Abdul Carter, the standout EDGE from Penn State, is poised to be a top pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
According to PFN’s latest 2025 NFL mock draft, Carter is projected to be selected No. 3 overall pick to the New York Giants.
However, if Carter had it his way, he would land with a different NFC East team.
Abdul Carter Reveals Which NFL Team He Wants To Join
Known for his blend of power and speed, the 6’3″, 250-pound pass rusher has been turning heads since his high school days in Philadelphia. Now, after a standout collegiate career at Penn State, he’s ready to take his talents to the pros.
While he has worked extremely hard to become a top-five draft pick, his dream scenario is to get picked toward the end of the first round. That’s because there’s a specific NFL team that holds a special place in his heart.
“Playing for the Eagles would definitely be a dream of mine,” Carter revealed back in July.
This isn’t a huge surprise, as Carter was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. He attended La Salle College High School and then committed to Penn State over other top programs.
Abdul is a massive Eagles fan so I asked him at his camp this summer if he thought the Eagles might take him. He predicts the future as well as he rushes the passer. https://t.co/AnHBN2kTrn pic.twitter.com/0pan2kQYLU
— rob kuestner (@rkuestnernbc10) January 10, 2025
The Eagles will have a bottom-eight pick in the first round since they advanced to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs, so the odds of Carter joining his childhood favorite team are slim to none since he’s projected to be a top-five pick. He acknowledges this.
“I’m striving to be the No. 1 overall pick and unless they trade Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown [or other picks], they not going to have that type of pick, so…” Carter said.
Carter’s Scouting Report
Whichever team lands Carter will be getting a potential superstar. His journey to this point has been nothing short of impressive. Since his high school days, it was clear that Carter had a special combination of strength and speed.
As a true freshman at Penn State in 2022, he started just half of the team’s games but still managed to rack up 56 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and four pass breakups.
In 2023, he added 48 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception, and five pass breakups, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors.
After moving from linebacker to EDGE, Carter was even more productive this season, recording 12 sacks, 24 TFLs, 68 tackles, and two forced fumbles. His stellar performance earned him first-team All-Big Ten honors and allowed him to skyrocket up draft boards.
Carter’s disruptive nature as a second-level defender sets him apart from the pack. He’s an extraordinary athlete with strong hands and hyper-elite speed, explosiveness, and instincts. He’s a game-breaker who has become one of the most sought-after prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Carter has drawn comparisons to Dallas Cowboys superstar Micah Parsons, who is the same size (6’3, 250 pounds) and also a linebacker-turned-EDGE who starred at Penn State. Parsons seems to be a fan of Carter, as he’s expressed interest in playing alongside him.
While Carter has his heart set on his hometown Eagles, it seems very unlikely that Philly will be able to land the Penn State star, as Carter acknowledged.
Also, it’s worth noting that the Eagles already have a terrific pass rush. Philadelphia currently boasts the second-best defense in PFN’s Defense+ rankings, with a grade of 88.2 (B+).
Perhaps Carter will have a chance to join the Eagles and live out his childhood dream at another point during his NFL career, but unless Eagle GM Howie Roseman decides to get aggressive and shock the NFL world, it seems very unlikely it will happen on draft night.