Giants starting tight end Theo Johnson was also a Nittany Lion who the team drafted with the 107th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. In a recent interview following the draft, Carter spoke a bit about the friendly rivalry between him and his college teammate.

Abdul Carter has tackled his first big task in the NFL by choosing a jersey number. After a search that made some headlines, the New York Giants’ first-round pick is wearing No. 51.

As you’ll recall, Carter — perhaps because of youthful naivete — previously angled for Nos. 11 and 56, which are retired by the Giants for legends Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor (probably the NFL’s best defensive player ever). Simms and Taylor both wisely said no.