OLB Abdul Carter will break the Giants' rookie sack record of 8.0.
John Schmeelk: Fact – This is going to be extremely close. When you look at the history of pass rushers with similar traits and drafted as high as Carter, they usually finish with around eight sacks in their rookie season. A lot of this will be dictated by how well the Giants stop the run, which would allow them to unleash their pass rush. I think the presence of Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux will help Carter and I bet half of his sacks come from blitzes or other rushes against non-tackles, which would be advantageous matchups for him. His ability to be positioned as a "joker" rusher off the line of scrimmage and standing up behind the defensive line to find mismatches – and take advantage of loops and stunts – will be critical to his success. I think he will finish with 8.5.
Dan Salomone: Fact – I was contemplating "fiction" here because I think people underestimate just how difficult it is to approach double-digit sacks in the NFL, especially for a rookie. Just look at the Giants' all-time sack leaders who were drafted after 1982, the year it became an official statistic. Michael Strahan had just one in nine games (no starts) as a second-round draft choice in 1993. Leonard Marshall had just half of a sack in 14 games (six starts) as a second-round pick in 1983. Osi Umenyiora, another second-round selection, had just one in 13 games (one start) as a second-round pick in 2003. Keith Hamilton had 3.5 in 16 games (no starts) as a fourth rounder in 1992. Justin Tuck, a third-round choice, had one in 14 games (one start) in 2005. Jason Pierre-Paul, the 15th overall pick in his class, had 4.5 in 16 games (no starts) as a rookie in 2010. You get my point. But why is Abdul Carter different? He's the third overall pick. Expectations are higher.
Matt Citak: Fact – Between Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence, the Giants have the potential to have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL. Opposing offenses are not going to be able to double team all four players, and given the track record of the other three, Carter is likely to see plenty of 1-on-1 situations, at least to start the season. The No. 3 overall pick has looked explosive during OTAs, albeit with no contact allowed. If he keeps it up once the pads come on in late July, he will top eight sacks with relative ease.
DL Dexter Lawrence will lead the Giants in sacks for the third time in four years.
John Schmeelk: Fact – Lawrence shattered his career high in sacks last year with nine to lead the Giants. More impressive? He did it in only 12 games. No one can block Dexter Lawrence 1-on-1. Sometime double teams don't even slow him down. There is a fair argument to be made that he is the most dominant player in the National Football League. There's no reason to think with the extra help he will have with Carter and Chauncey Golston that he won't have a monster year.
Dan Salomone: Fiction – If we thought Dex got a lot of attention last season, he added a third Pro Bowl accolade and a career-high nine sacks to his resume. But we know what those double teams will do. They will free up Bran Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and now Abdul Carter.
Matt Citak: Fiction –I've come to learn that one should never doubt Sexy Dexy, but after three consecutive dominant seasons, I expect Lawrence to face the most double teams from opposing offensive lines. That leaves Brian Burns as my choice to lead the team in sacks in 2025. Burns had 8.5 sacks in his first campaign with the Giants last year, and that was with him battling injuries throughout the whole season. If he can stay healthy, and given all of the talent around him, double-digit sacks is attainable for the 27-year-old.