Giants’ Abdul Carter Charging Ahead in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Race

The NFL’s newest defensive terror may have just landed in New York. Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick by the Giants in the 2025 NFL Draft, is already making waves and is the early favorite to take home NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Carter, a former Penn State standout, enters the league with a near-flawless collegiate résumé: 23.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a unanimous first-team All-America nod. He also took home Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2024, and his motor hasn’t cooled since arriving in the Meadowlands.

The Giants wasted no time penciling Carter in as a starter—actually, make that permanent marker. Defensive coordinator Shane Brown can barely contain his excitement at the thought of Carter joining a fearsome pass rush that already features Kayvon Thibodeaux and offseason addition Brian Burns. Together, they form one of the league’s most dangerous trios on the edge.

“Carter’s ability to collapse the pocket, shed blocks, and diagnose plays is years beyond his age,” one NFC scout noted. “He has the frame, the drive, and the opportunity. That’s a dangerous combination.”

With opposing offenses focused on slowing Thibodeaux and Burns, Carter could find himself in a favorable position to feast—potentially reaching double-digit sacks in his rookie campaign. Even seven or eight sacks, in a supporting rotation, would likely put him in prime position to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. For context, last year’s winner, Jared Verse of the Rams, notched just 4.5 sacks.

But Carter isn’t without competition.

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Travis Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick, has elite coverage skills but may split time between defense and offense. That uncertainty could limit his defensive stats. In Atlanta, edge rusher Jalon Walker has flashed promise, and Baltimore’s Mike Green and Arizona’s Will Johnson have drawn early buzz as dark-horse candidates. Still, none seem as NFL-ready—or as well-positioned—as Carter.

The Giants are hoping Carter’s presence will restore the franchise’s long-lost defensive identity. With a trio of game-wreckers up front, New York’s defense suddenly looks built to compete with the league’s best.

If Carter can replicate even a portion of his collegiate dominance, the Defensive Rookie of the Year award may be only the beginning of a decorated NFL career. And for Giants fans, it couldn’t be arriving at a better time.