The Giants could have panicked and went for need, but instead they did the right thing by taking the best player on the board. Carter was a relentless edge rusher at Penn State and he’ll fit in with Brian Burns on the Giants’ 3-4 defense. He also should push Kayvon Thibodeaux for snaps and perhaps a starting role.
Carter (6-3 ¾, 250) shifted from linebacker to edge last year at Penn State and became a unanimous first-team All-American and the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year. He finished with 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. Perhaps most impressive, he fought through a serious left shoulder injury in the College Football Playoff and still was a dominant player. It prevented him from combine testing, but his toughness trumps whatever numbers he forfeited in Indianapolis.
Grade: A
New York Giants draft edge Abdul Carter: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
