Draft Dreamer: Abdul Carter

With the NFL season coming to a close and a new champion to be crowned in a couple of weeks, it’s now officially draft season. This is the chance for all teams to reset and for fans to renew their hopes. If you have followed my work, then you know this is my favorite time of year and it’s never too early to start breaking down NFL Draft prospects. This class is packed with players that are going to make an impact at the next level. I will cover every one of them from the big dudes in the trenches to the erasers patrolling the secondary. Let’s start with a prospect who everyone should have very high on their draft boards, Abdul Carter of the Penn State Nittany Lions.

The Background

Abdul Carter was a four-star recruit and linebacker for the La Salle College Explorers in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania. As a senior for the Explorers, he finished with 78 tackles and ten tackles for a loss. 247Sports graded Carter as the 10th-best player in the state (PA), 28th-best linebacker, and 287th-best player overall in the 2022 class. He would receive 12 offers, all from teams in the Big10 or SEC. He would decide to stay in-state and play for the Penn State Nittany Lions. In his three seasons with Penn State, Carter played in 42 games with totals of 172 total tackles, 104 solo tackles, 60.4% solo rate, 39½ TFLs, 23 sacks, five forced fumbles, one interception, and 14 PBUs.

After a position switch from linebacker to defensive end before the start of this season, he saw his best statistical year. Carter was already one of the best players in the country, but this position switch took his game to another level. He played 16 games with career-best numbers in tackles (68), solo tackles (43), TFLs (23½), and sacks (12). Carter’s career numbers have graded high on my IDP Rookie Draft Grade spreadsheet with a BCR (Blue Chip Rating) of 13.927 and a BPI (Big Play Impact Score) of 1.964. His career PRS (Pass Rush Score) of .547 isn’t truly indicative of his pass rush abilities but his .750 that he posted last year in his first year playing EDGE is.

Player Breakdown

Carter is widely considered one of the best, if not the best pass rusher in this draft class. His combination of size, speed, power, and explosiveness is only a piece of what separates him and places him at the top. Carter has a football IQ and plays with a consistent intensity that only a few can match. He has good footwork and hand usage with no false steps or wasted motion, which instantly puts opponents in catch-up mode. Carter’s background and feel for the game as a linebacker gives him another advantage of staying one step ahead of would-be blockers, and keeps him on the field in pass coverage situations. He plays fast, physical, and aggressive and isn’t afraid to do the dirty work when needed.

At 6’3”/252 lbs he can play standing up or with his hand in the dirt, and teams that use a 3-4 scheme base are gonna be itching to get him on their rosters. Carter has good length, a natural bend, closing speed, and hits with a violent impact. He uses a dip & rip move and cross chops that are very effective but needs to expand his pass rush toolbox. He’ll need that expanded repertoire when constantly facing elite OTs of the NFL each week. Carter will also need to reduce his very high 19.2% career missed tackle rate and that can be improved with better tackling form. His handwork is good but not great and needs to improve at the point of attack in run defense.

Abdul is an elite prospect, but he’s not completely issue-free and will have to answer some questions about some things in one-on-one interviews, but nothing that should hamper him from being a top pick. In April 2024, Abdul Carter was charged with a misdemeanor for assaulting a tow truck driver who was towing Carter's car for parking without a permit. Carter was accused of forcefully pulling the driver from his truck, throwing him to the ground, and not allowing him to get up, leaving the driver with a fractured rib. With only one year as an EDGE, there are still improvements to be made. Most of his issues can be corrected. He’s a freak athlete and has a lot of talent to work with.

NFL & Fantasy Projection

There will be a lot of comparisons of Carter to former Nittany Lion star Micah Parsons, some of which I can see, but I don’t believe he is quite on that level. They both made the transition from linebacker to EDGE and performed at a high level, but Parson’s floor is Carter’s ceiling. Don’t get me wrong, not many can be what Parson’s is. Carter’s stock continues to climb and there is some serious talk of him possibly being selected as high as 1st overall to the Titans. I don’t believe that will be the case as Tennessee has more important issues to fix than a pass rusher. I do see the real possibility that Carter gets drafted in the Top 5, as pass rusher has become the most important position behind quarterback in today’s NFL. The one pause I have with Carter going that early, is that this is a super deep and talented EDGE class and teams “could” see similar value a little later. Either way, some team or teams are going to fall in love with Carter and take him early. Carter at the combine should be a spectacle for all to see!

When it comes to fantasy football, we have seen this before when it comes to star pass rushers. From Chase Young to the Bosa’s to Aiden Hutchinson, the elite pass rushers get drafted early. That usually means you should be ready to draft a player like Carter in the first round of rookie drafts. Expect somewhere around pick ten to start deciding on when to pull the trigger or make a move to get him on your roster. Of course landing spot matters as with all players but Carter should fit in anywhere and make an impact. There is a lot to like about Carter and if you want him you will have to pay that price. For me, this class is just too deep and I can get better value later at the position. Pro Bowl-caliber players are hard to find, so I wouldn’t blame you for taking your shot on Carter.

Thanks for reading my article. I am a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers of America). Follow me on Twitter at @HollywoodTitan, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub — I’m user KingTitan1 — and tune in each week and listen to IDP Nation and Devy IDP Grind, the podcasts that I co-host, on several different platforms. Feel free to email or dm me with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy