Taking a quarterback is the common consensus for what the New York Giants should do in the 2025 NFL draft, but the team could instead borrow a page from the book of NFC East rivals the Philadelphia Eagles and select “premier” edge-rusher Abdul Carter with the third-overall pick.
Doing so would copy the Eagles’ blueprint for beating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. That’s according to the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy, who believes “anyone who watched the reveal of Patrick Mahomes’ kryptonite as a stacked pass rush should simultaneously have pushed Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter up their mock draft.”
Dunleavy admitted “overreaction to the Super Bowl is a real thing inside the NFL, but it might just be wise after the Eagles’ 40-22 win against the Chiefs to go from seeing Carter as a top four prospect in the 2025 class to the favorite at No. 1.”
Taking Carter would fly in the face of convention for perhaps the most quarterback-needy team in the league. Particularly since both of the top passers in this class, Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado star Shedeur Sanders, should be in range of the Giants, either with the third pick or via trade.
Yet, Dunleavy conceded, “Quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders aren’t can’t-miss prospects. Receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is a scouting unicorn but — even if he plays on both sides of the ball (no guarantee) — will he make the same impact that a premier pass rusher would?”
Opting for Carter would represent a surer thing. It would also help the Giants replicate not only what won the Eagles a title this season, but also what propelled Big Blue to victory in two Super Bowls.
Abdul Carter a Strength on Strength Pick for Giants
Using first-round capital to draft Carter wouldn’t answer a need. Not when the Giants already have capable bookend edge-rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux in the starting lineup.
Adding a roving pressure specialist like Carter to this group would be doubling down on a team strength. Especially when “Carter had the 2nd highest % of Pass Rush snaps with a Pressure in the FBS (19.4%),” per The 33rd Team.
The 21-year-old posted 12 sacks, QB takedowns owing a lot to moves like this “ghost rip” against Notre Dame, highlighted by Aaron Day of DLineVids.