Abdul Carter
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History indicates the new York Giants should lower expectations for rookie pass-rusher Abdul Carter.
They took Abdul Carter with the third pick in the 2025 NFL draft to be a transformative player for their defense, but history indicates the New York Giants should lower their expectations for the gifted and versatile rookie edge-rusher.
Historical trends for pass-rushers drafted with a top-five pick provide a warning for Carter and the Giants, according to The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia. He explained how “If we look at all the rookie pass rushers who have been drafted in the top five since 2000, the average production is 5.7 sacks across a season. Only five—Julius Peppers, Bradley Chubb, Von Miller, Joey Bosa, and Ndamukong Suh—produced double-digit sacks as rookies. Could Carter join that group? Sure! But it’s not the most likely scenario.”
That’s a worrying track record for the most-hyped player on the team to overcome. Fortunately, Carter has been enough of a force during both training camp and preseason to create genuine buzz he can be elite in Year 1.
Abdul Carter Already Facing Huge Expectations
Lofty draft status and a flexible skill-set immediately set the bar high for Carter upon entering the pros. The former Penn State star is already encouraging lavish praise from some of the game’s greatest and most consistent pass-rushers.
One former NFL sack leader has predicted Carter will end a 44-year award drought for Big Blue. Meanwhile, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year has endorsed a “gold” standard pass-rush move in Carter’s repertoire.
He appeared to be justifying the hype when Carter bossed the Buffalo Bills and four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Dion Dawkins in Week 1 of the preseason. Highlights from Justin Penik of Talkin’ Giants show how much of a problem Carter was on his debut.
There’s a lot of fanfare from those who know the craft, but Carter is still yet to play a down in a meaningful NFL game. He’ll get his first chance against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on Sunday, September 7, and the Giants’ NFC East rivals will already be aware Carter may need special attention.
Giants Can Help Rookie Beat History
The Commanders will have seen the impact Carter made in exhibition contests. What they’ll have noticed is a roving disruptor already seeing his share of double teams.
Abdul Carter
GettyAbdul Carter is already seeing double teams.
It speaks to the rookie’s rapid development, but extra attention being paid to Carter is also a reminder of what makes this Giants defense dangerous. Namely, the difficulty of doubling one skilled pass-rusher and leaving other talented members of a loaded front to take over a game.
Carter will not travel through his debut campaign in isolation. He’ll be helped by fellow edge defenders Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns, with the latter adding something new to his pass-rush plan for this season.
Burns and Carter will move around the front and rush from multiple angles, but a forgotten Giants pass-rusher will also be in the mix as the key to a “nightmare” front. Add in the presence of All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II, who is without equal in a key area, and Carter has the supporting cast to help him defy history and Kapadia’s prediction.