Former Penn State football defensive end Abdul Carter was drafted by the New York Giants with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Carter became the first Nittany Lion drafted in the 2025 draft and the highest Penn State selection since Saquon Barkley was drafted with the No. 2 overall pick by the New York Giants in 2018.

With the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select Abdul Carter. pic.twitter.com/ucFnYilnd4

— Onward State (@OnwardState) April 25, 2025

Carter became the first Penn State defensive end to hear his name called in the top three of the NFL Draft since Courtney Brown was selected No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2000 NFL Draft. He becomes the second defensive end in a row to be drafted in the first round after Chop Robinson was drafted with the No. 21 pick by the Miami Dolphins last year.

The 6’3″ and 259-pound edge rusher is considered one of the best to ever don the No. 11 for Penn State. In his first year with the Nittany Lions, he made an instant impact as a linebacker, recording 56 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and 6.5 sacks in 13 appearances.

Carter’s stats took a slight dip in his second year as he recorded 49 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception. Despite this, he earned a First Team All-Big Ten selection by coaches and media. During the 2024 offseason, he made the position change from an off-ball linebacker to an edge rusher.

This position change paid huge dividends for Carter as he flourished in this new role under former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen. In his third and final year with Penn State, he had his best season statistically as he recorded 68 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and 12 sacks in 16 appearances. This earned him accolades such as the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year, a first-team All-American distinction, and AP Big Ten Defensive Player Of The Year.

Instead of coming back for one more season with Penn State, Carter skipped his senior year and declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. Due to a shoulder injury that he sustained during the Fiesta Bowl, he did not participate in workouts at the NFL Combine.

While Carter was participating in physical exams and interviews at the combine, he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right foot but opted out of receiving surgery. Due to these injuries, he did not work out at Penn State Pro Day.

Carter joins fellow Penn Stater Theo Johnson on the Giants. He will hope to make an instant impact for a team that finished 3-14 in 2024, last in the NFC East.