Tag: Abdul Carter

2025 NFL draft: Blockbuster trade highlights Titans updated 7-round mock draft

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The Tennessee Titans currently hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. This pick will be incredibly valuable, not just for the player the Titans could land but more importantly, as draft capital to trade back.

This is exactly what we did as we ran our seven-round mock draft update through the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator.

We traded the Titans No. 1 overall pick along with the team’s 101st pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for the No. 6 overall pick, No. 37 overall pick and the Raiders first-round pick in 2026.

Here’s how the draft turned out for the Titans.

First round – EDGE Abdul Carter – Penn State

Second round – OT Aireontae Ersery – Minnesota

Second round – WR Jack Bech – TCU

Fourth round – QB Riley Leonard – Notre Dame

Fifth round – RB Trevor Etienne – Georgia

Fifth round – CB O’Donnell Fortune – South Carolina

Fifth round – DT Junior Tafuna

Getting Carter at pick No. 6 is a huge value. Carter is a truly elite prospect and our top player in this draft. Being able to land a potential starting quarterback in the fourth round in Riley Leonard is the biggest surprise pick but we never thought he’d still be available.

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2025 NFL draft: Titans land ‘generational talent’ in latest NFL.com mock

In the latest mock draft from Eric Edholm of NFL.com, the Tennessee Titans land a “generational talent” who can reshape their future.

The two major college football All-Star games are behind us and now eyes will turn to the scouting combine as the next major event of the offseason. This is also the time when many draft experts will update or release their mock drafts.

The Tennessee Titans are on the clock with the No. 1 overall selection after they finished their 2024 season with a miserable 3-14 record. After overhauling their front office, their eyes are focused on free agency and the draft.

At this point, any selection in a mock draft is purely speculation made from interviews with staff members and interactions with players. With that, a common thread has come out of Nashville: The Titans won’t pass on generational talent. That makes this draft interesting with a lack of consensus on the top prospects.

Draft expert Eric Edholm of NFL.com thinks the Titans will stay put and take an elite defender in his initial mock draft.

Pick 1 – Tennessee Titans

Abdul Carter – Penn State · Edge · Junior

I think this Penn State product is either going first or second overall. It really felt like Chad Brinker’s “generational talent” comment boiled down to one of two players: Carter or Travis Hunter.

Once again, Carter finds his name attached to Tennessee at the top of the draft. There is no doubt he is the best edge in the class and still has room to grow. Even with only one season at the position, he has flashed dominating playmaking ability and has an extremely high ceiling.

Tennessee needs to add a playmaker to boost their pass rush this offseason, and it is a huge need entering the offseason and Carter would fit. What do you think? Is that who you would select for the Titans or would you go a different direction? Let us know your thoughts.

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NFL mock draft from ESPN has the Titans taking a non-quarterback No. 1 overall

Does this make sense?

The Tennessee Titans have an intriguing choice at No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft: they could take a quarterback to take over for Will Levis, or they could take the best player available and wait for a QB later (or next year?).

In the latest mock draft from our Christian D’Andrea, he’s got the Titans taking Miami’s Cam Ward to be the new QB in Tennessee. But in a new NFL mock from ESPN’s Matt Miller, he used the quotes about the Titans taking a “generational talent” and has them grabbing Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter instead.

What’s his reasoning? Here you go:

Titans president Chad Brinker said the team will not pass on a generational talent with the No. 1 pick. Carter is the closest thing to that. After showing situational pass-rush ability in his first two seasons, Penn State made him a full-time edge rusher in 2024. Carter turned in a dominant performance with 12 sacks, 61 hurries and an FBS-best edge pressure percentage of 19.6%.

If that sounds like Micah Parsons … well, it should. Like Parsons, Carter is a player you can build a defense around. And while Tennessee has needs at quarterback and right tackle, this might be a case where it’s better to draft the best player on the board versus reaching for need.

Intriguing! Make sure to check out our latest NFL mock draft from D’Andrea!

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2025 NFL draft: Titans land elite edge rusher in 33rd Team mock

The Tennessee Titans again address their defense at the top of the NFL draft with the selection of Abdul Carter in the latest 33rd Team mock.

