Scouting Report: Abdul Carter
We take a deep dive into one of the top defenders in the 2025 NFL Draft
Scouting Report 2025 (EDGE)
Abdul Carter (Penn State) [21 Years Old]
6’3 253
Report:
This season Abdul Carter transitioned from off-ball linebacker to a full time edge rusher, a decision that has made him, in my opinion, one of the best overall players in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Carter’s history as an off-ball linebacker shines through in his athletic traits. He has lightning quick burst off the line of scrimmage as well as top level closing speed, if he has a lane to the quarterback he’ll get there before you can blink. His speed is incredibly difficult for opposing tackles to handle in pass protection, especially when he pairs it with his bend. While it’s not as consistent as you’d like just yet, his flexibility to bend around the edge is special. So many tackles were scared of his speed rush that they would overset and allow Carter to counter back inside. Like his bend, his hand usage needs to become more consistent in his pass rush, however he showed plenty of flashes that make me confident that he will develop pass rush moves with ease.
Carter stands at 6’3 253-pounds, which is on the lighter side for an edge rusher, but what lacks in weight he makes up for in length. He is a long, rangy defender that understands how to use his arms to his advantage as not only a pass rusher but in the run game. Speaking of defending the run, this isn’t like former Penn State edge rusher and first round pick in last year's draft Chop Robinson, who was purely a pass rusher who struggled heavily against the run, Carter is a plus run defender. It’s not his strong suit, he still very much struggles with playing with his pad level too high, as well as just not having the frame to handle bigger and more powerful tackles, but he isn’t a liability. There’s plenty of times on tape where he is able to utilize his speed to get around blockers to make a tackle in the backfield. This can lead to some negative plays, so I’d like to see him develop more play strength to take on those blockers, but it can also result in some massive losses for an offense.
In today's NFL it's becoming more and more necessary to have versatility in your game, and Carter is as versatile as they come. He is still more than capable of being a plus defender off the ball, while he’s not amazing in coverage, he’s good enough to get the job done. Many times Penn State would line him up over a guard or center to get an advantageous matchup for one of the most explosive rushers in college football.
The main issue with Carter is that he’s still very raw and inexperienced coming off the edge, which is completely expected. He has a habit of running too far up field and taking himself out of the play. He needs to develop a much larger bag of pass rush moves, right now it's “I’m going to beat you around the outside and if you overset I will counter or spin inside. A minor gripe I have with his game has to do with his balance, he ends up on the ground more often than you’d like when rushing the passer as well as defending the run. This rawness is also Carter’s biggest intrigue as a prospect, he was such a dominant pass rusher in college despite his flaws. He’s going to be 21 years old on draft day with no ceiling in sight. I hate to throw around All-Pro names because I do think it’s unfair to these prospects, but when you look at school, athletic traits, history as an off-ball linebacker, you can’t help but be reminded of Micah Parsons.
Grade: Blue Chip
Rank: EDGE1