Jan. 24, 2026, 10:09 a.m. ET
Ahead of his rookie year, many expected New York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter to have an immediate impact. Although Carter came on strong toward the end of the season, his rookie year in its entirety was a bit underwhelming as he adjusted to the speed and competition level of the NFL.
Carter was, of course, drafted third overall by the Giants in the 2025 NFL draft out of Penn State and was considered a slam-dunk prospect.
Now, with his rookie year in the rearview mirror, Carter is hoping to set a tone of change in his sophomore season as the team tries to flip the script following a 4-13 season.
“Yeah, this is what I need to do. It was definitely something that came from me. In order to create change around here, it has to start with me — especially as I have to be a leader in holding guys accountable. I have to make sure I’m doing things the right way so I can be that person,” he said.
The Giants will be under a new coaching staff this coming season after the hiring of new head coach John Harbaugh. As Harbaugh comes in and fills out his coaching staff in the coming weeks, Carter will be a fun piece for the incoming defensive coordinator to use.
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Both the Giants and Carter will face big expectations to improve in the upcoming season. For Carter in particular, he will be expected to not only perform better, but also stay out of the spotlight for off-the-field issues after getting benched twice in his rookie year.
There is plenty of leadership on the Giants’ defensive line. However, Carter has clearly taken it upon himself to change the way he prepares and the example he sets for his teammates moving forward.
