Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, there was significant hype surrounding New York Giants rookie Abdul Carter. He was widely regarded as one of the can’t-miss prospects early in the 2025 NFL draft.
Carter’s rookie season featured flashes that demonstrated why he was held in such high regard. At other times, however, he experienced the typical growing pains that many rookies face while adjusting to the NFL. Overall, many observers viewed his first season as somewhat underwhelming.
Despite that modest start, Carter earned a spot on NFL.com’s 2026 All-Breakout Team.
The third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft was expected to take the league by storm as a freakishly athletic pass rusher with disruptive skills. While Next Gen Stats credited Carter with 72 QB pressures — including a league-best 48 quick pressures (occurring in under 2.5 seconds) — his sack production was underwhelming, with just four on the season. I expect him to get home more often in 2026. Under new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, the Giants are preparing to unleash “organized chaos” via a quintet of rare athletes in the front seven: Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Arvell Reese and Tremaine Edmunds. Carter should see his numbers explode in Year 2 with plenty of one-on-one opportunities.
Carter will now work with a brand-new coaching staff led by John Harbaugh. Harbaugh is known for running a tight ship, which should help ensure that Carter’s previous off-the-field issues — including missing playing time after falling asleep during team meetings — remain in the past.
With Dennard Wilson leading the defense as the new coordinator, it will be revealing to see how Carter is deployed within a talented front seven early in the season.
Although Carter’s sack total fell short of expectations as a rookie, his high volume of pressures provides a strong foundation for a significant breakout in 2026.
The coaching staff change could be exactly what Carter needs to develop into the star the Giants envisioned when they selected him third overall in the 2025 NFL draft.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants’ Abdul Carter named to NFL.com’s All-Breakout Team
Reporting by Tyler Henry, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
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By Tyler Henry, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
