Penn State edge Abdul Carter will not be working out at the 2025 NFL Combine and the reason could be cause for concern.
As reported by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport Wednesday night, tests have revealed the projected top 3 pick has a stress reaction in his right foot. As a player who could go as high as No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft, could the news lead the exciting defensive playmaker to slide a little in the first round?
Tests at the NFL Combine revealed that potential No. 1 pick and PSU star Abdul Carter has a stress reaction in his right foot and he may have surgery.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 27, 2025
Option 1 would be to have the pre-emptive surgery, have a screw inserted in his foot, and be back in 8 weeks, agent Drew… pic.twitter.com/ymheGNelts
Although surgery could be in the future for Carter, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, doesn’t believe the injury or potential need for surgery will impact him as possibly becoming selected as the top player off the board come April.
“Either way, worst case scenario, we don’t expect this to impact where he is drafted,” Rosenhaus said, via NFL.com. “After visiting with teams this week, I believe he’s going to be the No. 1 overall pick.”
Abdul Carter injury should have minimal impact on his 2025 NFL Draft stock
That’s the optimistic vision that lays ahead for Carter, but teams drafting at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft are looking for a player who will impact their roster Day 1. Carter has the talent to do that on the defensive side of the ball, but the injury could cause a couple of those teams to pass on him depending on the timetable of the injury or steer them in the direction of another player.
It should also be noted that if Carter does opt for surgery, the recovery time would be up eight weeks. In doing so, he wouldn’t be available to work out for scouts during Penn State’s pro day in late March. With his ceiling, that shouldn’t have much impact like Rosenhaus says, but at the top of the draft, there could be enough hesitance for a team like the Tennessee Titans to lean towards a generational talent like Travis Hunter over Carter.
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Other than that possibility, there is no play a player with the talent of Carter slips past No. 4 in the draft, especially coming off another dominant season at Penn State in which he recorded 68 tackles, 12 sacks and forced two fumbles.
In all, the injury should just be seen as a temporary setback for a player who has a unique combination of power and speed that will be tough for any team to pass up on. With that said, the impact on his draft stock should be minimal, but may sway a team not to select him No. 1 overall, which could be the case even with him 100 percent healthy.