Abdul Carter Wants Legendary Giants Uniform Number
On Thursday night, the New York Giants made Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Carter's selection came after Miami QB Cam Ward went No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, and the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to No. 2 to select Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter, making the Giants' selection of Carter an easy decision.
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Carter will pair up with Kayvon Thibodeaux on the edge, instantly becoming one of the NFL's top edge duos. After being selected with the third pick, Carter spoke with Dallas Cowboys superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons, and made it clear that he has a different number in mind than his Penn State number (11).
"I don't know, but I got a different number in mind," Carter said. "56 sounds real good, but we gotta have a conversation, I don't know."
56 of course belongs to Lawrence Taylor, one of the greatest defensemen in NFL history. Taylor was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft and spent his entire 13 year career with the Giants.
Taylor's No. 56 is one of 14 numbers retired by the Giants, and few are as deserving as Taylor's. In his Hall of Fame Career, Taylor made 10 Pro Bowl appearances, was named to the All-Pro First Team eight times, won the 1986 MVP award, becoming the first defensive player to win the award unanimously. Taylor also won three Defensive Player of the Year awards, the Bert Bell Award, and two Super Bowls.
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Taylor played 184 games with the Giants, falling 142 sacks, nine interceptions (including two pick-sixes), two forced fumble and 11 fumble recoveries.
Taylor is widely regarded as the greatest defensive player in NFL history, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.8
Carter aspires to be the next great Giants edge rusher, and he'll have the opportunity as soon as the 2025 NFL season starts as a likely Week 1 starter.
In Carter's final season at Penn State, he led the nation with 24 tackles for loss, while also tallying 68 tackles and 12 sacks.
Related: Giants Complete Defensive Line WIth Third-Round Pick
Related: Carter Reacts to Joining Giants' Loaded Line
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