Linebacker Abdul Carter

What have the last 12 or so hours been like for you?

ABDUL CARTER: Definitely been surreal. I don't think it's really hit me yet, but it's really just a blessing just celebrating this moment with my family.

Abdul, I'm sure you dealt with these at Penn State, too – but now that you're in the NFC East, everybody is going to compare you to (Cowboys linebacker) Micah Parsons. How do you handle that, and do you see similarities in your games?

ABDUL CARTER: Yeah, for sure. I learned a lot from Micah, just me being at Penn State wearing No. 11. We keep that brotherhood tight. But at the end of the day, I'm my own player, and I want to make my own name. That's what I've done.

What do you think about getting to play against him?

ABDUL CARTER: It's going to be dope. Seeing him twice a year, we (were) talking yesterday just about this moment, us getting to this moment and just seeing each other, that jersey swap at the end of the game. That's going to be dope.

Before or after you got drafted?

ABDUL CARTER: During the whole process, before I got drafted, after I talked to him.

Did you hear from him after you got drafted from the Giants?

ABDUL CARTER: Yes, sir.

What do you think about that?

ABDUL CARTER: He's just proud of me. Just talked about all the work that we put in, all the things that led me to this moment.

Did you hear from (Eagles running back) Saquon (Barkley) about being here?

ABDUL CARTER: No, not yet.

Do you know him?

ABDUL CARTER: Yeah, for sure. I've met him a couple times.

Have you talked about numbers yet? There's a couple of numbers that are already retired that you would probably be eyeing?

ABDUL CARTER: We're still in the process of that, but we'll see what happens.

Which number would you prefer?

ABDUL CARTER: We'll see what happens.

For the Giants fans that don't know you, what kind of player are they getting here in New York?

ABDUL CARTER: Just an exciting player, a fun player. I like to get the crowd involved, get the crowd hyped on 3rd downs, get my best pass rush, make that big explosive play, just 100 percent effort, my energy. I'm bringing everything.

You said you had a dream when you were 12 or 13 that you were going to be a Giant. Do you remember what your reaction was when that dream happened, like whoa?

ABDUL CARTER: Yeah, it's kind of like, is this really going to happen, then me being here, I feel like everything happens for a reason, and me having that dream – everything happens for a reason. This is where I was meant to be.

Did you think about that when you got the call? Did you think, oh my gosh, this is really happening? What was that like?

ABDUL CARTER: All of the emotions definitely hit me when I hugged my mom, hugged my dad, my aunt, all of the people that really helped me get to this moment. It definitely hit me, yeah.

What happened in that dream? Was it your first game? Were you in the Super Bowl?

ABDUL CARTER: No, it was just – I don't remember the exact pick, but I remember seeing the screen, with my name on it. It's hard to believe, but it is true.

Is there anything in your game that maybe you think you need to improve on at this level?

ABDUL CARTER: Yeah, I feel like I'm just getting started. This is my first year in a new position, just all of the technical stuff. I feel like I can improve in all the areas of my game.

Can you describe that transition? What made you go from being an off-ball linebacker to switching to edge this year?

ABDUL CARTER: Just knowing how dominant I could be. When my coaches took me on, they trusted me. I just told them, I feel like it would be most helpful for the team for myself switching positions, being on the edge, just doing what I do best, playing fast, playing free. It all worked out.

So you went to them to make the change?

ABDUL CARTER: Yes, sir.

What's your relationship like with defensive coordinator Shane Bowen and some of the other defensive guys?

ABDUL CARTER: I got to talk to them a lot throughout the process. Really just me getting to know them as a person, getting to know them as men, then me being here, I'm going to get to work with them more, know them more, and we're just going to hit the field running.

What was your level of excitement like last night when they traded back up to take (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) so they'd get you and him in the first round?

ABDUL CARTER: Yeah, it was dope. I'm a big fan of Jaxson. I played against him in the Peach Bowl when he was at Ole Miss. He ended up winning that game but just seeing how accurate he was just dishing the ball out, I knew he was a good quarterback. It was a great pickup.

What's your scouting report on Jaxson?

ABDUL CARTER: Well, he beat us, so if you beat Penn State in a big game like that, I know you're the real deal, especially at quarterback.

We've seen some of your highlight packages and it seems like that play that you sacked him force fumble is included in that, even though you lost the game…

ABDUL CARTER: Yeah, it didn't end up counting, but I definitely got a good shot at him. But he's tough. He got right back up, kept playing throughout the whole game. So, I knew right there he was a good player.

Flag on the play, is that what happened?

ABDUL CARTER: No, they said when he released it, he was in a throwing motion, so they didn't count it as a strip sack.

You mentioned still being in the process with the number. Obviously 56, you made that comment yesterday about that being a possibility. Do you know Lawrence (Taylor) or have you talked to him at all, and if not, what do you expect from that? How much do you look forward to getting a chance to --

ABDUL CARTER: I haven't met him yet, but I feel like eventually I will. But he's the greatest football of all time, somebody I look up to. Just want to follow in his footsteps, knowing how great he was. I just want to chase greatness, and knowing that he was the best, that's what I want to chase. But I didn't say it like, 'I want to be better than Lawrence Taylor.' That's more me looking up to him, inspired to be like him.

