INDIANAPOLIS – Abdul Carter is ready to drop his lifelong Eagles fandom if he is drafted into the rivalry by the Giants.
He also is ready to show Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux that three isn’t a crowd — at least when it comes to edge rushers.
“My goal is to come in and be The Guy,” Carter said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “If I go to a team that already has established, I want to earn my spot, anyway. So, I’m going to come in and compete right away.”
Carter could become the third non-quarterback to be drafted No. 1 overall since 2015. The Titans could make that pick or trade it.
Or the Titans and the Browns could select quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward (in either order) and leave Carter available for the Giants at No. 3.
“I feel like I’m the best player in the country,” Carter said. “And the best player should be selected No. 1.”
Carter was born in Philadelphia and his pre-NFL journey reached a climax earlier this month when he and his father attended the Eagles’ win in Super Bowl 2025. It’s the end of a chapter.
“I’m shaped a lot by my Philly roots – my toughness, my grit,” Carter said. “I got to enjoy my last year being a fan. Whatever team drafts me, I’m loyal to that team. (The Eagles) are going to get my best — my best only (when I play against them.)”
The Giants have more pressing needs than edge rusher – primarily quarterback and cornerback (a need that could be filled by two-way star Travis Hunter).
But their history is built on terrorizing opposing quarterbacks like John Elway, Jim Kelly and Tom Brady with the pass rush – a Super Bowl-winning strategy just reinforced by the Eagles.
“I feel like you definitely need a franchise edge rusher,” Carter said. “If you look at all the great teams that won Super Bowls, you have that one standout great defensive player. And I feel like I’m that.”
Burns, whose $28.2 million average annual salary ranks third among NFL edge rushers, might argue he is that guy. Kayvon Thibodeaux, who was drafted No. 5 overall in 2022, is trying to develop into that guy.
Putting all three together – at least for two years, assuming that the Giants exercise Thibodeaux’s option for the 2026 season as expected – could be tantalizing for general manager Joe Schoen to risk.
“Defensive players impact the game just as much as a quarterback,” Carter said. “Myself and all the best defensive players in the country need to start speaking out about that more because we’re just as important to the game as the best quarterbacks.”
Carter played inside linebacker early in his career at Penn State before moving to the edge before the 2024 season. He led the Big Ten with 24 tackles for loss, including 12 sacks, and drew comparisons to do-it-all game-wrecker Micah Parsons of the Cowboys (a fellow Penn Stater).
The Giants infamously passed on selecting Parsons (No. 11 pick in 2021) to trade down. It was a slight that Parsons recently told The Post he will “never forget” – and most Giants fans feel the same way since the trade package wound up as bust Kadarius Toney and trending bust Evan Neal.
Carter said he is about “90 percent” recovered from a shoulder injury suffered during the College Football Playoff. He won’t work out at the NFL Combine, instead focusing on his team meetings and saving his skills showcase for Penn State’s Pro Day.
Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi seemed to indicate that he sees Carter as one of a “handful” of “generational” prospects in this draft class. Browns general manager Andrew Berry echoed the sentiment.
“Tough, physical, a rare athlete with outstanding speed,” Berry said. “He’s special in his own regard that he can play off the ball, he can rush the passer.”
The 6-foot-3, 248-pound Carter scoffed at the idea that some teams might consider him too wiry to play defensive end, thus limiting him to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.
“I ain’t ever been too small for anything my whole life,” Carter said. “It’s all about my heart for me. It’s all about will for me. And I’ve got more of that than anybody.”