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Giants Now: CBS Sports' top rookie matchups of the 2025 season

May 21, 2025 at 06:00 AM

Matt Citak

Digital Media Coordinator

CBS Sports' top rookie matchups of the 2025 season

The Giants certainly have some intriguing games on their 2025 schedule.

But which games offer the most interesting battles between first-year players?

CBS Sports' Josh Edwards recently took a look at the entire 2025 schedule and ranked the top 10 rookie matchups of the season. After linebacker Abdul Carter was selected with the third overall pick, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see his name on the list (and more than once).

First up is the Week 5 matchup between Carter and Saints offensive tackle Kelvin Banks, which lands at No. 3 on CBS Sports' list.

"Carter was regarded as one of the top two prospects in this draft class regardless of position," wrote Edwards. "New York could move Carter around the formation given the presence of Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The potential showdown is, of course, dependent upon Banks playing offensive tackle as expected."

Carter recorded 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. Meanwhile, Banks surrendered just one sack on 538 pass block snaps for the Texas Longhorns. This led to him earning a slew of awards and accolades, including also being named Unanimous All-American.

But the intrigue around Carter did not stop there. Edwards also ranked the linebacker's Week 13 battle against Patriots offensive tackle Will Campbell, who was taken one pick after Carter, as the No. 1 rookie matchup of 2025.

"The No. 3 overall selection versus the No. 4 overall selection," Edwards wrote. "The Patriots' left tackle of the present and future against the prospect who drew Von Miller comparisons leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft. Campbell will likely see the triumvirate of Burns, Thibodeaux and Carter over the course of the game."

Campbell allowed two sacks on 558 pass block snaps for LSU last season, which earned him the honor of Consensus All-American, along with several other awards.

Here are Edwards' top 10 rookie matchups of 2025:

Giants LB Abdul Carter vs. Patriots T Will Campbell (Week 13)
Saints QB Tyler Shough vs. Titans QB Cam Ward (Week 17)
Giants LB Abdul Carter vs. Saints T Kelvin Banks (Week 5)
Jaguars WR Travis Hunter vs. Broncos CB Jahdae Barron (Week 16)
49ers Edge Mykel Williams vs. Saints T Kelvin Banks (Week 2)
Falcons Edges Jalon Walker/James Pearce vs. Jets T Armand Membou (Week 13)
Colts TE Tyler Warren vs. Seahawks S Nick Emmanwori (Week 15)
Eagles LB Jihaad Campbell vs. Broncos RB Omarion Hampton (Week 14)
Bears TE Colston Loveland vs. Ravens S Malaki Starks (Week 8)
Broncos LB Carson Schwesinger vs. Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty (Week 12)

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New York Giants defensive end Abdul Carter (51) poses for a portrait during the NFLPA Rookie Premiere on Saturday, May 17, 2025 in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)