NFL First Round Draft Pick Denies Sleeping Through Walk-Through

Abdul Carter has not had the impact most would expect of a first round pick in the NFL Draft. 

Now the New York Giants defensive end is denying a report he slept through a walk-through last week.  

Coming with high expectations

The Giants no doubt envisioned big things from Carter when they used the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on him in April. 

He was the 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Penn State and helped the Nittany Lions advance to the semifinals in the College Football Playoff. 

Carter was credited with 23 sacks in college, including 12 in his last season in Happy Valley, and some viewed him as the next in line from PSU to the NFL in the mold of fellow Nittany Lion Micah Parsons.

Carter, who like Parsons was originally a linebacker in college, even got a head start on learning to play edge rusher, but his NFL career has gotten off to a slow start.

So far this season, Carter has played in 11 games, coming off the bench in all but one. 

The Philadelphia native has been credited for 12 tackles and half a sack, the latter coming in the opening game of the season. 

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Another bump in the road

Carter was in line to start Sunday with Kayvon Thibodeaux injured, but he was not on the field for the Giants first defensive possession. 

The Athletic reported Monday that was because of an incident that occurred earlier in the week. 

Via social media, Carter seemed to confirm something happened, but he denied sleep being the issue. 

Was not sleep, actually doing recovery. Nonetheless that’s on ME!

— Abdul Carter (@1NCRDB1) November 17, 2025

He ended up being credited with two pressers, one tackle and a quarterback hit as the Giants lost 27-20 to the Green Bay Packers. 

The Athletic also reported “being late to meetings has been a trend” for Carter, but former coach Brian Daboll did not punish him. 

Daboll was fired last week and replaced by Mike Kafka. 

The 2-9 Giants are in last place in the NFL East. They are set to play the Detroit Lions this weekend.