Abdul Carter has quickly become one of the NFL’s most promising edge rushers since being drafted third overall by the New York Giants in 2025. As of 2026, the 22-year-old from Philadelphia continues to build on his explosive rookie year with strong training camp buzz.
Abdul Carter’s Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Abdul Jabar Carter |
| Date of Birth | October 3, 2003 |
| Age | 22 years |
| Birthplace | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 3¾ in (1.92 m) |
| Weight | 250-252 lbs (113-114 kg) |
| Position | Linebacker/Edge Rusher |
| High School | La Salle College High School, Wyndmoor, PA |
| College/University | Penn State University |
| NFL Draft Year | 2025 |
| Draft Round | 1st Round, Pick 3 |
| Current Team | New York Giants |
| Jersey Number | 51 |
| Turned Professional | 2025 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Spouse | N/A |
| Children | N/A |
| Instagram Profile | @abdu1carter |
Carter grew up in North Philadelphia as a Philadelphia Eagles fan and is Muslim, often nicknamed “Darth Vader” for his on-field intensity. He keeps his personal life private, focusing posts on football.
Early Career
Abdul Carter starred at La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor, PA, where he racked up 78 tackles and 10 tackles for loss as a senior, earning four-star recruit status from ESPN, On3, 247Sports, and Rivals. He committed to Penn State over offers from South Carolina and Ole Miss, playing in the Big 33 Football Classic post-senior year.
At Penn State starting in 2022, he transitioned from off-ball linebacker to edge, posting 56 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles as a freshman for second-team All-Big Ten honors. In 2023, he added 48 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 INT, and 5 PD. His 2024 breakout saw 68 tackles, 24 TFL, 12 sacks, 2 FF, earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and unanimous All-American nods before declaring for the 2025 draft.
Professional Career
Abdul Carter joined the New York Giants as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after a dominant Penn State career. He signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $45.2 million rookie deal on May 22, 2025, with a massive $30.4 million in 2025 cash including signing bonus. In his debut, he notched 0.5 sacks, kickstarting a rookie season of 17 games (6 starts), 43 tackles (25 solo, 18 ast), 4 sacks, 7 TFL, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 recoveries despite early inconsistency.
Carter heated up late, grabbing 3.5 sacks in the final five games as teammate Kayvon Thibodeaux dealt with injury, playing 75.6% of defensive snaps. Heading into 2026 at age 22, he’s locked in as a starter with high expectations, his edge speed and power drawing Micah Parsons comparisons amid Giants’ defensive rebuild.
Abdul Carter’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Abdul Carter’s net worth sits around $5-7 million, up from $1-4 million pre-rookie year. It stems mostly from his massive signing bonus and base pay, plus budding NIL-turned-NFL endorsements.
Contract
Carter’s current contract is a four-year rookie deal worth $45,255,180, fully guaranteed at signing in May 2025. It includes a $29.55 million signing bonus prorated over the term, base salaries starting at $840,000 in 2025 rising to $1.235 million in 2028, plus roster bonuses kicking in from 2026 ($1.89 million) up to $5.78 million in 2028.
Salary
In 2026, Carter earns a base salary of $1,005,000, fully guaranteed as part of his $2,897,054 total cash payout that year, including $1,892,054 in roster bonus. His cap hit jumps to $10,285,268 (3.4% of the Giants’ cap), reflecting the prorated signing bonus. Overall APY is $11.3 million through 2028, with free agency in 2029.
Career Earnings
| Year | Team | Cash Paid | Base Salary | Signing Bonus Prorated | Roster Bonus | Total Guarantees |
| 2025 | Giants | $30,392,856 | $840,000 | $7,388,214 | $0 | $840,000 |
| 2026 | Giants | $2,897,054 | $1,005,000 | $7,388,214 | $1,892,054 | $2,897,054 |
| 2027 | Giants | $4,954,108 | $1,120,000 | $7,388,214 | $3,834,108 | $4,954,108 |
| 2028 | Giants | $7,011,162 | $1,235,000 | $7,388,214 | $5,776,162 | $7,011,162 |
| Total | Giants | $45,255,180 | $4,200,000 | $29,552,856 | $11,502,324 | $45,255,180 |
Endorsements
Carter’s endorsement game started strong in college with NIL deals worth about $478,000-$500,000 from brands like NextGen Camps, Philadelphia Sportscard & Memorabilia Show, Inch & Co., Drew Rosenhaus agency ties, and Success with Honor— even scoring a Tesla from Inch & Co. In the NFL, expect growth with his rising profile, but no major new public deals announced by 2026 as he focuses on the field. These add nice side cash to his contract millions.
Career Stats
College Stats
| Year | GP | Tackles (Cmb/Solo/Ast) | Sacks | TFL | FF | FR | INT | PD |
| 2022 | 13 | 56/36/20 | 6.5 | 10.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2023 | 13 | 48/25/23 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 2024 | 16 | 68/43/25 | 12.0 | 23.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Career | 42 | 172/104/68 | 23.0 | 39.5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
NFL Stats
| Year | Team | GP/GS | Tackles (Cmb/Solo/Ast) | Sacks | TFL | INT | PD | FF | FR |
| 2025 | NYG | 17/6 | 43/25/18 | 4.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Career | NYG | 17/6 | 43/25/18 | 4.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
FAQs
1. Who is Abdul Carter?
Abdul Carter is a professional football linebacker for the New York Giants. Born October 3, 2003, in Philadelphia, he played college football at Penn State.
2. What college did Abdul Carter play for?
Carter played for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2022 to 2024. He appeared in 42 games with a 34-8 record.
3. What are Abdul Carter’s college stats?
Over three seasons, Carter recorded 172 tackles, 39.5 tackles for loss, 23 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles. In 2024, he had 68 tackles, 23.5 TFL, and 12 sacks.
4. What awards did Abdul Carter win in college?
Carter earned unanimous All-American honors and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. He ranks high in Penn State records for sacks and TFL.
5. How was Abdul Carter drafted?
The New York Giants selected Carter third overall in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He was rated a top prospect for his pass-rushing skills.
6. What is Abdul Carter’s NFL contract?
Carter signed a four-year, $45.2 million fully guaranteed rookie deal with the Giants on May 22, 2025. It includes a $29.5 million signing bonus.
7. What are Abdul Carter’s rookie NFL stats?
In his 2025 rookie season, Carter had 43 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries over 17 games. He heated up late with 3.5 sacks in the final five games.
8. What is Abdul Carter’s height and weight?
Carter measures 6 ft 3¾ in tall and weighs 250-252 lbs. His arm length is 33 inches with a 6 ft 7¼ in wingspan from pro day.
9. What position does Abdul Carter play?
Carter plays linebacker, primarily as an edge rusher. He transitioned full-time to edge in 2024 after playing off-ball linebacker earlier.
10. Why did the Giants draft Abdul Carter?
The Giants drafted Carter to bolster their pass rush alongside players like Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. His explosiveness draws Micah Parsons and Von Miller comparisons.