Giants' Thibodeaux Advises Fellow First-Round Edge Rusher

Being a top-five pick in the NFL Draft comes with the burden of changing a franchise’s fortunes, an unfair set of expectations with relentless pressure. Doing so in the sport’s biggest market, for a team mired in misfortune, only adds to the intensity.

Needless to say, New York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter, taken third overall in April, is expected to do big things in the Big Apple. Armed with defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, Carter is positioned well to find immediate success.

If there’s anyone who knows what Carter is up against, it’s Thibodeaux. General manager Joe Schoen’s first pick in New York, Thibodeaux hasn’t yet lived up to his fifth-pick billing. He, too, benefits from his defense’s surplus.

At minicamp, Thibodeaux revealed his advice for the Giants' rookie.

“Just keep doing what you're doing,” Thibodeaux said, via team transcript. “I think you lose that when you come into the league because the lights are brighter and there's a lot more people asking you questions. But honestly, just stick to what got you here and keep your head down and grind. I think when you get too focused on everybody else's expectation or what everybody else thinks you should be doing, that's when you start to lose yourself.

“For me, I've been able to play my best and do my best when I'm doing what I know I do best, right? And not really focusing on the outside. So that's what I told him.”

Adding Carter temporarily put Thibodeaux’s job security in flux, although New York accepted his fifth-year option soon after making the selection. That will keep Thibodeaux in East Rutherford through 2026. It also gives the Giants three starting-caliber players for two spots.

Thibodeaux, presumably, will take a back seat and spell Burns and Carter when necessary. Additionally, New York is expected to use three-edge packages frequently, subbing in Thibodeaux/Carter for a 3-tech defensive tackle on obvious passing downs.

Carter, with multiple years of experience as an off-ball linebacker, could be used to mug the A-gap, too, adding another layer of complexity to defensive coordinator Shane Bowen’s defense.

“Well, he gives us another guy up front to rush,” Thibodeaux said. “He's been taking his roles really strongly and he's been doing his thing in the inside, on the outside, so excited to have another guy to add to the gauntlet.”

Last season, the Giants were expected to steal games because of their pass rush. Simply put, it didn’t come to fruition. With a blue-chip prospect and third-round defensive tackle Darius Alexander being added to the unit, there are no more excuses for New York. Carter brings this pass rush from good to great, and everyone on the line stands to benefit.

Thibodeaux, his peer, mentor, and competitor, put it best on Tuesday.

“Man, he's a beast. He's been doing his thing. He's fast, explosive, smart, excited.”