Abdul Carter Eyes Double-Digit Sacks After 66 Pressures in Giants Year 2

Q: With Brian Burns costing $36.6 million, could a second-year rookie actually become the Giants' most dangerous defensive weapon in 2026?

Yes. Abdul Carter has a real chance to become the Giants’ most dangerous defensive weapon in 2026, even with Brian Burns carrying a $36.6 million cap hit. The case starts with production beneath the sack total. As a rookie, Carter led the Giants with 66 pressures, 13 more than Burns, posted an 84.5 PFF pass-rush grade, and ranked among the league’s fastest disruptors with a 2.39-second average time to pressure. He also led the NFL in quick pressures, which is often a strong predictor that sacks will rise once technique and finishing improve. Burns remains the more proven finisher after producing 16.5 sacks, and that matters. He is still the safer bet to be the Giants’ top edge rusher on a week-to-week basis because he has already shown he can convert pressure into game-changing plays. Carter, by contrast, is still projecting the next step rather than fully owning it. What makes Carter such a serious candidate is value and trajectory. He is on a rookie deal, he closed 2025 with 3.5 sacks over four straight games, and new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson has publicly praised his traits, versatility and one-on-one ability. In a front featuring Burns, Carter and Dexter Lawrence, Carter should continue to see favorable matchups. If his pressure rate translates even moderately better into sacks, Carter could jump into double digits and become the defense’s most explosive piece. Burns is still the established star, but Carter may be the player offenses fear most by season’s end.

3 articles · Updated · Empire Sports Media · Aug 31

66 pressures put Abdul Carter on NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks’ All-Breakout Team, with the Giants edge rusher projected for a major sack jump after managing only four as a rookie.
84.5 was Carter’s 2025 PFF pass-rush grade—11th among 115 qualified edge defenders—and his 2.39-second average time to pressure plus 48 quick pressures both led the league.
3.5 sacks over his final four games, including a franchise rookie record of four straight with at least a half-sack, suggested his pressure-to-sack conversion was already improving.
Brian Burns converted 53 pressures into 16.5 sacks last season, a gap that highlights why New York needs Carter’s cheaper production to rise with Burns carrying a $36.6 million 2026 cap hit.
Dennard Wilson now inherits a front with Carter, Burns and Dexter Lawrence, giving the Giants a scheme and personnel mix that could turn Carter’s elite disruption into finished sacks.