The New York Giants landed Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter with the third pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and their defensive front is already turning heads. As the team tries to shape its future, head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen could be coaching for their jobs this season.
Despite some pre-draft buzz around offensive line or quarterback help, New York stuck to its board and took the best defensive player available. So far, that bet looks like it’s paying off.
Abdul Carter Ready To Play Any Role for the New York Giants
Carter came into the league with a loaded résumé. He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after posting 68 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, four pass deflections, and two forced fumbles in his final college season. He had been in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick, along with quarterback Cam Ward, before a medical red flag popped up during the NFL Combine. Even with that news, Carter’s raw talent and production made him too good for the Giants to pass up.
Confidence has never been an issue for Carter. Before the draft, he asked about wearing retired jersey numbers belonging to franchise legends Lawrence Taylor (No. 56) and Phil Simms (No. 11). While those numbers remain off-limits, Carter has settled in with No. 51 for now — a quiet nod to his confidence without crossing a line.
In a recent video, Carter was seen getting coached up at OTAs as the staff discussed his fit across the defensive front. Showing his usual edge, he delivered a quick but telling response, “You can add more if you want.”
Giants: You have to learn all 5 spots
Abdul Carter: You can add more if you want pic.twitter.com/F9DVaNizWu
— Giants Nation Show (@GiantsNationPod) May 8, 2025
That’s the kind of mentality New York’s locker room has been buzzing about. The Giants already had a decent defense last year, finishing 20th in PFSN’s defensive rankings with a 71.3 defense+ grade. Now with Carter in the mix, expectations are rising fast.
The Giants deploy a base 3-4 scheme, so Carter will likely line up as an outside linebacker rather than a traditional hand-in-the-dirt defensive end. But his versatility is one of his biggest strengths. With stars like Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns on the front line, Carter won’t need to do it all, but he’ll have every chance to shine.
His swagger and work ethic have already won over fans and teammates. If he plays the way scouts believe he can, Carter might be the piece that finally brings the Giants’ defense back to dominance.