Giants Insider’s Remarks Don’t Bode Well For Patriots Draft Dream

Mike Vrabel has gushed over Abdul Carter, and there probably are countless Patriots fans who have fantasized about the Penn State product rushing the passer at Gillette Stadium.

Unfortunately for those folks, the idea of Carter landing in New England has become increasingly unlikely.

To be fair, the hypothetical felt realistic once the 2024 NFL season ended. The Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants — owners of the top three picks in the 2025 draft — all needed quarterback help after disastrous campaigns. But with the draft less than a week away, it seems like only one of those franchises will select a signal-caller with its top pick.

That team probably won’t be the Giants, who will go on the clock one spot ahead of the Patriots. Appearing on the “Patriots Talk Podcast,” New York insider Dan Duggan of The Athletic provided insight into what the G-Men figure to do at No. 3.

“I think everyone assumes Cleveland is not gonna take Shedeur (Sanders), so if they take (Travis) Hunter and you’re left with Carter, I don’t think they’re going to try to reinvent the wheel here,” Duggan told host Tom E. Curran, as transcribed by NBC Sports Boston. “He’s still a stud, premium position, I think he’s like 21 years old. So you’re going to have him on a relatively cheapish contract for the next couple of years, and then you make a decision on Kayvon Thibodeaux.

“His fifth-year option is due right after the draft. But even you exercise that, obviously, (Brian) Burns is making a ton, but you still have a pretty cheap number three edge rusher in Abdul Carter, a guy you think will be more than the number three edge rusher, obviously. You’d think he’d be better than Kayvon Thibodeaux. And then you can trade Kayvon next offseason if he has a good year. You can figure that out. A good problem to have.”

So, where would that leave the Patriots? New England might be motivated to trade back if both Hunter and Carter are off the board, but such a move reportedly would be tough to pull off. In turn, Vrabel and company seem likely to stand pat and select a premier prospect who addresses a need in Foxboro, Mass.

And if you ask one Patriots insider, “all signs point to” New England taking one of the more polarizing first-round talents.