The Tennessee Titans are in full offseason mode and they’ve been busy. Between coaching staff changes and overhauling their front office, there really hasn’t been any down time. 

But now, with the Super Bowl on the horizon and free agency around the corner, the team has started to dive head first into draft preparations, this week spending time at the East-West Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl. 

After finishing their 2024 season with a miserable 3-14 record and earning the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft, there is very little change amongst the many mock drafts that populate the media. The same four names always seem to appear and honestly a case could be made for any of them. 

Cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter, edge Abdul Carter and quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders seem to be the favorites as we turn the page toward the scouting combine.  

NFL draft experts at the 33rd Team recently released their latest mock draft and have the Titans again selecting one of those names. 

While Carter would make a lot of sense with the Titans definitely needing an upgrade on the edge, the bigger question is whether they could trade back to grab some extra picks and still select him. The Titans have a lot of needs and only so many picks. 

If they stay put and grab him, they will get a dynamic, potential game-changer off the edge that could take their already solid defense to a new level. While he isn’t a finished project, his upside is immense and he could wreak havoc on offenses for years to come. 

What do you think? Is that who you would select for the Titans or would you go a different direction? Let us know your thoughts. 

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2025 NFL draft: Titans land Abdul Carter, franchise QB in The Athletic mock

The Tennessee Titans draft for need and value in the latest mock draft by The Athletic grabbing a quarterback and edge rusher.

The Tennessee Titans finished their 2024 season with a miserable 3-14 record and have made wholesale changes in their front office. With the revamped department in place, fans can now get some idea of what they are going to do with their No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft.

This is an interesting draft, one that may lack generational talent in many positions. Unlike past years where there was consensus on a group of prospects, after Colorado Buffaloes cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter and possibly Penn State edge Abdul Carter, there is no clear-cut order in the player rankings. 

The Titans already have had some time to evaluate potential prospects at the East-West Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl, and will start to build their own board led by new general manager Mike Borgonzi. What they will eventually do is anyone’s guess. 

NFL draft experts Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman of The Athletic recently released their latest two-round mock draft and have the Titans making at least part of the fanbase happy.

1.1 Tennessee Titans: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

The ideal option for the Titans would be to trade this pick. I can understand why many would argue for a quarterback here, but I’m not completely sold on either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders being the answer to a team’s prayers — at least not right away.

Carter is the closest thing we’ve seen to Micah Parsons since … Micah Parsons. He’s a true game-changing athlete who has improved almost every time he’s taken the field, had dominant stretches in the College Football Playoff and isn’t close to his ceiling yet.

2.35 Tennessee: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

The Titans could roll the dice on a talented QB they’re not sure about at No. 1 … or they can do the exact same thing at No. 35. With Carter available early, this might be the preferred path.

There is no question that Carter is a hot name and many fans would salivate over the selection. However, Milroe’s selection may not be received with the same applause. Milroe is an interesting player, but he is raw and would need time to develop. Athletically gifted and throwing a great deep ball, his erratic short-to-medium passing prowess looks more like Will Levis than Josh Allen. 

These picks would help fill voids on the roster in areas that definitely need upgrades, but are they the right selections?  What do you think? Is that who you would select for the Titans or would you go a different direction? Let us know your thoughts. 

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Patriots could attempt trade for T.J. Watt, but here’s a better idea

The Patriots trading for T.J. Watt is a pipe dream, but there’s also a better and more realistic option for the team.

The New England Patriots potentially swinging a blockbuster trade will be the talk of the offseason. That’s what happens when you’re loaded to the gills in cap space with one of the worst rosters in the league.

So it’s no surprise that Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt is being mentioned on social media as a potential trade option for the Patriots.

The Steelers haven’t mentioned Watt even being on the trade block, but considering the state of the team, one has to wonder if the right offer could pry the former Defensive Player of the Year from their black and gold clutches.

New England clearly needs an edge rusher. They desperately need a defensive disruptor up front to pressure opposing quarterbacks and open up opportunities for other playmakers. An argument could be made that nobody is better at that job than Watt.

