According to a broad consensus among NFL Draft analysts, including Nate Tice and Charles McDonald of Yahoo Sports, the New York Giants opted for the best talent available with the No. 3 overall pick, selecting Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.
Carter was a strong contender to go first overall and may have been the top pick had the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns not owned the first two selections. There was also speculation that the Giants might consider trading down from their spot.
However, elite pass rushers are always in demand, and NFL teams can never have too many players who can pressure the quarterback. The Giants had a solid pass rush in 2024, finishing tied for eighth in the league with 45 sacks. Still, they trailed the league-leading Denver Broncos by 18 sacks. Adding Carter to the mix could elevate New York’s defense into one of the NFL’s top three units.
Last season at Penn State, Carter delivered an outstanding performance with 12 sacks—third-most in the country—along with a national-best 24 tackles for loss and 68 total tackles.
Dexter Lawrence II led the Giants with nine sacks in 2024, followed by Brian Burns (8.5 sacks) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (5.5 sacks). At minimum, Carter is expected to replace Azeez Ojulari—who signed with the Eagles after logging six sacks—but he could offer an upgrade with double-digit sack potential as a rookie.
Addressing concerns that Carter’s arrival might make Thibodeaux expendable, GM Joe Schoen quickly confirmed that the team would exercise Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option, valued at $14.75 million per Spotrac. Thibodeaux, the Giants’ No. 5 pick in 2022, has tallied 21 sacks in three seasons, including 11.5 last year.
While quarterback remains a pressing need, selecting one at No. 3 would’ve been considered a reach by many. The Giants reportedly tried to trade up to the No. 1 pick with an offer including multiple first-rounders, but the Titans declined. Instead, New York addressed the position later by trading into the first round and drafting Jaxson Dart with the 25th pick.
Dart is expected to sit and learn behind veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. Wilson signed a one-year deal, and Winston inked a two-year contract. On Thursday, the team also announced Wilson will open the season as the starting quarterback.