Abdul Carter was unable to participate in on-field drills at the NFL Scouting Combine and his lengthy recovery from a shoulder injury he suffered in Penn State’s College Football Playoff Quarterfinal win over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl prevented him from working out at Penn State’s Pro Day on Friday. However, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and his agent did not let the opportunity go to waste.
With top personnel from teams at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft in Happy Valley, presumably to scout the potential No. 1 overall pick, Carter met with the New York Giants. The Giants with general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll both entering the 2025 season on the hot seat, hold the No. 3 overall pick after a 3-14 season in 2024.
Schoen and Daboll are desperate for a long-term answer at quarterback, but positioned behind the quarterback-needy Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, the Giants signed veterans Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson in free agency presumably as a contingency plan for the draft. There are two top quarterback prospects at the top of the draft class and if the Titans and Browns select Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, the Giants will be in line to decide between Carter and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. However, New York may get its quarterback after all.
Penn State DE/LB Abdul Carter will meet with the Giants privately in State College today, after the Nittany Lions’ Pro Day workout. Carter isn’t working out, as he continues to rehab his shoulder.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 28, 2025
Carter had dinner with the Browns brass last night. NY is his only meeting today.
According to SportsIllustrated’s Albert Breer, Carter’s only meeting on Friday was with the Giants, but on Thursday night he had dinner with members of the Cleveland Browns organization.
The Browns, a No. 2 in the 2025 NFL Draft, are also desperate for a franchise quarterback and don’t have an apparent need at defensive end after inking former No. 1 overall pick and future Hall of Famer Myles Garrett to a long-term contract extension this offseason. Yet, with Deshaun Watson still under a fully guaranteed contract, Cleveland may play the long game, selecting a more surefire superstar in Carter and kicking the quarterback can down the road.
Carter appears to be out of the running for No. 1 overall at this point with the Titans zeroing in on Miami quarterback Cam Ward, but he’s clearly in the mix to be drafted at No. 2 and almost certainly won’t slip beyond the Giants at No. 3. Carter plans to attend the draft in Green Bay and he won’t have a long wait in the Green Room.