Four years after the Giants spent the fifth overall pick on Kayvon Thibodeaux, the outside linebacker’s time with the club may be nearing an end. The Giants have shown a willingness to listen to offers for Thibodeaux. The sense from teams that have spoken with the Giants is that they would “prefer” to move him, Connor Hughes of SNY reports. League sources expect a trade to occur, per Hughes.
Thanks in part to injuries, Thibodeaux has not met expectations during his NFL career. The former Oregon Duck missed three games in his first season, though he finished fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting during a 49-tackle, four-sack campaign. Thibodeaux followed that up with a prolific 2023 in which he recorded 50 tackles, 16 QB hits, 12 TFL and 11.5 sacks over 17 games. His health and production have trended in the wrong direction since then.
Thibodeaux was on IR at times in each of the past two seasons, during which he combined for 12 absences and eight sacks. He registered a career-low 2.5 sacks over 10 games in 2025. A shoulder injury shelved him for the Giants’ last seven games.
Now 25, Thibodeaux is on track to reach free agency after next season. In the meantime, he will earn $14.571MM on his fifth-year option in 2026. Giants general manager Joe Schoen saw enough positives from Thibodeaux during his first three years to exercise the option last spring, but his stock has fallen since then. Multiple sources told Hughes it would be a challenge for the Giants to acquire anything above a fourth-rounder for Thibodeaux.
Selling low on Thibodeaux would be unfortunate for Schoen, who used his first draft pick as a GM on him in 2022. But a couple of Schoen’s more recent investments in pass rushers may make it easier to bid goodbye to Thibodeaux. Schoen dealt second- and fifth-rounders to the Panthers in a 2024 package for Brian Burns. He has since amassed 25 sacks, including a career-high 16.5 last season. The GM went on to spend another premium pick, No. 3 overall, on pass rusher Abdul Carter a year ago. With Burns and Carter ahead of Thibodeaux in the pecking order, an offseason trade looks like a strong possibility.
I wouldn’t trade him just to trade him. Need some value back
There isn’t much of a point to pay that money for a 3rd edge rusher
There’s no reason to give him away, either. Edge rushers don’t play every down and you need a rotation. Can use all three on the field as well. Carter played some DT and ILB last year, no reason he can’t do it again this year.
A 15 million spare part who needs another contract at end of year, if he has another crap year or injury he don’t even count at a 6th in a comp pick. They’d be overjoyed with a 4 or 5.
Blame Schoen for giving him the $15 Million….it was Tibs job to take the money he was offered….if you and anyone else has a problem with him not living up to his contract, that same issue would probably equate to half the players in the league not living up to their dollar contracts given their level of play…..As a young 1st round draft choice, we all would hope he has better value than a 4,5,or 6 God forbid…..he has value but it may not be evident until right before or during the draft when a team desperate for an edge rusher see’s their guy/guys go to another team…
Trade to falcons for Mooney and a sixth
Interesting idea, but I think I’d rather keep Thibs.
Eww
If Im the Patriots, Im offering my #3 for him.
Good indicator why you’re not a pro 🙂
Like him for the pats though .. price tag, talent, and acquisition cost seems right, and he’s hungry for a new contract
You can’t have enough pass rushers, hang onto him unless someone offers a second round pick or higher. His sack numbers weren’t there last year but he looked to have improved his tackling. The shoulder may have limited his ability to get off blocks in the trenches. I’d like to see them get away from the 3-4 move back to a 4-3 and put lawrence and Carter in the middle, book ended by burns and thibodeaux.
Think if they don’t pay their backup edge rusher that money could go to their defensive backfield or try to get another playmaker on offense
Guess you think it’s okay to gas your edge rushers in a game because you don’t have backups that are fresh and can come into the game and effect change…..not to be rude, but do you even watch football?