Giants’ first-round pick just got a loud wake-up call from trade buzz

It's wild how fast the tides can change for a high-profile NFL player. Kayvon Thibodeaux was a fifth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and was expected to be one of the next premier pass rushers in the league. Three years later, the New York Giants defender finds himself at the center of trade speculation.

Recently, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report outlined 10 players on his NFL trade block big board after minicamps. Thibodeaux came in fourth on the list.

"If Thibodeaux is going to reach double-digit sacks for the second time in his career, he may have to find a new team," Knox wrote on B/R. "The Giants traded for Brian Burns last offseason and just used the third overall pick on pass-rusher Abdul Carter. New York did pick up the fifth-year option on the 24-year-old's contract, but it could erase his entire $14.8 million 2026 cap hit by trading him. That could become an attractive option if it becomes obvious that he will be third at best in the pass-rushing rotation."

On the surface, a potential Kayvon Thibodeaux trade makes sense. The Giants made a blockbuster trade last offseason to land Burns, a two-time Pro Bowler. One year later, they turned in the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft for Carter, who is considered to be one of the best edge rushers to enter the draft in years. Because of this, Thibodeaux has already received a demotion by default.

B/R mentioned teams like the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers as potential trade partners. While Thibodeaux's reputation as a former top-five draft pick could fetch a respectable return in a trade (likely an early Day 2 pick), it's far more advantageous for the Giants to keep their young pass rusher.

The New York Giants must keep their elite edge rusher trio intact with Kayvon Thibodeaux

Even after an eventful offseason, the New York Giants have no shortage of needs. The NFC East is one of the toughest divisions in football, and they could use all the future draft capital they could get to start building around the next generation of talent, which includes first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart.

But more importantly than doing that, the Giants need to keep their strength a strength. The one elite unit this team has going for them is the defensive line, specifically the pass rush. This is only expected to get stronger with Abdul Carter now in the mix.

The best way to keep this unit threatening is to ensure that the Giants keep as much talent and depth at the edge rusher position as possible. Though Burns and Carter would be capable of handling duties themselves and still likely make one of the better EDGE pairings in the NFL, this unit could be special if Thibodeaux takes a step forward.

Thibodeaux has shown flashes of greatness at times over his first three seasons. Sadly, two years have already been cut short by injuries, as he's missed a combined eight games early in his career.

Because of this, it doesn't make any sense for the Giants to 'sell low' on Thibodeaux. Instead of trading the talented edge rusher for a fraction of the draft capital Joe Schoen and the front office invested in him, New York needs to hang onto Thibodeaux. If he can stay healthy and finally put it all together, the Giants could have, by far, the best pass-rush trio in the NFL (and that's not even talking about what Dexter Lawrence brings to the table from the interior defensive line).

Finances admittedly play a factor here. The Giants are barely keeping their head above water with the second-lowest cap space in the NFL this year, and New York's front office won't have much breathing room in 2026 either. Still, they can find a way to make this work, and they will get the benefit of Abdul Carter playing on a rookie contract.

Kayvon Thibodeaux is still just 24 years old with a bright future ahead of him. This trade buzz should light a fire under the young pass rusher in a prove-it year in 2025.