What happened: Abdul Carter is entering his second NFL season with the New York Giants, with the team pointing to him as a player to watch as the offseason program winds toward training camp. The young pass-rusher is being framed as a centerpiece of New York's plans for the 2026 campaign.

Why it matters: A second-year jump from Carter would strengthen a Giants pass rush that sits at the heart of their defensive identity. Premium edge defenders who take a leap in Year 2 often raise a team's ceiling, making Carter's development one of New York's most consequential offseason storylines.

What to watch: Training camp, roughly a month away, will be the first real measure of Carter's progress after he exited June minicamp with an ankle injury the team downplayed.