Abdul Carter was projected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft after two seasons playing linebacker at Penn State, but after an offseason position change to defensive end, Carter could be the first name called in Green Bay on draft night.
With 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss in 2024, Carter was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a candidate for both the Bednarick Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the National Defensive Player of the Year, though he didn’t take home either. Despite injuring his shoulder in Penn State’s Fiesta Bowl win over Boise State, Carter dominated the Nittany Lions Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame essentially playing with just one arm. He recorded eight quarterback pressures with one sack and nearly a 20% pass-rush win rate in his unforgettable final act on a college football field.
With nothing left to prove, the junior declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, and still a few months out, you’d be hard-pressed to find any mock draft that doesn’t include his name in the top 10. Here’s a look at Carter’s landing spot in a few recent mocks from experts at all different outlets.
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports (January 22)
Abdul Carter
Trapasso has the Tennessee Titans trading out of the No. 1 overall pick to allow the Las Vegas Raiders to draft Colorado quarterback Sheduer Sanders while Carter slides all the way back to Nashville at No. 6. This might be Carter’s floor, and despite the Raiders drafting edge rusher Tyree Wilson in the first round two years ago and having Maxx Crosby along their defensive line, Vegas could use another defensive game-wrecker.
Daniel Flick, Sports Illustrated (January, 22)
Cleveland Browns
Abdul Carter to the Browns with the No. 2 overall pick is one of the most popular predictions of the draft season so far. While he wouldn’t solve Cleveland’s offensive woes or QB conundrum, Carter would pair perfectly with former No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett along the defensive line.
Cody Williams, FanSided (January, 23)
Abdul Carter
Williams, like Flick, doesn’t see Cleveland addressing its quarterback situation at the top of the draft this year. The Browns just got word that Deshaun Watson re-tore his Achilles and now he’ll likely miss all of 2025, but with the way he was playing healthy, that’s probably a good thing. QB will be a consideration, but if Tennessee takes Miami QB Cam Ward at No. 1, the Browns might pass on Sanders.
Kyle Crabbs, 33rd Team (January, 20)
Abdul Carter
Cleveland’s defense cratered after carrying Joe Flacco to the playoffs in 2023, but Crabbs sees the Browns pairing Carter with Garrett to create a “terrifying pass rush duo” and restoring the unit to one of the best in the league.
