Abdul Carter was considered the top defensive player in college football last season by most observers.
Now, he has his sights on being the top defensive rookie in the NFL.
Carter was the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft by the New York Giants, and he is expected to be a force from the get-go.
The former Penn State standout is the clear favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors due to his talent, expected production and opportunity.
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Travis Hunter and Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker/defensive end Jalon Walker are also in the mix. Dark horses to watch include Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Mike Green and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson.
The Giants can write Carter’s name in felt pen atop their depth chart, and he might be able to reach double digits in sacks this season. But even seven or eight sacks should be good enough to win the award.
Last season, outside linebacker Jared Verse of the Los Angeles Rams ran away with the voting—and he had just 4.5 sacks.
Carter led the nation with 23.5 tackles for loss—including 12 sacks—and also forced two fumbles while earning unanimous first-team All-America honors. His sack total ranked seventh nationally, and he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
So, you can see Giants defensive coordinator Shane Brown salivating at the thought of having Carter on the end of his defensive line.
New York now has three stellar pass rushers in Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns and Carter. If nothing else, there will be room for occasional breathers for each of the three.
Regardless, Carter promises to be highly productive, no matter how the playing time is divided.
Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick, is a stellar coverage cornerback, but the question surrounding him is his usage as a receiver.
The Jaguars haven’t decided how much Hunter will play on both sides of the ball—or whether he might focus more on one side than the other.
If he plays a significant role on offense, he might be just a minor contributor on defense. If he primarily plays cornerback, his interception count or passes defensed would be the barometer.
New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner won the award in 2022 with just two interceptions but led the NFL with 20 pass breakups. In 2017, then-New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore had five interceptions while receiving the honor.
Walker is still raw but will receive ample opportunities to help the Falcons’ defense. He was the No. 15 overall pick.
The 21-year-old starred at Georgia and had 6.5 sacks last season while winning the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker.
He is capable of topping last season’s sack total as a rookie and recently vowed to aggressively pursue opposing quarterbacks.
Green is certainly a dark horse after being selected late in the second round (No. 59 overall) by the Ravens.
He had 17 sacks last season at Marshall, but his stock as a sure first-rounder fell due to two allegations of sexual assault. He has denied the allegations, saying one stems from high school and the other from his time at Virginia, where he played before transferring to Marshall for his final college season.
The drop down the draft board helped him land with Baltimore, where his pass-rushing skills will be welcomed. That means the opportunity to make a big impact could be on the horizon.
Johnson is talented but played in just six games last season at Michigan due to injuries. He had nine college interceptions and returned three for touchdowns.
He was viewed as a top-10 pick entering the 2024 season, but his stock tumbled and some teams were reportedly concerned about a knee issue. The Cardinals were thrilled to get him in the second round (No. 47 overall), and it could prove to be a steal.
Return a few interceptions for touchdowns as a rookie, and “dark horse” Johnson could quickly become a prime factor in this race.
