdul Carter and Kevin Stefanski Played Chess During Pre-Draft Visit
Carter is still considered the top prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft, but Miami quarterback Cam Ward is likely to go first overall to the Tennessee Titans. Colorado’s Travis Hunter has settled in as the presumed No. 2 pick to Cleveland, and Carter has shockingly become the betting favorite for the No. 3 overall selection.
He solidified his status as the best all-around player in the draft after moving back to EDGE in 2024. He earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named an honorable mention All-American by CSN while helping lead Penn State to a College Football Playoff semifinal.
Carter totaled 68 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, and four pass breakups — leading all of FBS in tackles for loss.
PFSN’s latest mock draft predicts the Browns will take Carter at No. 2 and pair him with four-time All-Pro Myles Garrett. Cleveland’s already formidable pass rush would likely be the best in the league for the foreseeable future, with Carter on a rookie deal and Garrett recently signing a four-year extension.
Carter visited the Browns as one of the team’s top 30 visits. Clubs use these visits to get an in-house look at the player and see how they handle a somewhat simulated day at the team’s facility.
Teams will typically have the player meet many people within the overall football operation and put them through a more in-depth install than what they went over at the NFL Combine. Carter’s trip to Cleveland had an added test with head coach Kevin Stefanski, which he spoke about on a recent episode of “Hey, Rookie. Welcome To The NFL.”
.@Browns HC Kevin Stefanski found out just how competitive Abdul Carter is 👀 ♟️#HeyRookie pic.twitter.com/VA4LXsc4Vu
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) April 15, 2025
Carter was asked by a trainer, “How good are you?” To which he responded, “Pretty good. I’m good at, like, everything I do.”
The trainer continued, “Yeah, yeah. No, I know that. What about chess?”
Carter replied, “I’m good at that, too. On my 30 visit, I beat the Browns’ head coach.” The trainer responded, “In chess? I might have to play you sometime.”
Carter has proven on the field that he’s good at everything he does. Being good at chess, too, is unfair. Speculation can begin about whether or not Stefanski let him win, but that chess match would give the head coach another look at how Carter handles competitive situations.
The Browns acquired Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco this offseason but are in desperate need of a long-term quarterback. Pairing Carter and Garrett would be a dream scenario for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, but it might not be the right move for the franchise. With Tennessee’s pick already spoken for, the draft essentially starts with Cleveland.