The New York Giants are banking on a revamped pass rush to lift them from their 6-11 finish in 2024, but rookie edge-rusher Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is already stirring headlines before playing a snap. Carter’s desire to unretire either Lawrence Taylor’s No. 56 or Phil Simms’ No. 11 drew backlash from fans and legends alike, with Taylor urging him to “get another number” and Simms noting his family “outvoted” the idea, per Gary Myers. On May 6, 2025, at a New York Post event, veteran edge-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux offered Carter advice on handling the criticism, as reported by Brandon London: “Keep going, man. Let it be fuel to your fire. Don’t get distracted by it.” Meanwhile, Thibodeaux faces his own pressure, with the Giants exercising his fifth-year option for 2026 but questions lingering about his role alongside Carter and Brian Burns in a crowded pass-rush unit. Let’s dive into Carter’s controversy, Thibodeaux’s mentorship, and the Giants’ high-stakes 2025 season.
Carter, a Penn State standout with 11 sacks and 20 TFLs in 2024, sparked debate by eyeing retired numbers tied to Giants royalty. Taylor, a Hall of Famer with 132.5 sacks and two Super Bowl rings, and Simms, a Super Bowl XXI MVP with 33,462 passing yards, are sacred figures, and Carter’s request—reported by ESPN’s Jordan Raanan—ignited fan outrage on social media, with one X post calling it “disrespectful to even ask.” Taylor’s response, via WFAN, was blunt: “Make your own legacy, kid. Pick a number and make it famous.” Simms, speaking to Gary Myers, took a lighter tone but stood firm, citing his family’s veto. Carter, who wore No. 11 in college, hasn’t chosen a new number, but the Giants’ retired list (12 numbers, including 56 and 11) limits options, per Giants.com. Thibodeaux’s advice reflects his own experience—drafted No. 5 in 2022, he faced scrutiny for 11.5 sacks over two years before a 12.5-sack 2024, per Pro Football Reference.
Thibodeaux’s words carry weight as he navigates his own uncertain future. The Giants’ $15.35 million option for 2026, reported by Spotrac, secures him through his age-26 season, but The Athletic’s Dan Duggan suggests he could be the “odd man out” in a pass-rush trio with Burns and Carter. Burns, acquired from Carolina in March 2024 for a second-round pick and signed to a five-year, $141 million deal ($28.2 million AAV), led the Giants with 9.5 sacks in 2024, per ESPN. Carter’s four-year, $20.4 million rookie deal, with a $3.4 million cap hit in 2025, makes him a cost-effective cornerstone, per Over The Cap. Thibodeaux’s 2024 breakout—12.5 sacks, 16 TFLs, 43 pressures—silenced some critics, but his 31.2% pass-rush win rate (12th among edge-rushers, per PFF) trails Burns’ 34.7% (8th). With Burns locked in and Carter’s 4.49-second 40 and 11.8% pressure rate at Penn State projecting stardom, Thibodeaux’s $15.4 million cap hit in 2026 could make him trade bait if the Giants falter.
The Giants’ pass-rush potential is tantalizing. Thibodeaux, speaking to Raanan, highlighted their versatility: “If you look at my skill set, Brian’s skill set—Brian can rush inside. I can, but Brian is probably better rushing inside than I am… He can rush from depth. I can rush from depth… So can Abdul.” At 6-foot-4, 254 pounds, Thibodeaux’s 15.2% pressure rate in 2024 complements Burns’ 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame and 9.1% sack rate. Carter, 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, with a 39-inch vertical, brings explosiveness, projecting 8-10 sacks as a rookie, per Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder. Coordinator Shane Bowen’s 3-4 scheme, which generated 41 sacks (14th) in 2024, could deploy all three in sub-packages, with Burns and Carter on the edges and Thibodeaux sliding inside on third downs, per X analysis. Bowen’s Titans defense in 2022 used similar alignments, ranking 8th in pressure rate (33.1%).
The stakes are high for head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen, who face job security questions after 9-7-1 (2022) and 6-11 (2024) seasons. A third straight losing campaign could lead to a housecleaning, per SNY’s Connor Hughes. The Giants’ 2025 roster, with rookie QB Jaxson Dart (2,876 yards, 18 TDs at Ole Miss) and RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (812 yards in 2024), aims to improve a 31st-ranked offense (15.6 points per game). The defense, 12th in yards allowed (323.1 per game), leans on its pass rush, but Duggan notes Carter’s arrival—projected for 35 pressures as a rookie—could make Thibodeaux expendable by 2026, especially with Burns’ $28.2 million cap hit through 2029. Trading Thibodeaux, with a $10 million dead cap hit, could net a second-rounder, per Over The Cap’s trade value model.
Carter’s number drama is a distraction, but Thibodeaux’s mentorship could ground him. At 20, Carter’s 1.6 WAR at Penn State (per PFF) and 4.8% missed tackle rate suggest he’s NFL-ready, but his 12 penalties in 2024 raise discipline concerns. Thibodeaux, who weathered “bust” labels after a 4.0-sack rookie year, sees parallels: “There’s a lot of ups and downs in this league.” His 2024 surge (2nd in sacks among edge-rushers under 25) proves resilience, and his 79.4 PFF pass-rush grade aligns with Burns’ 82.1. If Carter adapts—likely wearing No. 45 or 90, per available Giants numbers—he could hit 7.5 sacks, matching Burns’ rookie mark. The trio’s 30-sack potential could lift New York’s 26th-ranked pressure rate (29.8%) into the top 10, per Next Gen Stats.
The Giants’ 2025 season hinges on execution. A 7-10 projection, per ESPN’s FPI, faces a tough NFC East with Philly (14-3) and Dallas (7-10 but bolstered by George Pickens). Dart’s 65.2 QBR at Ole Miss and Wan’Dale Robinson’s 66 catches in 2024 offer offensive hope, but a 20.2% pressure rate allowed (8th-worst) demands pass-rush dominance. If Thibodeaux, Burns, and Carter combine for 25 sacks, New York could hit 9-8, eyeing a wild card. If Carter flops or Thibodeaux regresses, a 5-12 finish could cost Daboll and Schoen their jobs, with Burns and Carter as the 2026 core. For now, Thibodeaux’s counsel to Carter—use criticism as fuel—sets the tone. The Giants’ pass rush is loaded, but the numbers game, on and off the field, looms large. Time to hit the ground running, Big Blue.
