It’s a great situation for the Giants. They’ve landed J.T. Carter, a player many experts believe is the top draft pick this year, regardless of position.
NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah highlighted Carter’s potential, saying, “He can totally disrupt an offense. He attracts attention on every play, which lets his teammates shine.” This could be significant for the Giants’ defense.
Carter has a strong track record from his time at Penn State. In 42 games, he started 35 and ranked sixth in the school’s history with 23 sacks. He also tallied 39.5 tackles for loss and tied for 12th with five forced fumbles.
Before the 2024 college football season, Carter expressed his ambition to be the number one draft pick to Micah Parsons, a standout player for the Cowboys and a fellow Penn State alumnus. Under Parsons’ mentorship, Carter exploded onto the scene, finishing with a nation-leading 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. Those stats are impressive and put him third on Penn State’s all-time list.
Carter made a crucial shift in his playing style by moving from off-ball linebacker to edge rusher, a decision he discussed during the NFL Scouting Combine. “I spoke with my coaches and realized that my best talent is going after the quarterback,” he shared. “I knew this would make the biggest impact.”
He looked up to Parsons throughout his college career, saying, “I tried to model my game after him.” Now, it’s Carter’s turn to inspire Giants fans as he takes the field.
When asked about the importance of having a strong edge rusher over a quarterback, Carter asserted, “Every winning team has that standout defensive player. I believe I can be that for the Giants.”
This switch to focus on edge rushing is more than just personal. Recent data shows that teams with elite edge rushers often lead in sacks and pressures, making a solid defense crucial to winning games. For instance, a study from Pro Football Focus revealed that the top five NFL teams in quarterback pressures had at least one star edge rusher last season. That trend suggests that Carter’s addition could significantly change the Giants’ defensive game.
In summary, with J.T. Carter on their roster, the Giants are investing in a player who could transform their defense, drawing on historical patterns and his undeniable potential.
Source link
2025 NFL Draft,homepage