Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter 2025 NFL Draft Profile
Abdul Carter, Edge Defender Height/Weight: 6-3, 259 lbsAge: 21Penn State Nittany Lions SeasonPass Rush PressuresSacksTotal Tackles2022208532023284412024661350Career Totals11425144 Pros: Elite AthleticismAbdul Carter has been clocked running over 22 miles per hour, runs a sub-4.5-second forty-yard dash at 6'3", 259 pounds, and possesses elite agility and burst for both edge defender and linebacker standards. This allows him […]
Abdul Carter, Edge Defender
Height/Weight: 6-3, 259 lbs
Age: 21
Penn State Nittany Lions
| Season | Pass Rush Pressures | Sacks | Total Tackles |
|---|---|---|---|
2022 | 20 | 8 | 53 |
2023 | 28 | 4 | 41 |
2024 | 66 | 13 | 50 |
Career Totals | 114 | 25 | 144 |
Pros:
- Elite Athleticism
Abdul Carter has been clocked running over 22 miles per hour, runs a sub-4.5-second forty-yard dash at 6'3", 259 pounds, and possesses elite agility and burst for both edge defender and linebacker standards. This allows him to shed blocks, pursue quickly, and bend around the edge with ease. - Scheme & Positional Versatility
Carter spent his first two college season at Penn State playing off-ball linebacker, but converted to edge defender almost exclusively for this season. He has the ability to drop into coverage when needed to go along with his pass rush and run-stopping skills when lined up along the line of scrimmage. He should be able to fit in a variety of roles after he's selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. - Consistent Ferocious Pass Rush
As a freshman and sophomore Abdul Carter brought pressure on nearly 25% of his pass rush snaps. While that mark isn't quite as elite now that he's playing most every down along the edge this season he's still one of the most consistent pass rushers in the nation. Carter's logged multiple pass rush pressures in all but three games this season, including two sacks against Ohio State. You can see both of those incredible plays in Jordan Reid's post below.
Cons
- Inexperience at EDGE
While his raw traits and small set of proven pass rush moves work quite often, he's only played one collegiate season at edge defender. Carter could benefit from adding a few more moves to his pass rush arsenal. - Over-aggression in Run Game
His speed and athleticism are a great thing, but at times he can take himself out of making a defensive play against the run thanks to how quickly he gets into the backfield off the edge. It's rare, but it might be tied to misdiagnosing run vs. pass. Again this might improve with more experience outside. - Leverage in Run Game
As dominant as he can be when he plays the right gap in the run game, sometimes he tries to do too much and gets forced out of the play by stronger offensive lineman. He dominated much of the Ohio State game, but this rep against Donovan Jackson showcases this exact issue. Again, this isn't always an issue, but it's an area where he could improve.
Player Evaluation:
Abdul Carter is one of the most incredible prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class thanks to his strength, athleticism, flexibility, and versatility. He could plug and play from day one in a pass rush specialist role on any NFL team that could also flex out as an off-ball linebacker from time to time.
Carter wouldn't profile like a typical even-front defensive end necessarily, but he could be a chess piece that lines up everywhere for most defensive schemes. If teams take advantage of what he does best both as a pass rusher and gap-plugging linebacker they will be getting a prospect worthy of early first round NFL Draft capital.
Player Comparison:
Micah Parsons
Throughout Micah Parsons' career he has played both edge defender and box defender. As his career has progressed and the Cowboys have leaned into his strengths as a pass rusher he's now almost exclusively an edge. That might be perfect for Carter. Plug him in playing both roles in year one, but as his pass rush arsenal improves just let him thrive chasing after opposing passers. He has the elite athleticism to play incredibly similar to Parsons.
A to Z Rankings:
A to Z Big Board Ranking: 1
A to Z Draft Grade: 9.92 (out of 10)
Draft projection: Early 1st Round (9.01-10.00)
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, and 3 other QBs go Round 1 while Michigan dominates early
Does the 2025 NFL Draft have more good QBs than we thought?
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