Potential top overall draft pick Abdul Carter considering foot surgery

Penn State All-America edge rusher Abdul Carter is mulling whether to have surgery after tests revealed he is dealing with a stress reaction in his right foot, agent Drew Rosenhaus said late Wednesday night.

"There are mixed opinions on whether he needs surgery, and we will figure that out in the near future," Rosenhaus said of Carter, who is the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in April.

Rosenhaus said Carter has two options.

He could either have preemptive surgery and have a screw inserted in his right foot, with the result being a return to running in approximately eight weeks.

Or, he could bypass surgery and work out at his pro day at Penn State on March 28.

"Either way, worst-case scenario, we don't expect this to impact where he is drafted," Rosenhaus said. "After visiting with teams this week, I believe he's going to be the No. 1 overall pick."

The news came out hours after Carter said he felt it was "very realistic" that he would be the top overall pick of the draft.

"I feel like I'm the best player in the country. The best player should be selected No. 1," he said.

Carter is not working out at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week because he still is recovering from a shoulder injury suffered late last season.

Carter was injured in the Nittany Lions' 31-14 victory over Boise State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on Dec. 31, and he played through the injury when Notre Dame downed Penn State 27-24 in a semifinal game on Jan. 9.

A consensus All-America selection and the 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Carter had 68 tackles, including 23.5 for loss to lead the FBS, plus 12 sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games.

Carter, a former linebacker who moved this season to defensive end, had 172 career tackles -- 41 for loss -- along with 23 sacks and five forced fumbles in 42 games for Penn State the past three seasons.

--Field Level Media