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Could Patriots pass on Abdul Carter at No. 4 in 2025 NFL Draft?
"Most believe they're locked in on LSU OT Will Campbell even if Carter is there."
The Patriots might need some luck to fall their way if they hope to have a chance of drafting Abdul Carter with the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
But even if the Penn State pass rusher somehow falls past the Giants (No. 3 overall) and is up for grabs when New England gets on the clock, could the Patriots end up passing on the coveted edge prospect?
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport mapped out such a scenario on Monday when discussing a first round where the Giants select Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders with the No. 3 pick.
Carter would give New England a potent pass-rushing threat on an upgraded Patriots defense that already features free-agent pickups in Milton Williams and Harold Landry.
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But given New England’s need to upgrade its offensive line and protect Drake Maye, Rapoport believes that the Patriots might pass on Carter — even if he was available at No. 4.
“The fate of Abdul Carter, to me, is almost as interesting or just as interesting as the fate of Shedeur Sanders,” Rapoport said on NFL Network. “If that happens [Sanders goes to the Giants] then something I think could be inconceivable may unfold, which is Abdul Carter not going [No. 3].
“I would say probably [he’s] not going four if the Patriots end up going with an offensive lineman, maybe that’s Will Campbell. Does [Carter] slide to five to the Jaguars? Which, again, is something you never think would happen.”
Rapoport’s prediction is far from an outlier, as Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz shared a similar thought on Wednesday in his latest “NFL Confidential” notebook about Carter’s chances of slipping down the draft order if New York takes Sanders at No. 3.
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“The Patriots are a possibility — they hosted [Carter] — but most believe they’re locked in on LSU OT Will Campbell even if Carter is there. ‘Three-year starter. Just a vintage Mike Vrabel player,’ a former GM said,” Schultz wrote.
“The Pats recently signed Morgan Moses, but he’s best at right tackle. They missed out on Jaylon Moore (Chiefs) and Dan Moore (Titans) in free agency and mostly focused on defense. Campbell also met with owner Robert Kraft — which was not a coincidence. ‘Drake Maye is now your franchise,” a former GM added. ‘Protect him with Campbell and you’re set for a decade. That’s the ultimate luxury.’”
Adding a potential franchise tackle like Campbell would account for a sizable deficiency on New England’s depth chart.
New England allowed 52 sacks this season — the fifth-most in the NFL, and the most sacks allowed in New England over one year since 1999.
And even with the concerns regarding Campbell’s arm length, he allowed just four sacks in his collegiate career at LSU — while earning All-American honors in 2024.
Still, passing up on a talent like Carter would be a bold decision. The 6-foot-3, 259-pound edge rusher was a monster for Penn State in 2024, recording 12 sacks and 24 tackles for loss over 16 games.
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