You're in a little bit of a unique situation because you're joining a team within a division that's going to see the Super Bowl champs twice a year. Do you believe that you can help close the gap between those two?

ABDUL CARTER: Yeah, absolutely. But it's a process. All that stuff is going to take work. I'm just going to start by getting here, getting to know the people around the building, getting to know my teammates, getting to know them as men. Then once we're on the field, just creating havoc as a defense.

Jaxson has been described as strong in the pocket, like to stay in there to make the play. How rare is that for quarterbacks that you've faced, like when they see somebody like you coming that they don't just bail?

ABDUL CARTER: Yeah, you've got to be tough for that. That's definitely a toughness attribute. When we were playing, I landed a really good shot on him, and he got right back up and dusted off like nothing happened. He ended up winning that game, so I know he's a really good player.

What got you interested in Lawrence Taylor because obviously his last game, I believe, was nine years before you were born. Most guys watch players that are still playing. What got you interested in Lawrence Taylor?

ABDUL CARTER: Well, obviously just me being an edge, playing edge, and who's the greatest edge rusher of all time? Everybody is going to say LT. Greatest defensive player of all time? Everybody is going to say LT. If you don't know LT as a defensive player, that's kind of crazy.

Do you bring any kind of attitude? People say smiles off the field, nasty on the field. Do you think that's important in your game?

ABDUL CARTER: I just play football, at the end of the day. I just trust my teammates, hope my teammates trust me. At the end of the day, just play football.

Have you talked with (outside linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux) or (outside linebacker) Brian Burns?

ABDUL CARTER: Kayvon sent me a text. I (saw) Brian Burns earlier in the building, said what's up to him, shook his hand. Just interested in getting to know those guys and just building that relationship.

What did Burns tell you when you got to meet him in person?

ABDUL CARTER: Nothing specific. Really just an introduction, getting to know each other.

Throughout the process talking to people about your game, a lot of people brought up the idea of as special of a player as you are skill-wise, what you showed, the toughness you showed in the playoffs to go out with the shoulder and then come back in the game really set a tone for some people who were watching you play. They thought that meant a lot. Were you even thinking of it at that point, or was it just about your team?

ABDUL CARTER: I knew if my teammates (were) in the same position I was in, they'd go out there and lay it all on the line for me. I knew that I wanted to do everything in my power to make sure I put my team in the best position to win, knowing what was on the line. If I had to make the choices again, I'd do it again, just be out there with my brothers.

What have they told you about how you see your role? Have they gotten into that yet of how they could see using you?

ABDUL CARTER: They talked just a little bit on my visits here, but wherever my coaches need me to play, that's where I'm going to play.

What are you looking forward to most about being in New York?

ABDUL CARTER: Probably just getting settled down, getting to know my teammates, then just getting right back to football, get back to work.

Are you physically ready to be in the rookie mini-camps and all those things?

ABDUL CARTER: Yes, sir, I'm ready to go.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart

Q. What have the last 12 hours been like for you?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, it's been crazy. It's been surreal for sure. I think just growing up as an athlete, this is what your dream is. Being able to experience this with my family, my loved ones back home was quite a special experience and then carrying it over to come here and bring them with me is an amazing experience for sure. I couldn't be more happy.

Q. What's it like to walk around this building and see the trophies, murals and players and everything and to know that's expected of you now?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, no doubt. This place is iconic. Everybody in the National Football League knows it. If you're a fan, you know it. I'm blessed to be here. I'm humbled by it. It's extraordinary to see it on the wall when you walk by. You can just feel it in the air when you're here. I was able to meet a legend today in (former Giant) Carl Banks. To be a part of this is quite amazing, and I'm very humbled by it.

Q. What kind of interactions did you have with (President and Chief Executive Officer) John Mara before the process and then the last 24 hours?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, they were great. I was able to have conversations with them going into this process. I think anytime that you get to have those opportunities, you want to take full advantage of them. Being able to meet them and create that connection before I was even drafted here was special.

Look forward to continuing with that and just really grateful for them and them believing in me.

Q. You look at the quarterback room, the Giants went outside two veterans this off-season. How do you see yourself fitting in right away?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, I think it's just a great opportunity for me to learn. They've played at the highest level, won Super Bowls. I remember as a little kid I was watching (quarterback) Russ (Wilson) play and I actually have a jersey of him when he was with the Seahawks. Like I said, it's a surreal experience to be able to play here and play with those great guys, such an elite caliber, and I'm just really prepared to take it day by day and try to improve myself and learn from them as much as I can.

Q. Sitting behind those guys initially, team trades up to get their guy in the first round, they're going to peg you as the franchise quarterback. What does that mean to you potentially being this franchise's quarterback?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, it's special. Them being able to have that belief in me, I think as a competitor you have that belief in yourself, so when you're able to be a part of an organization that sees it the same way, it's special, and I think that they have an amazing plan lined up for me in the development program and then being able to learn from the vets that are ahead of me is going to be great.

