Penn State alum Abdul Carter poised for breakout in 2026 season

The New York Giants had high hopes for edge rusher Abdul Carter when they selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. The former Penn State defensive end was unstoppable in college, finishing his final season with 68 total tackles, nearly one-third of which were for a loss, 12 sacks and two forced fumbles.

>He was expected to become a heavy contributor instantly, but he struggled in his rookie year, finishing with just 43 tackles and four sacks. However, Carter’s talent is undeniable, and New York is still banking on him becoming one of the most dominant forces off the edge in the entire NFL.

>Moe Moton of Bleacher Report recently published his list of seven edge rushers with the best chance of breaking out in 2026, and the former Nittany Lion was the first name mentioned. With arguably the highest pedigree on the list and being a top-five pick, there is understandably a ton of pressure to reach his potential.

>Many people remain optimistic about Carter’s long-term outlook, especially considering that he played much better than his numbers suggested in his rookie season. He was tied for No. 13 in the entire league in pressures, which means he is winning his matchups at a high rate, he’s just not cashing in with sacks just yet.

>Carter still has a lot to learn, but with a new, defensive-minded head coach in John Harbaugh, he should be in good hands. All signs point to the Nittany Lions alumnus returning to his superstar trajectory this year.

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>This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State alum Abdul Carter poised for breakout in 2026 season