The New York Giants thought they had an issue with top draft pick Abdul Carter's approach to his job. His repeated lateness and seemingly unprofessional behavior forced the coaching staff to fine and bench him multiple times.

The message has sunk in, apparently.

Carter, the celebrated linebacker out of Penn State who the Giants selected third overall in the 2025 NFL draft, has become a model player of late. He's showing up early to meetings and workouts and is finally realizing the stakes of being taken so high in the draft.

"I'm just trying to be a better teammate," Carter told the New York Post this week. "Obviously, I've made some mistakes that were critical for the team, but I’m just trying to be a better pro. If I keep doing the same things over and over again, I’m going to get the same results, so I’m just trying to come up with different things to be a better teammate.”

With four games remaining in this dismal Giants season, Carter wants to make the best of this opportunity.

"What he’s doing is he’s trying to build some routines for himself," interim head coach Mike Kafka said. "I think as a young player, that’s part of the process -- figuring out, ‘When do I get this prep in? When do I get this prep in? When do I take care of my body in the training room?’ He’s working through some different things earlier in the day, later in the day."

Carter has not racked up the back of the football card stats that win players awards, but he's been quietly solid on the field this year. Carter leads all rookies in Pro Football Focus' pass-rush grade (76.5), quarterback pressures (44), and pass-rush win rate (13.5%) this season.

Defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen, who was also Carter's position coach all year, put the situation in perspective this week.

"I think it's getting there for sure," he said. "Obviously, Abdul, I think, would like to have those moments back and wish they didn't happen. But the thing I'll say is he's a young player learning the process of the NFL. And I think that's important for any player. And he's in the middle, back half of his rookie season. So, he is still learning. But the one thing that I would say is moments like that that you wish didn't happen, personally, and again, I'm sure Abdul wishes they didn't happen. But to me, they did happen. They're in the past."

"I look at it like, how is he going to respond moving forward, and how has he responded? And his response, quite honestly, has been incredible after both of those moments," continued Bullen. "I mean, he's taken ownership publicly, in the building with his teammates and coaches. And then, honestly, just in terms of, like, pattern behavior, he's doing more. He's watching more film. He's coming in earlier and staying later. So the response is what I focus on. Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody needs to learn the NFL process, which he's learning right now. But his response to those moments has been awesome. It's been pro-like. And that's all you're asking a young player to do is just become a pro as they grow in their game. And he has."

The Giants will need leadership in the locker room and in the defensive huddle. Carter's future is bright and, if he can get this sagging defense back on its feet again, the Giants will know they have their man.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants' Abdul Carter focused on being a 'better teammate'