Abdul Carter projected as No. 1 NFL Draft prospect ahead of Combine

The road to the NFL Draft begins Monday with the start of the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Two months ago, Abdul Carter took the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium hoping to help Penn State football win a Big Ten title. This week, he will be one of five former Nittany Lions looking to impress the scouts on hand.

Ahead of this week’s action, ESPN NFL Draft expert Matt Miller updated his top 50 prospects in this year’s Draft class. The former Penn State edge rusher is at the top of the list, coming in as Miller’s No. 1 overall prospect.

“He has speed and burst off the snap, but he also has the power to move offensive tackles off their spots,” Miller wrote of Carter. “And he’s still learning how to be a full-time pass rusher, so there’s upside.”

Ultimately, the Draft insider believes franchises selecting early in this year’s Draft should give Carter a look regardless of their positional need.

“Teams in the top five would be wise to consider him regardless of need,” he continued.

Could Penn State football have two players selected in the top 10 of the NFL Draft?

Penn State football star tight end Tyler Warren. © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Abdul Carter wasn’t the only Nittany Lion to rank near the top of this year’s Draft class. Miller also had standout Penn State tight end Tyler Warren in his top 10. The Mackey Award winner came in at No. 9 on Miller’s list.

“Warren has the speed to separate downfield and is the ideal ‘move’ tight end, yet he does it with enormous size,” Miller said. “He also showcased his all-around versatility, playing Wildcat quarterback and even center on a trick play.”

Penn State football has not had two players selected in the top 10 of the NFL Draft since Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington went No. 1 and No. 2 in 2000. Five years earlier, Ki-Jana Carter (No. 1), Kerry Collins (No. 5), and Kyle Brady (No. 9) each came off the board within the first 10 picks.

While Carter and Warren will both hear their names called on night one of the Draft, where they ultimately get called could depend heavily on this week’s Combine. Carter is essentially a consensus lock as a top-five selection. Most mock drafts have Warren going somewhere in the mid-to-late teens or early twenties.

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