Former Giants LB addresses reported Kayvon Thibodeaux, Abdul Carter plan for 2025 season

Questions about whether or not the New York Giants would trade pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux after they made Abdul Carter the third overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft were seemingly answered when the Giants exercised the fifth-year option for 2026 attached to Thibodeaux's rookie contract.

Former Giants linebacker Jonathan Casillas now serves as an analyst for the team's radio broadcasts and thinks general manager Joe Schoen is making the right move by holding onto Thibodeaux, Carter and veteran Brian Burns for the foreseeable future. 

"I love the fact that [Schoen] didn’t [trade] Kayvon Thibodeaux," Casillas recently told Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "...Get his reps down to increase his production. So now if he’s playing 65 percent of the snaps, but his production is higher than it’s ever been, that’s when you get the most out of your guys, right? He stays on the field [a lot], and he’s not 100 percent. I think that’s what we’ve been seeing from Kayvon. He wants to sell out on third down, but he ain’t got no juice left."

Casillas was referencing how Thibodeaux played 75 percent of the available defensive snaps last season. That number was 79 percent for his rookie campaign (2022) and 87 percent for the following season. Last fall, Thibodeaux needed surgery to repair a wrist injury, and he ultimately recorded 5.5 sacks over 12 games. 

Such production isn't awful, but the reality of the situation is that Thibodeaux hasn't yet become what he was advertised to be when the Giants selected him with the fifth overall pick of the 2022 draft. Considering the Giants have Carter and Burns to play on the edge, one could logically assume Thibodeaux will soon become surplus to requirements with Big Blue. 

However, Casillas seems to believe that Thibodeaux seeing fewer snaps per game could help him enjoy a career season later this year. 

"You want to keep these guys fresh," Casillas explained. "You want to be able to roll these guys in. ...I think there’s a point where you get overworked, especially when your offense is not winning time of possession. Guys [on defense] are going to get tired. Guys are not going to be as productive."

Giants co-owner John Mara could fire both Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll in January if the club endures a third straight losing season. Thus, it makes sense that Daboll and Co. want to figure out a way to get the most out of having Thibodeaux, Carter and Burns on the roster. 

After all, acquiring a future draft pick for Thibodeaux won't help the current Giants regime if it isn't permitted to spend that asset.