Lorenzo

Carter

Titans GM Mike Borgonzi announced the news ahead of the Titans opening training camp. Carter finishes with 62 career starts, 21.5 sacks, and 278 combined tackles over his seven years with the Giants and Falcons. The former third-round pick made a career out of being a tweener linebacker/EDGE. He was expected to be a depth piece for the Titans this year, and his retirement will likely push second-rounder Oluwafemi Oladejo into a bigger role in 2025.

The Falcons did not use Carter often last year, 2024 was his second-straight season with under 500 defensive snaps. Carter has just three sacks to his name the last two seasons, which is a little sad for someone who works mostly as a third-down rusher. He totaled seven quarterback pressures and 25 tackles last season. He’s likely just a rotational piece for the Titans.

While the terms of the deal are not yet known, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Carter will remain with Atlanta after a productive 2022 season. Carter, a third-round pick by the Giants in 2018, recorded 58 tackles last season, including six tackles for a loss. Carter also had four sacks and an interception for a Falcons defense graded by Pro Football Focus as the league’s fourth worst.

The contract terms are not yet known. Carter was drafted by the Giants in the third round of the 2018 draft and has operated as a pass-rushing linebacker. He suffered an Achilles rupture early in the 2020 season, but returned in 2021 and logged 14 games played. Carter notched career-highs in hurries (23), tackles (29), and assisted tackles (13) in 2021. He also generated five sacks and played well in coverage. He should be a boost for the Falcons pass rush.

It’s what the team initially feared after Carter went down with a non-contract injury against Dallas. He’ll be moved to injured reserve and miss the rest of the season as a result. The Giants will turn to Markus Golden and Kyler Fackrell as veteran options on the outside with Carter Coughlin, Cam Brown and Devante Downs available off the bench. Carter’s absence clearly makes New York’s pass rush drastically thinner.

A third-round pick out of Georiga last year, Carter notched four sacks in 441 snaps as a rotational pass rusher. With Olivier Vernon gone, the Giants will need Carter to be more than that moving forward, and his position coach thinks he has the ability to step up to the challenge. “He’s got the tools where he’s strong enough, he’s got the athletic ability,” Dawson said. “Now when you don’t have to think about [learning a new defense], it’s just natural where you just kind of react, I think that helps you play a little bit better.” Following a mass talent exodus which started at the end of last season, the Giants’ defense will likely struggle this year.

Carter (6’5/250) made 26 starts in the Bulldogs’ linebacker corps, logging 20.5 career tackles for loss with 14 sacks and seven forced fumbles. SEC coaches named him second-team all-conference in 2017. Carter shredded the Combine with 4.46 speed and 96th-percentile SPARQ results, highest in the entire class of edge defenders. Although he lacks the quickness, explosion, and down-to-down aggressiveness of teammate Roquan Smith, Carter played with more power and is a better pass rusher. Carter has an opportunity to start over OLB Kareem Martin from the moment camp opens.

Carter (6’5/250) made 26 starts in Georgia’s linebacker corps, logging 20.5 career tackles for loss with 14 sacks and seven forced fumbles. Carter shredded the Combine with 4.46 speed and 96th-percentile SPARQ results, highest in the entire class of edge defenders. “What you have to appreciate is his unseen production,” GM Dave Gettleman said after drafting Carter. “If he is flying off the edge, he is creating pressure.” Carter will push Kareem Martin this summer.