Abdul Carter might have a foot injury to worry about, but let’s be honest—his talent is what truly stands out. During his time at Penn State, he played in 42 games, racking up 172 tackles (104 solo), 23 sacks, 39.5 tackles for loss, and five forced fumbles. These numbers make him one of the top defensive prospects in this year’s NFL Draft. Naturally, many teams are eyeing him for their roster.

Earlier, reports surfaced that a few teams, like the Giants and the Eagles, were interested in drafting Carter, especially given his connection to Philly. But now, another team has joined the race with serious interest in the 21-year-old.

According to Matt Maiocco’s statement shared by the 49ers & NFL News 24/7 page on X, “I was just talking to someone in New England who thought the #49ers could be in play for [Pick #] 4 and the thought was for Abdul Carter.”

Earlier, the page also reported that the 49ers, with a $6.8 billion net worth, “have reached out to teams picking in the top 6 of the NFL draft, to potentially trade up and select a player, per source. The Niners have 11 picks in the 2025 draft & projected 10+ picks (w/ comp picks) in 2026, giving them ultimate flexibility.” So, if the reports hold true, they may be making a push for Carter.

Drafting him, the 49ers would be getting the best edge rusher in the draft, no question. Carter’s the kind of guy who steps on the field and makes an impact right away, playing all three downs like a pro. He’d be a favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year the second he puts on a jersey. And just imagine him lining up across from Nick Bosa—that’s scary good. Sure, there are other solid edge rushers out there. But none of them have what Carter has. Not even close.

But here’s the catch: the Eagles are still in the mix. They’ve shown strong interest in Carter, too. However, with A.J. Brown on their roster, the Eagles might be about to shake things up in a big way.

The Eagles are not over with Abdul Carter and A.J. Brown, too?

WEEI in Boston recently reported that if Abdul Carter falls to the fourth overall pick, the Eagles could try to pull off a trade with the Patriots. The plan would be to offer A.J. Brown, along with some extra draft picks, to Mike Vrabel’s New England.

We all know that A.J. Brown has already said that he loves New England and would love to play for the Patriots, which could make this trade a reality. The Eagles may be desperate enough to pull the trigger, hoping to reunite Brown with his former coach, Mike Vrabel.

But here’s where things get tricky: trading A.J. Brown doesn’t quite make sense for the Eagles from a roster-building perspective. The real issue lies in the money. The Eagles currently have just under $12 million in cap space. If they traded Brown, their 2025 salary cap would spike more than $12 million, pushing them over the cap. This would make the trade nearly impossible, no matter how tempting it may seem on paper. So, even if it sounded good, the numbers simply don’t add up.

This will end the hopes of a reunion of Brown and Mike Vrabel, who were together for three seasons in Tennessee.