Matt Johnson
New York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter had a quiet rookie season, making more headlines for his disagreement with Jaxson Dart last month than he did for his play. One ESPN NFL analyst sees things playing out very differently this coming season.
Seth Walder predicted that Carter will record “at least” 12 sacks this upcoming NFL season, at least tripling his total from his rookie campaign.
“On the surface, Carter’s rookie season might have looked like a disappointment, with the No. 3 pick delivering just 4.0 sacks. But his pass rush win rate at edge was 20.7% — fifth best among qualifiers and sandwiched between Will Anderson Jr. and Myles Garrett. That suggests the Giants edge rusher was winning on a down-to-down basis. Given that, I think the sacks will come.“
ESPN’s Seth Walder on New York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter
Related: NFL Defense Rankings 2026
- Abdul Carter stats (2025): 34 pressures, 23 QB hits, 17 QB knockdhowns, 12 hurries, 7 tackles for loss and 4 sacks
Carter, the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, did not have a bad rookie season by any means. While he only recorded 0.5 sacks in his first 11 games, he demonstrated the ability to generate pressure. That pass-rushing ability paid off as he gained more experience, as evidenced by his 3.5 sacks in the club’s final five regular-season games.
Carter’s late-season breakout did not stop New York from using the fifth overall pick on Arvell Reese. While he is listed at linebacker, many scouts and analysts believe his highest ceiling is at edge rusher.
It gives New York one of the deepest pass-rushing units in the NFL. Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will have Reese, Carter, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux all at his disposal to mix and match. It should help keep all four pass rushers fresh, maximizing their effectiveness.
For context, a 12-sack season would have tied Will Anderson Jr. and Josh Sweat for the eighth-most sacks in the NFL last season. If Carter can get even more, he would have a legitimate chance of finishing in the top four among the NFC’s sack leaders, likely earning him a Pro Bowl selection.