But at 30 years old and likely with a high price tag, does a player like Watt make sense for the Patriots at this current juncture? Do the Patriots make sense for Watt?

The easy answer to both of those questions is no.

Forking over significant draft compensation and a big-money contract isn’t ideal for a player closer to the end of his career than the beginning. That isn’t to say Watt can’t have two or even three more years of greatness. But it would make more sense for the Patriots to use those assets on younger players capable of becoming franchise cornerstones for the team.

As for Watt, it would probably be a huge disappointment for him to leave Pittsburgh for a rebuilding team without the pieces in place to contend right away.

A better option for the Patriots would be waiting until the 2025 NFL draft and taking Penn State’s All-American defensive end Abdul Carter.

There are some scary similarities between Carter and Dallas Cowboys star pass-rusher Micah Parsons, other than the fact that they both attended Penn State. Carter is a dominant edge player with the rare ability to take over a game by wreaking havoc in the offensive backfield.

Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter and Cam Ward are expected to be the first three names taken off the draft board, leaving Carter to fall into the awaiting arms of the Patriots.

Granted, there’s always a chance that Carter’s name continues to rise in the draft, and he’s taken earlier than expected. That could instead create a situation where Hunter falls to the Patriots.

Another top-tier cornerback is also a major need for the team. The thought of Hunter playing across from All-Pro corner Christian Gonzalez is equally as appealing as Carter lining up as their lead pass-rusher.

Regardless of what happens, the Patriots should find themselves in a position to upgrade significantly on the defensive side of the ball if they’re patient.

Isn’t that the whole point of a rebuild? Patience?

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NFL mock draft from Daniel Jeremiah has the Titans NOT taking a QB

This would be intriguing.

Feels like the Tennessee Titans are ready to move on from Will Levis, doesn’t it?

After all, they’ve given the quarterback two seasons after making him a second-round pick out of Kentucky. And he hasn’t done much. In the latest mock from our Christian D’Andrea — a top-five mini-mock — he had the Titans taking Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the top pick.

But what if the Titans have a different plan at QB? And what if they take one of the best players available in Abdul Carter, the Penn State pass-rusher? That’s where Daniel Jeremiah went with his first NFL.com mock. He had the Titans taking Carter. Here’s his take:

My ears perked up when Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker said the team wouldn’t pass on a generational talent with the first pick. To me, Carter is the best player in the draft and he plays a premium position. I could see Tennessee looking to add competition for QB Will Levis in the free-agent market or later on in the draft.

Intriguing! Make sure to check out the latest mock draft from D’Andrea!

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2025 NFL draft: Titans pass on QBs in first Daniel Jeremiah mock

Daniel Jeremiah released his first NFL mock draft of 2025, and he has the Tennessee Titans passing on the quarterbacks.

The 2025 NFL draft is just a few months away and the Tennessee Titans are doing their homework on prospects worthy of being selected with the No. 1 overall pick.

Most mock drafts coming out have the Titans selecting quarterback Cam Ward out of Miami, but NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah is going a different route.

1. Tennessee Titans – Abdul Carter

Penn State · Edge · Junior

My ears perked up when Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker said the team wouldn’t pass on a generational talent with the first pick. To me, Carter is the best player in the draft and he plays a premium position. I could see Tennessee looking to add competition for QB Will Levis in the free-agent market or later on in the draft.

Chad Brinker did say they would not pass on a generational talent, but we don’t actually know what Brinker thinks about Carter.

While at Penn State, Carter made an immediate impact out of high school as a four-star recruit. He recorded 56 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, and 6.5 sacks his freshman season, joining Deion Barnes as the only other Penn State freshman to record 10-plus tackles for a loss and 6-plus sacks. This earned him Freshman All-American and All-Big Ten honors.

Carter’s sophomore and junior years were equally as impressive, his senior season he set a new record with 24 tackles for a loss, surpassing players like Myles Garrett and Nick and Joey Bosa.

His talent is undeniable, but there are two caveats: 1. It’s unclear how the Titans’ brass feels about passing on a quarterback with the top pick, and 2. Carter was arrested for assault in 2024 after pulling a tow truck driver from his vehicle. Carter didn’t have a permit. It appears to be a one-off confrontation, but the Titans will need to make sure his legal issues don’t carry over should they draft him.

