Abdul Carter reveals relationship with Micah Parsons, role in NFL Draft prep

Abdul Carter did everything he could at Penn State to set himself up to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, including training with Micah Parsons.

The former Penn State star has been dominant with the Dallas Cowboys since coming into the league in 2021 with the No. 12 overall pick. Carter is the type of EDGE rusher scouts have compared to Parsons.

Carter went the extra mile and decided to work with Parsons to prepare him for the next level.

“I talk to him a lot,” Carter said during the NFL Scouting Combine. “Just before this season, I told him I want to be the No. 1 pick. Want to put some work in, he took me under his wing, we trained together, worked together, everything turned out (well) so far.”

As far as what Carter has seen in the NFL Draft process, he’s been on his game.

“No surprise,” Carter said of the combine. “Just taking in the moment, really living out my dream right now. Just taking everything one day at a time.”

Carter was productive in each of three years at Penn State, but truly broke out in 2024. He finished the season with 68 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, four pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

Despite the accolades and hype, Carter has not fully recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered in the Dec. 31 Fiesta Bowl vs. Boise State, his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey told ESPN‘s Adam Schefter. He played through the injury in the College Football Playoff Semifinal against Notre Dame but was only recently cleared to resume training.

While Carter won’t work out at the Combine, he will partake in physical exams and interviews with teams. Schefter added that Rosenhaus is sending a letter Monday to all 32 teams from Dr. Dan Cooper, “stating that Carter has just now been cleared to resume training and will be cleared for his March 28 pro day.” Cooper examined his shoulder earlier this month in Dallas.

The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Carter is the No. 1 overall player on ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller‘s big board.

“He has speed and burst off the snap. But he also has the power to move offensive tackles off their spots,” Miller wrote. “And he’s still learning how to be a full-time pass rusher, so there’s upside. … Teams in the top five would be wise to consider him regardless of need.”

Nick Geddes contributed to this report