On Friday, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter made his Pro Day cameo, and while he didn't work out, he did get some new measurements and give fans some information to juggle as the 2025 NFL Draft quickly approaches.
Carter, expecting to be one of the top prospects taken in April, will have visits with just four teams: the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, and New England Patriots. Each owns a top-four pick, and each has a real reason to consider Carter, the class' top edge rusher.
The New York Giants, though, are the least likely of that group to take Carter. In one scenario, quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are the top two picks and they prefer Carter over Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter, who is tabbed by some as generational and fits two positions of need. In another, Ward and Hunter come off the board, and they take Carter over a quarterback, despite the pressing need for a franchise passer and two starting-caliber edge rushers in the building.
Neither of those outcomes is more likely than merely taking a quarterback or Hunter. But if Carter is the pick, it would immediately thrust edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux's status into question.
The Giants' edge rusher rumors continue with a Thibodeaux trade proposal from Last Word on Sports.
"The Carolina Panthers are finally putting some work into improving their defense after showing signs of life on offense under quarterback Bryce Young," Anthony Palacios wrote. "Jadeveon Clowney was the best edge rusher for the Panthers, while Josey Jewell was looking more like a journeyman for this pass rush. There have been rumors that the Panthers could trade Clowney, but it didn't happen. After signing Tershawn Wharton to improve its defensive trenches, there's a chance Clowney could be dealt in a trade, and if that's the case, Thibodeaux may be a viable replacement."
Related: Could Abdul Carter Push Thibodeaux Out The Door in a Giants Trade?
Carolina's need for an edge rusher has been a consistent source of speculation this offseason. Recently, an Underdog mock draft landed Carter with the Panthers after a hypothetical trade up to No. 3, granting New York ammunition for a quarterback in 2026.
Thibodeaux would be an instant upgrade for Carolina, but it's worth considering a future in which the Giants don't trade Thibodeaux. They can reasonably benefit from his fifth-year option, allowing them to kick the tires on a trade while letting him join Brian Burns and Carter on the edge.
New York, simply put, shouldn't be in the business of letting good players out of the building. There may come a time when Thibodeaux departs, but with encouraging peripherals and the opportunity to benefit from elite talents around him, creating a surplus would best serve the Giants if Carter sits atop their board.
Related: Giants Pick Winston's Competition in Two-Round Mock
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This story was originally published March 29, 2025 at 5:45 PM.
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