NFL draft rumors: Penn State's Abdul Carter visits with fourth and final team
Some believe Abdul Carter to be the best player in the 2025 NFL draft.
The Nittany Lion was arguably the top defensive player in the country in the 2024 college football season. Carter was an intimidating force for Penn State, leading the country in tackles for loss (24) and earning first-team All-American honors while posting an 18.5% pressure rate, which ranked third in the nation.
Carter had the third-most pressures overall (66) and the seventh-most sacks (12.0) in the FBS last season. A former linebacker, Carter switched to edge rusher before the start of last season in Tom Allen's defense.
Multiple draft pundits have Carter as the first or second overall prospect on their big boards. With 10 days until the draft, Carter will meet with the New England Patriots today on a top-30 visit, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
The Patriots will be Carter's fourth and final pre-draft visit. The other three teams he met with are the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants. All teams own one of the top-four picks in the draft.
Abdul Carter visits
Tennessee Titans
The Titans are widely expected to take Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick. Attention would then turn to what the Browns will do with the draft's No. 2 selection.
Cleveland Browns
ESPN's Adam Schefter acknowledged the Browns "might" select Carter with the second pick.
"I believe Travis Hunter is the more likely pick at [No.] 2 today," Schefter said last week during a podcast episode.
The thought of Cleveland pairing Carter with perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate and the highest-paid defender in NFL history, Myles Garrett, is worth salivating over. However, the Browns have a need at quarterback, making the second-generation NFL prospect Shedeur Sanders an option, and also a gap at wide receiver that Travis Hunter could fill.
That said, Carter met with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Andrew Berry at the end of March while visiting the team facility. The meeting occurred over dinner the day before Penn State's pro day. Carter met with only the Browns and Giants during his pro day.
New York Giants
Carter has met with the Giants five times during the pre-draft process. First, at the combine, followed by his pro day. He then he had breakfast with Brian Daboll. The Giants brass then met with him twice at the team facility.
Carter has terrific traits as a former off-ball linebacker. He's an explosive athlete who could wreak havoc off the edge as a pass rusher. He can be deployed in multiple ways and would instantly make the Giants front seven, which already consists of Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux — one of the most ferocious bunches in the NFL.
Carter took to social media and posted a photo of Giants Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, suggesting he would welcome the opportunity to play for "Big Blue."
New England Patriots
The Patriots currently hold the fourth overall pick in the draft, which means it's unlikely Carter will be available when New England is on the clock. Still, Carter turned down visits from all teams outside the top four in the order, so it's worth noting.
Carter would instantly give the Patriots an anchor along their defensive line. Shedeur Sanders might be the guy who stops Ward, Hunter and Carter from going 1-2-3 in some order. So there's a chance the Patriots can land the standout defender who would create an immediate identity for Mike Vrabel's defense.
Abdul Carter draft odds
The current NFL draft odds provided by BetMGM have Carter priced as the favorite to be the third overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL draft:
- First overall: (+3500)
- Second overall: (+250)
- Third overall: (-250)
- Fourth overall: (+700)
- Fifth overall: +(4000)