They have been exhausting every option to put top rookie Abdul Carter into positions to make big plays, but the New York Giants have been warned about overexposing the third-overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft in a dangerous area.
It’s a danger spotted by Dan Duggan of The Athletic when breaking down film of Week 2’s 40-37 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys in overtime. He “noticed Abdul Carter got taken out hard on two punt blocks. First one looks like a possible trip and not sure how the second one isn’t a chop block, but no flags.”
Duggan cautioned about if Carter’s “ST usage keeps up if he takes many more hits like these.”
This is an implicit warning to the Giants about taking an unnecessary risk with an asset as valuable as Carter. They want to unleash his explosive potential in as many ways as possible, but the Giants primarily need Carter chasing down quarterbacks, not blocking kicks.
Giants Have Special Teams Dilemma With Abdul Carter
Determining Carter’s use plan is tricky for the Giants and their coaching staff. They don’t want to waste any way for arguably the best athlete on the roster to make an impact, but that desire has to be balanced against safeguarding Carter’s health for more important work.
Namely, the work of putting heat on the pocket. The former Penn State stud has been inconsistent in this area so far, but the upside is still obvious.
Carter was in on “four pressures, three hurries, and a STOP” from 47 pass-rush attempts, according to Nick Falato of SB Nation’s Big Blue View.
Numbers like these prove the Giants ought to keep Carter fresh to do what he does best. Even if the temptation is still there to let him show out in football’s third phase.
That temptation is likely to be greater after the Giants lost a key member of their special teams.
Special Teams Missing Big Plays for Giants
The Giants need splash plays in the kicking game, something Carter managed to provide against the Washington Commanders in Week 1. When the first-year pro broke through to block this punt.
This is proof of Carter’s value as a playmaker, something the Giants may want to continue leaning on after the special teams lost a crucial leader. Inside linebacker Chris Board was a special teams demon for the Baltimore Ravens, one the Giants coveted for years, so his absence will be felt.
Compensating for being without Board will be a balancing act, especially when the Giants are depleted by injuries among their defensive depth. Yet, the answer shouldn’t be to lean on Carter too much.
Instead, he needs more reps with the base and sub-package defenses. More opportunities to boost a unit that’s currently performing below expectations.
As Duggan’s colleague Charlotte Carroll wrote, “the defense is off to a troubling start. Big picture, it has surrendered nearly 100 more yards of offense than any other unit in the league (910) and given up 63 points in just two games.”
Worse still, Big Blue’s “pass rush has been mostly pedestrian, so far. Their pressure rate of 31.6 percent, according to Pro Football Focus, ranks 22nd in the NFL; however, they are tied for eighth in sacks (six) and QB hits (13).”
Time is on the Giants’ side for a turnaround, but it won’t happen unless Carter plays more than the 105 snaps Pro Football Reference credited him with through two games.
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