The 2025 NFL draft takes place in Green Bay, Wisconsin at the end of April. The Titans are sure to be busy between now and then with evaluating players and evaluating options and offers from other teams.

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Where does ESPN rank Penn State’s 2022 recruiting class three years later?

Where would Penn State’s Class of 2022 rank if evaluated today?

Penn State had its best run at a National Championship in two decades this season, making it to the playoff semifinals before falling short against Notre Dame. Like most teams even in the new NIL landscape of college football, their success can be primarily attributed to excellent recruiting classes over the last few seasons.

Coach James Franklin has been criticized for many things during his tenure, but one thing nobody can say is that he isn’t a phenomenal recruiter. His classes have ranked inside the top 20 every season since 2015 according to 247Sports. That consistent success in recruiting has led to six double-digit win seasons during his time as head coach.

Of all his great classes, the 2022 class has been the lynchpin of their most successful stretch in decades. ESPN’s Craig Haubert recently looked back at the 2022 class and reranked them, listing Penn State’s class as the second-best in the country. Only fellow Big Ten powerhouse Michigan ranks above them on his list.

The class makes up most of Penn State’s best players from this past season. Quarterback [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag], running backs [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag], defensive ends [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] and Dani Dennis-Sutton, safety [autotag]Kevin Winston Jr.[/autotag], and offensive linemen Drew Shelton and Vega Ioane are some impact players from a stacked group. That’s without factoring in transfers Chop Robinson, Hunter Nourzad, and Mitchell Tinsley, all of whom are currently in or at some point made the NFL.

Other contributors like corner Cam Miller, QB Beau Pribula, defensive lineman Zane Durant, and receiver Omari Evans round out a tremendous class. Not every player was able to make a huge impact, but several home run signings have elevated the program to the heights they are enjoying now.

With Allar, Singleton, Allen, Dennis-Sutton, Shelton, and others returning for 2025, the 2022 class still has time to add even more to their already impressive resume. With some believing that Penn State could be the top team in the country next season, a National Championship could be what makes this class one of the best to ever come through Happy Valley.

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Daniel Jeremiah’s first 2025 NFL mock draft has two Penn State stars as top 10 picks

Penn State has two high-profile draft prospects in the 2025 NFL draft, and draft expert Daniel Jeremiah had high praise for them in his first mock draft of the year.

With draft season fully underway, Penn State’s draft prospects are set to begin their journey to the NFL. As usual, coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] has plenty of players who are expected to make the leap to the NFL level. Since he took over the program in 2014, 57 former Nittany Lions have heard their name called in the NFL draft.

That number will grow in 2025 thanks to some impressive prospects, none more so than [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag]. They will both be fixtures in most first-round mock drafts throughout the draft season. NFL Network draft expert Daniel Jeremiah recently released his first 2025 mock draft, and he may be higher on the pair than anybody.

Jeremiah had Carter going first overall to the Tennessee Titans, ranking him as his top overall player in the draft. If Carter does indeed get picked first overall, he would be just the third Nittany Lion selected first overall in the NFL draft and the first since Courtney Brown in 2000.

Carter has all the talent required to be in contention for the first pick, even with the Titans in need of help at quarterback help. His blend of speed and power is rare among edge rushers, and the Titans need to prioritize adding difference-makers following a disappointing first season under new coach Brian Callahan.

Warren was mocked to the New York Jets at seventh overall, an interesting landing spot for the massive tight end. If Warren did end up as the Jets selection, it would be two years in a row that they selected a former Penn State player in the first round. Left tackle Olu Fashanu was excellent for them before an injury ended his season, so adding his former teammate could give their struggling offense a big boost.

Many draft analysts thought the Jets were interested in Brock Bowers with their pick last year, but ultimately they passed on him to select Fashanu. While the jury is still out on the young offensive tackle, selecting Warren could give them the best of both worlds in a relatively weak tackle class. Especially with uncertainty at QB, the Jets would benefit from having a safety blanket for whoever ends up under center in 2025.

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