Surprise trade candidate emerges for Giants right before training camp

Although it may be the low point of the NFL offseason, that doesn't mean blockbuster moves are still not on the horizon. Because most teams are evaluating their rosters at this point and will continue to do so once they return for training camp, players will inevitably become available via trade or after being released.

Since the Giants are projected to be sellers this year, they may be looking to trade some of their top assets.

That has prompted some discussion about who they might put on the trade block, with analysts suggesting pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux as their best bet. He might be just 24 years old with a bright future, but he hasn't exactly lived up to his first-round draft status, aside from recording 11.5 sacks during the 2023 season. He could be a valuable player for the rebuilding/retooling Giants to move on from now rather than later.

It might be wise for the Giants to move on from one of their best defensive stars now

With a handful of star players reportedly on the trade block, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report believes that will be the case with Thibodeaux moving forward.

While it might not make much sense on the surface, given he's only going into his fourth year and the Giants already picked up his fifth-year option, he would likely garner the biggest return of any player on the current roster, while also cutting costs to help build the team for the future.

RELATED: Giants follow Abdul Carter pick with unsettling Kayvon Thibodeaux decision

Saving money is always beneficial in a league that has a salary cap, but that might not be the biggest selling point of shipping Thibodeaux sooner rather than later. The trade for Brian Burns, who is just 27 years old, plus the addition of Abdul Carter from this year's draft, presumably pushes Thibodeaux down the depth chart, unless he delivers a stellar season.

Even so, that could be the catalyst to engage in trade conversations, as plenty of teams across the league are always looking for their next star pass rusher. Knox even listed two teams as the likeliest bidders, the Packers and the Patriots. They might be the easiest teams to sell to before the trade deadline this year.

This, of course, assumes that Burns and Carter will continue to thrive moving forward, which appears to be the case so far. The former Panthers star recorded 71 combined tackles and 8.5 sacks last year, while the rookie has already received rave reviews for his spring performance.

All of that could lead to Thibodeaux playing elsewhere next season for the right price.