Giants rookie Abdul Carter says he channels Lawrence Taylor, embraces 'baddest player' mentality

Abdul Carter said he welcomes the pressure and models his play after Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor as the New York Giants open the season.

In a sitdown with New York Post columnist Steve Serby published Saturday, the rookie pass rusher described his on-field mentality as relentless, saying he tries to play every snap “100 percent” and that he sees himself as “the baddest player on the field.” When asked whether any one man could block him, Carter smiled and replied, “Nah, I don’t think so.”

Carter said he studies Taylor’s tape and tries to replicate the former linebacker’s relentlessness and effort. “You could just see it in the way he plays. He’s relentless, the energy, the effort, he don’t care who’s in front of him. He feels like he’s the baddest player on the field, and I try to steal that,” Carter told Serby.

The Penn State product also discussed the versatility he displayed in college. Carter said he enjoyed being used as a spy when game plans required it and that he embraced whatever role coaches asked of him. “Whatever my coaches needed me to do, I took it on and I did it to the best of my ability,” he said, adding that if a quarterback can run, he doesn’t mind chasing him down.

Carter mentioned Arizona State’s Jayden Daniels as an example of a mobile quarterback he respects. “He’s a helluva player for sure,” Carter said.

The interview comes as Carter prepares for his first regular-season action with the Giants. The team’s choice to highlight Carter’s confidence follows a preseason in which coaches and teammates praised his work ethic and production in training camp and exhibition games.

Carter’s remarks underscore the expectations placed on first-year pass rushers who are counted on to generate pressure early in their careers. Giants coaches have emphasized development and situational usage in the preseason, and Carter’s comments reflect an individual focus on effort, technique and a competitive mindset.

Teammates and coaches have often pointed to veteran examples when talking about younger players’ growth; Carter’s citing of Taylor aligns with that tendency to use past greats as templates. He acknowledged the preparation required to replicate that style, emphasizing consistent effort over any single signature move.

As the Giants move into the regular season, Carter’s confidence and versatility will be closely watched by media and fans alike. The team opens its schedule today, and Carter’s early-season snaps will provide the first extended look at how his college roles translate to a professional scheme.

Carter’s comments in the New York Post Q&A offer a window into his mindset heading into that opener: a mixture of reverence for historic play, a firm belief in his own abilities and a willingness to perform wherever the coaching staff sees fit. Whether that approach produces sustained pressure in the NFL will be answered on the field as the season progresses.