The 2025 NFL Draft was chalk at the top of the first round. Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter rounded out the top-three picks. Carter is ready to establish himself as the next great edge rusher for the New York Giants, but the best defender in team history wants Carter to pump the brakes.
Lawrence Taylor is excited about the pick, but said, “Get Another Number,” when the thought of Carter wearing No. 56 was brought up.
Lawrence Taylor Is Not a Fan of Abdul Carter Wearing No. 56
Carter was one of the no-doubt blue-chip prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was expected to be the first overall pick until the Tennessee Titans honed in on Cam Ward, and he’ll likely use his short fall as a chip on his shoulder.
PFSN’s Ian Cummings wrote, “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.”
Carter posted 68 tackles and 12 sacks in 2024. He led FBS with 24 tackles for loss and was a force during Penn State’s College Football Semifinal run.
He joins a New York defense that finished No. 20 in PFSN’s Defense+ metric last season, but this unit’s strength is its defensive line. Lawrence highlights the Giants’ proud EDGE rusher history, and is considered the greatest defensive player in NFL history.
Warren Moon decided to unretire his No. 1 for Cam Ward to wear in Tennessee, but Lawrence will not be doing the same for Carter.
Exclusive by @NYPost_Serby: Lawrence Taylor says no to Abdul Carter wearing 56.
“I know he would love to wear that number, but hey, I think it’s retired. Get another number, I don’t care if it’s double zero, and then make it famous.”https://t.co/qrNlmT7bZt
— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy)
New York Post NFL reporter Ryan Dunleavy posted an article by Steve Serby on X. Dunleavy tweeted, “Exclusive by @NYPost_Serby: Lawrence Taylor says no to Abdul Carter wearing 56. “I know he would love to wear that number, but hey, I think it’s retired. Get another number, I don’t care if it’s double zero, and then make it famous.”
Lawrence is a 10-time Pro Bowler, an eight-time first-team All-Pro, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1981. He’s a three-time Super Bowl Champion and was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
Carter doesn’t have to have the same career as Lawrence, but has the potential to end up in the Hall of Fame. He won’t be wearing No. 56, but Carter will make famous whatever number he ends up with.
