Giants taking Penn State LB Abdul Carter with No. 3 pick good way to help offense
Abdul Carter of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after sacking Will Howard of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 2, 2024, in State College, Pa. Credit: Getty Images
Giants tight end Theo Johnson saw firsthand how great Abdul Carter was at Penn State. The two were teammates for two seasons as Carter became an All-Big Ten linebacker.
Carter, of course, had even more highs to reach. He switched to defensive end last season and became an All-American. So it’s no shock Johnson gave a ringing endorsement of Carter ahead of Thursday’s NFL Draft kickoff.
“The guy brings a lot of juice. Good ballplayer,” Johnson said Monday. “I think he’s going to do really well in this league.”
It’s no secret the Giants need to find their next young quarterback. But it appears he might come later in the draft and the Giants go with best player available with the No. 3 pick.
The strategy seems sound. Carter led the nation with 23.5 tackles for loss. NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said on a recent conference call that Carter is arguably the draft’s best prospect along with Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter.
“To me, a draft I would love for the Giants is if they were to get] Abdul Carter,” Jeremiah said last Friday. “ . . . After that, you try and find somebody who fits you without having to give away the farm to go get them.”
So does it make sense to delay their quarterback pursuit after president/CEO John Mara said the No. 1 goal this offseason is to find the quarterback of the future? Perhaps “yes” more than “no.”
Consider the Giants’ history of success. The last two Super Bowl-winning teams were fueled by great pass-rushing depth led by Michael Strahan, Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora.
Lawrence Taylor was the NFL’s MVP during the Giants’ 1986 championship season. The defense was lauded in that 1991 Super Bowl victory when it held the high-powered Bills to just 19 points.
Carter even alluded to that history by posting a picture of Taylor during his visit with the Giants. But let’s slow down a bit. These current Giants aren’t anywhere near that level.
After a 3-14 season, getting to .500 next season would be reason to celebrate. But a path back to that goal can start with defense as much as a franchise quarterback.
Carter fits that profile. He had 12 sacks last season for Penn State. On the Giants, he wouldn’t be relied on to be a savior with Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence up front. But he’ll be a bonus given his productivity and being a willing pupil for the aforementioned trio.
“Pass rusher might not be a screaming need [for the Giants], but you draft players — not positions — in the top three, and Carter is a true impact player,” wrote The Athletic’s Dane Brugler in his latest mock draft this month.
The Giants also must decide whether to pick up Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option. Although general manager Joe Schoen said that will be decided after the draft, adding Carter could provide insurance for whatever the team decides to do.
Finally, the Giants were tied for eighth in sacks last season. Of the seven teams above them, only the Cowboys didn’t make the playoffs. You want to resume winning? Getting to the quarterback helps.
Carter’s main concern besides relative defensive line inexperience is his medical history. He didn’t work out at the Combine because of a foot injury nor at Penn State’s Pro Day due to a shoulder injury suffered last season.
His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Carter’s foot won’t require surgery. Schoen said last week that he didn’t expect to see anything in Carter’s medicals that would hinder the team taking him.
Sure, it’s a risk not taking a quarterback early. Maybe the Giants try to trade into the end of the first round to get someone late? Or they take someone in the second round with the 34th pick?
Either way, a new quarterback won’t be counted on next season with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston present.
A new edge rusher?
That certainly adds immediate help with Schoen and coach Brian Daboll on the hot seat.
So yes, the Giants badly need a young quarterback to groom. However, adding an impact defensive player like Carter might get them on a faster track out of the NFC East cellar.
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Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
