Most Indispensable New York Giants: A Rookie Enters the List at No. 6

Consistency has always appeared a luxury in the ever-shifting world of the New York Giants defense. However, the Giants have found much more than an optimistic advantage with Abdul Carter.

They’ve discovered a foundational piece worth building around. Coming in at No. 6 on the New York Giants On SI’s list of the team’s most indispensable players, Carter has shown flash early on to separate himself to be essential for the team’s defensive identity.

Carter, who transitioned from Penn State with sky-high expectations, entered the NFL as the number 3 overall pick. He has a reputation as a hard-hitting, sideline-to-sideline enforcer, and in his rookie season, he's looking to deliver on those expectations and then some.

Why He’s Indispensable

The Giants’ defense might not have ranked among the league’s elite in 2024, but with Carter coming in, he could be a quick difference-maker to hopefully change their fortune on that side of the ball. His natural ability to diagnose plays, close gaps, and bring down ball carriers makes him a potential and immediate asset against both the run and pass.

But it’s more than where he was taken that makes Carter indispensable. Early signs from the rookie mini-camp have been very positive, precisely what the Giants brass were looking for when they selected him with their first-round pick. 

His presence brings stability to a team that would have otherwise lacked it in terms of inconsistency. From filling gaps at the line of scrimmage to dropping into coverage, Carter plays with a never-ending motor and a football mind ahead of his time.

While stars like Dexter Lawrence II and Bobby Okereke garner headlines, Carter can be the next man up to anchor this defense and be the star that allows the rest of the defense to thrive.