
‘Dynamic’ Abdul Carter could be back in play for Patriots in NFL Draft
FOXBORO — Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday that he had a good time watching film on Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter during the pre-draft process.
Chances are slightly higher that Carter could still be on the board for the Patriots at No. 4 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft after some recent news broke on the Giants’ intentions at No. 3 overall.
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The Giants, who were expected to take Carter, will now work out Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders before the draft. If the Titans take Cam Ward with the first overall pick, and if Sanders comes off the board before the No. 4 overall pick, that means Carter or Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter will be available for the Patriots.
Carter visited the Patriots this week.
“We’re not going to discuss any of the interactions in the 30 visit, but I appreciate the knowledge of him being in here,” Vrabel said Tuesday. “I don’t think he took too many of them, but I would say that the tape is dynamic. There’s a lot of great qualities of a disruptive pass rusher, very slippery, loose, sudden player, and it was a fun tape to watch.”
Vrabel was asked Tuesday if the team has a plan if Hunter and Carter are not still on the board.
The top options would include LSU left tackle Will Campbell, Missouri right tackle Armand Membou, Georgia pass rusher Jalon Walker, Penn State tight end Tyler Warren and Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
Well, we’re in the process of going through what everybody calls these simulations, and that’s been, and will continue to be good exercises, just running scenarios and what we would do based on those scenarios,” Vrabel said. “So to say that we have a definitive answer on those scenarios, no. But those are processes that are ongoing and you know, will be done here.”
Vrabel was also asked if he believes there’s a tackle in this class worthy of the No. 4 overall pick. He was less conclusive about his answer.
Campbell is widely ranked as the top offensive lineman in the draft, but his lack of arm length is a major outlier for the position. His arms were measured just 33 inches at his pro day, and his wingspan of 77 3/8 inches puts him in the 0th percentile for tackles.
Membou exclusively played right tackle at Missouri, so moving him to the left side would require some projection. The next best offensive tackle prospects include Kelvin Banks Jr., Josh Simmons and Josh Conerly Jr.
I think there’s some starting tackles that certainly will come in and start in the NFL, and I think that’s really what you start to look for, right? Is impact players, when you start picking that high, what they’re going to do for you,” Vrabel said “What’s the impact? What’s the position? You talk about, premium position, and so then that’s where you kind of weigh all the circumstances and end up making that pick. So, do I think that there’s starters in this draft at left tackle? Yes, I do.”