Q. One of the things that's unique about the draft is that people do sometimes pick at pieces of your game, and one of the criticisms of you is just you needing time to develop, which isn't a bad thing. How ready do you believe you are, and when you heard 'oh, you needs time to develop' what goes through your mind?

JAXSON DART: You know, quite honestly, I've just tried to stay away from that as much as I can. I'm just focused on getting better each and every day. I feel like anytime I step on the football field I'm going to go out there and ball, regardless of who I'm playing against. I have that confidence in myself, but at the same time, I understand coming to the next level there's definitely going to be a development piece, and that goes for anybody, regardless of where you're at in your career, if you're taking it to the next level.

That's my plan is to attack each and every day and to prepare myself for whenever my time is to come.

Q. Did (former Giants quarterback) Eli (Manning) give you any advice on how to handle everything else around this job, not just playing football but being the quarterback for a New York team?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, so he was actually one of the first people to reach out to me yesterday when the news broke, and I think I've had such a great connection with him and the Manning family that being able to have them in my corner has been a huge asset, and I couldn't be more blessed to have them in my corner coming here and continuing that in the future.

Q. Did he tell you anything specifically?

JAXSON DART: We're going to have conversations coming up. These last few hours have been kind of crazy.

Q. How much do you plan on using him as a sounding board?

JAXSON DART: I think I would be kind of a fool not to. Really any questions that I have, I think he's a great person to rely on and kind of lean on. He's been here, played at the highest level, won Super Bowls, and for me, I want to chase greatness just like he did. So, I think when you're able to pick the brain of a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, you'd be a fool not to.

Q. How much does it help that you have that Ole Miss connection?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, it's huge. It's huge. Like I said, I think it's going to be a great asset for me to carry over to the next step.

Q. What do you remember about the Peach Bowl, your victory over Penn State and (linebacker) Abdul Carter's strip sack on you?

JAXSON DART: I remember he got after me early on in that game. I remember game planning for him and just seeing his skill set was such an elite level. I actually told my family before this that I hope I get the chance to play with him, because I know how great of a player he is. I've seen what his teammates have said about him and how he's able to set a culture for the team, and I see it the exact same way. I'm excited to compete with him and be a teammate with him.

Q. You worked with Joe Judge at Ole Miss. Did you pick his brain about the organization and playing in this market?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, he gave me some – he's going to connect me with some really good people, and I think just like many others, he's a great asset for me. He's had a lot of experience.

He shed a lot of wisdom down to me, and I'm just grateful to have him as an asset, as well. He's been a great source in my development at Ole Miss, and he was able to be at my draft party yesterday, which says a lot to me. He's been a huge supporter.

Q. What stood out about Abdul's game when you were game planning for him?

JAXSON DART: Geez, he doesn't really have a weakness. He can do it all. He's so versatile. I played him when he was playing in the box at the linebacker position, and how he was able to disrupt the game from that. I still remember a play we had on short yardage where he chased from the end of the line of scrimmage all the way back to the other side of the field and almost made a tackle on a running back for a loss and actually stopped him before he got to the 1st down. I remember live, you can't really see it, but then when you watch it back on film, not many people on this earth can make a play like that.

Q. There's obviously a lot more that goes into playing quarterback than just playing. Where does your leadership come from? How would you describe your leadership? What kind of role models have you had?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, I'm huge on making relationships with my teammates. I want to know everybody's story and I want to get to know them as the people that they are. I think that as a leader, to really get buy-in from your teammates, you have to have that. I think that when you're able to also come to work every single day with the mindset of consistency and discipline where your teammates and the guys around you know that you're going to show up and handle your business at an elite level, I think that that can be a great example.

But I think it definitely starts with building that relationship and that connection so they can trust you and you can trust them and make everybody around you better.

Q. Who were some of the role models you had early on?

JAXSON DART: I think early on when I was at USC (Falcons wide receiver) Drake London was a great leader. When I was at Ole Miss, another receiver that I had, Tre Harris, was a great leader. (Cowboys wide receiver Johnathan) Mingo was a great leader. I played with a lot of really elite players. I think that I've been able to take bits and pieces from all of them.

Q. How surprised were you to be the second quarterback taken in this draft? Did that take you by surprise a little? Did you kind of expect it? How did you expect it to unfold? And then the natural way fans are going to look at it, some people will say, we could have taken (quarterback) Shedeur Sanders. There's going to be a comparison there. How do you handle that moving forward?

JAXSON DART: Quite honestly, this is kind of what I expected. I think as a competitor, you see yourself as the best anytime that you're going to step on the field. I think if you don't see it that way, then especially as a quarterback, the team is not going to believe in you at the highest level.

I didn't want to make any expectations going into it because you really never know what's going to happen in the draft, and I couldn't be more grateful to be in the position that I am. I'm not really thinking of it that way. I'm more focused on really being able to make relationships with my teammates now and trying to take things to the next level.

Q. You played in Los Angeles, you played in the SEC. How has that prepared you for being in New York, just playing in a big market and in a conference like that?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, I would say the SEC is probably the most elite conference in college football, and I think for me, I was able to play at a high level and I was able to experience a high media platform in college, and I think that's going to be a good transition for me to come here.

I feel like I'm just ready for this.