Shawne Merriman predicts big rookie year for Abdul Carter
Shawne Merriman knows a thing or two about getting a career off to a strong start.
The former NFL linebacker was drafted 12th overall in 2005 and proceeded to pick up 10 sacks across 15 games in his first season.
This led to him being named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, an award Merriman believes is a strong possibility for Abdul Carter in 2025.
"I believe Abdul Carter is going to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year..." Merriman said on 'Good Morning Football' Wednesday. "Just what he can do on the field right now, you can put him on there and he can learn everything else. A guy that is that explosive, you can put him on the field and he's going to make plays regardless. I just like this kid's mentality."
This prediction won't come off as too farfetched as Carter was one of the best players in the nation last year, which led to him being taken with the third overall pick in this year's draft.
The 6-foot-3, 252-pound linebacker registered 12.0 sacks and a nation-high 23.5 tackles for loss, along with two forced fumbles and four passes defensed, on his way to being named Unanimous All-American and first-team All-Big Ten.
He was also selected as the Nagurski-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, all in his first season lining up on the edge.
Prior to the 2024 campaign, Carter primarily lined up at off-ball linebacker, where he totaled 11.0 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, nine passes defensed, one interception, and three forced fumbles to go with his 104 total tackles (61 solo) across his first two collegiate seasons. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the media both years, while being tabbed first-team all-conference by the Big Ten coaches in 2023.
The Giants have only had one player be named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year since the award's inception in 1967. That was in 1981, of course, when Lawrence Taylor not only took home the award for the league's top defensive rookie, but was also selected as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Pro after recording 9.5 sacks.
View the best photos from rookie minicamp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
QB Jaxson Dart (6), Eli Manning
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
Michael Strahan
TE Thomas Fidone II (86), QB Jaxson Dart (6), OL Marcus Mbow (71)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
RB Cam Skattebo (44), DT Darius Alexander (91), QB Jaxson Dart (6), TE Thomas Fidone II (86), OL Marcus Mbow (71), CB Korie Black (25), OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
CB Korie Black (25)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
RB Cam Skattebo (44), DT Darius Alexander (91), QB Jaxson Dart (6), TE Thomas Fidone II (86), OL Marcus Mbow (71), CB Korie Black (25), OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
RB Rushawn Baker (36)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Da'Quan Felton (9)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
WR Da'Quan Felton (9)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
WR Jordan Bly (12)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), Eli Manning
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Rushawn Baker (36)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), Eli Manning
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Joe Schoen, DT Darius Alexander (91)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), C Bryan Hudson (60)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
RB Cam Skattebo (44), OLB Abdul Carter (51), TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
RB Cam Skattebo (44), OLB Abdul Carter (51), TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
TE Jermaine Terry II (48)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Trace Ford (46)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
CB Korie Black (25)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
CB Korie Black (25)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
WR Beaux Collins (8)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Rushawn Baker (36)
RB Rushawn Baker (36), C Bryan Hudson (60)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan, OLB Abdul Carter (51)
WR Jordan Bly (12)
Michael Strahan, OLB Abdul Carter (51)
Michael Strahan
Charlie Bullen, OLB Abdul Carter (51)
Michael Strahan
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Trace Ford (46)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Trace Ford (46)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
View photos as the rookies join the Giants veterans in Phase 2 of the team's offseason workout program.
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