INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 26: Abdul Carter #DL44 of Penn State speaks to the media during the … [+]
Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter is deemed by many NFL scouts as the presumptive favorite to go number one overall during the 2025 NFL Draft. After a dynamic 2024 season that saw him lead the Nittany Lions’ defense to the College Football Playoff Semifinals, Carter’s positive pre-draft momentum was met with some resistance during the early stages of the NFL Scouting Combine.
On Wednesday night, it was discovered through a routine medical exam by combine doctors that the First Team All-American is nursing a stress reaction in his right foot. Carter was already recovering from a shoulder injury suffered against Boise State in the College Football Playoff and had no plans of doing on-field workouts at the combine.
The stress reaction isn’t deemed to need surgery according to Carter’s agent Drew Rosenhaus. Rosenhaus even went as far to say the diagnosis is a “non-factor” to his client’s draft stock and expects him to be ready for his Penn State pro day on March 28.
Before the injury was revealed, Carter met with media members at the combine press conference to speak about why he should be the number one overall selection.
“I feel like I’m the best player in the country, and the best player should be picked first,” he said. “It’s the work I put in with my dad, who trained me, and all the sacrifices I made. I know I’m the best.”
The Tennessee Titans hold the top pick in this year’s draft and have a variety of roster needs. Their biggest one is at the quarterback position as 2023 second-round selection Will Levis hasn’t turned out to be the investment they drafted for through 21 starts.
Tennessee could also use an edge rusher like Carter who finished second in sacks for the Big 10 (12) and was tops in the conference with tackles for loss (23.5). Edge rusher Harold Landry has somewhat returned to his old form since his ACL tear from two years ago, but he’ll be an impending free agent by 2027.
Carter provides immense long-term upside on the defensive front that already has an impact rookie contract player in nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat. Unfortunately, he now presents injury concerns with two separate ailments on his health record from his most recent collegiate season.
The Titans have a pool of draft options to choose from if Carter’s health concerns are a red flag. Head coach Brian Callahan may want to take a stab at a potential franchise quarterback by selecting between Miami Hurricanes Cam Ward and Colorado Buffaloes Shedeur Sanders.
The franchise even could go for a generational two-way athlete in Heisman Trophy Winner Travis Hunter. Hunter has the dynamic ability to be Tennessee’s top receiver and cornerback, two voids that the Titans could use to further along their rebuild.
It’s likely that Tennessee ignores the injury flags on Carter and still selects him number one overall. In a league where pass-rushers reign supreme, having a chance to take the best one available can change your entire defense for the better.
