Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter is among the favorites to go No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft. And after meeting with the Tennessee Titans, Carter hinted that he might already know whose hat he’ll be wearing come April.
Abdul Carter Second-Favorite for No. 1 Pick
With four players seemingly in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick in Green Bay, Wis., oddsmakers seem to believe Miami quarterback prospect Cam Ward is the favorite to go first. That would align with PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft, which projects the Giants will trade up for the right to select Ward No. 1.
“There’s no runaway franchise-caliber quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, but if you’re going to bet on anyone, bet on Cam Ward with his hyper-elite creation capacity, untethered arm elasticity, and zealous competitive chip.”
But if Tennessee opts to sign one of the many veteran quarterbacks available in free agency, Carter could be the best overall talent in the draft, along with Colorado’s dual-position star Travis Hunter.
PFSN’s mock draft has Carter falling to No. 6 — with the Arizona Cardinals trading up to pick him — due to a recent injury concern.
“The Arizona Cardinals started strong in 2024 and proved they are indeed close, but a quality pass-rush was sorely lacking for Jonathan Gannon’s squad. In this 2025 NFL Mock Draft, they remedy this by trading up for Abdul Carter — a cheat code who logged 12 sacks in 2024.”
Still, oddsmakers believe he is the second-most likely player to be taken first after Ward.
Carter Hints at a Future in Tennessee
Carter appears confident about his chances, if a recent social media post is any indication. The Penn State standout posted a simple yet cryptic message suggesting he already knows where he’ll be in 2025.
😁☝🏾
— Abdul Carter (@1NCRDB1) March 7, 2025
The most obvious takeaway from that post? After meeting with the Titans the day before, Carter may have been given a strong indication that he’ll be their pick at No. 1.
If Carter does land in Tennessee, the Titans would be adding an elite defensive playmaker after struggling to disrupt opposing quarterbacks in 2024. They finished the season with the second-lowest quarterback pressure percentage in the league. Adding Carter could go a long way in changing that.